HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will close all driver license and photo centers statewide on Thursday for the New Year’s Day holiday, including its full-service facility in Harrisburg, forcing motorists to plan ahead or turn to online services.
PennDOT said the closure applies to every driver license and photo center across the commonwealth, a routine holiday shutdown that often catches last-minute customers off guard at the start of the year.
Despite the physical closures, PennDOT emphasized that most driver and vehicle needs can still be handled online, with services available around the clock through the agency’s Driver and Vehicle Services website. Officials said there are no additional fees for completing transactions online.
Available services include driver’s license, photo ID, and vehicle registration renewals; address changes; duplicate licenses and photo IDs; driver-history requests; restoration letters; payment of driver license and vehicle insurance restoration fees; REAL ID pre-verification; and scheduling of driver exams.
PennDOT also advised residents planning visits to Online Messenger Service Centers to call ahead, as holiday hours may vary. A full list of driver and photo license center closures for 2026 is available on PennDOT’s website.
The agency reiterated that travelers flying domestically must now present a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or ID card, or another acceptable form of identification such as a passport. PennDOT said residents unsure whether they need a REAL ID can use its online REAL ID wizard at pa.gov/REALID to review their options.
Motorists are also encouraged to monitor road conditions during the holiday travel period by visiting the MyChesCo Traffic Center, which operates 24 hours a day and provides traffic delay alerts and real-time traffic speed information.
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