POLK COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR OFFERS TIME-SAVING ALTERNATIVES TO IN-PERSON SERVICES
BARTOW, Fla. – Expect long wait times inside crowded lobbies of the Tax Collector for Polk County’s (TCPC) service centers this Fall. October marks the end of an eight-year driver license (DL) and identification (ID) card renewal cycle in Florida. Staff is preparing for an influx of customers! Service centers are projected to host up to 33,055 customers in need of DL/ID renewal transactions alone by the end of 2024; that’s an increase from 2023 by 925%.
“We love seeing you, but there is an easier way. Our offices are places full of fascinating people and things to see, but so are museums and parks. Please, spend more time there!” Tax Collector Joe G. Tedder remarked.
Fortunately for most of the Polk County citizens in need of a fresh DL, there is a way to renew online without ever stepping foot through TCPC doors! More than half of customers in need of these ID renewals are eligible to use the MyDMV Portal online through the Florida Department of Highway Safety’s (FLHSMV) website at https://mydmvportal.flhsmv.gov/. No one should ever have to waste a lunch break waiting in a long line in a lobby!
“Over 68% of the people who will need to renew their driver license this year can do that online,” Tedder continued. “The ‘MyDMV Portal’ is an outstanding way to renew your driver license. Plus, PolkTaxes.com offers ways people can do tag renewals and pay taxes without being in our lobbies in person,” he continued.
- For customers who need to renew their vehicle registrations, there are KIOSK machines available at select Publix locations in Lakeland and in the Lakeland and Davenport service center lobbies.
- Express PickUp is another option for those renewing vehicle registrations; customers go to https://www.PolkTaxes.com and complete their transaction, then select a location where they can pick up their renewed registration and decal (on the same day without waiting in line).
- Customers who received a registration renewal notice by mail are always welcome to complete the form attached and send it back through mail.
- First Lakeland Tag Agency, located on S Florida Ave in Lakeland,conducts vehicle registration and title services as our private tag agency partner. An added convenience fee applies.
- Property tax payments are accepted online at PolkTaxes.com, through mail with the form attached, or by drop box located inside each of the tax collector’s five service center lobbies.
- For DL road test services, our partners Atlantic Driving School of Florida, All Class Drivers, and the Orange Osceola Safety Institute (OOSI) have Polk County locations and may offer training.
At the explosive rate of growth Polk County is experiencing, the demand for DL/ID renewals in years to come is only expected to increase as well; FLHSMV projects another 154% increase in these renewals in 2025, with a bump to 84,124 potential customers. Tedder is constantly securing new ways to accommodate the citizens of Polk County and hopes to share further announcements to help customers with their transaction needs soon.
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