Action 9 investigates driver license websites

ORLANDO,Fla. — A Clermont woman found out why it could be risky to renew your Florida driver's license online.

Action 9 discovered nearly a dozen websites that look like they're run by the DMV but charge drivers useless fees.

As the mother of a 3-year-old, Quinn Foster can't spend hours at the driver's license office, so she wanted to renew her license online.

"I just Googled 'Florida driver's license' and it's the first site that popped up," said Foster.

It looked like Florida's DMV website so Quinn entered her personal information and a debit card number.

"Completed it, submitted it, and it said should arrive in seven to 10 days," said Foster.

She never got a renewed license but her checking account was hit twice for $27, then another $10 later.

Many Florida drivers hoping to renew online with the real DMV instead have been tricked by a lookalike website.

Quinn's sites were formassistant.org and drivers licenses.org, but there are many more.

All give the impression you can renew a license or tag by paying their fees. But buried in the fine print are disclosures, such as, "this is a privately-owned website."

Action 9 tried to get answers from the website that Quinn says hit her bank account. They said they have not received any complaints from consumers like her.

Florida's Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles calls the websites a disgusting scheme that is technically legal because of the fine print disclosures.

Quinn was burned twice. She said she also had to pay Florida a late fee to really renew her license and she cancelled her debit card "so they don't keep debiting my account, I can't afford it."

Quinn disputed the fees with her bank. The website said it won't challenge that so the charges go away. The real DMV renewal site is gorenew.com.

WFTV