Galo Baird | [email protected]
Twitter: GaloBairdTV
Fotos: North Carolina Department of Transportation
The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) announced several changes aimed at improving customer access to services, particularly walk-in availability.
The department said the changes to scheduling, office hours and technology would affect 115 driver license offices across the state.
IN THE MORNING
Starting May 1, DMV appointments will only be available in the morning until 11 a.m. After noon, officials say all customer services statewide will be provided on a walk-in basis.
NCDMV Commissioner Wayne Goodwin said in a written statement that appointments were introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, but data shows up to 25% of reservations are “no-shows.”
IMPROVE ATTENTION
Officials say walk-in customers may still have a chance to receive morning service if there is time between scheduled appointments or if a customer doesn’t show up.
To accommodate the increase in walk-ins, the DMV said a new feature would be available soon on the online office locations page to display current estimated wait times at driver license offices.
ADDITIONAL SERVICES
Officials say the department is working to bring more services online. Currently, State ID cards and Tier 3 full provisional licenses cannot be renewed online once they have expired.
Changes are being made that would allow customers with these credentials to renew online for up to one year after their expiration.
“This should help shorten lines and wait times at our offices by getting people who would previously have to come into the office out of line,” Goodwin said.
SELF-SERVICE KIOSKS
NC DMV says a pilot program will initially deploy up to 20 self-service kiosks in strategic locations across the state by 2023. These devices will offer driver and vehicle service transactions to include driver license and vehicle registration renewals.
“My plan is to have these kiosks in various easily accessible, 24-hour locations, such as grocery stores and pharmacies, by the end of the summer,” Commissioner Goodwin said in the statement. “If the public responds well to this pilot program, I plan to make even more kiosks available throughout the state. All with the goal of reducing lines and waiting times for people who require an in-person appointment.”
HIGH SEASON
From June 3 to August 3, 2023, a total of 26 North Carolina driver license offices will maintain Saturday hours (8 a.m.-12 p.m.):
• Asheville
• Charlotte-University City
• Charlotte South
• Durham South
• Fayetteville West
• Greensboro East
• Greensboro West
• Greenville
• Hudson
• Huntersville
• Jacksonville
• Monroe
• Morganton
• Raleigh North
• Wilmington South
• Winston-Salem South
Schedule appointment:
www.Skiptheline.ncdot.gov
Locations and services:
www.NCDMV.gov