North Carolina, Rocky Mount – With the goal of increasing walk-in availability at its 115 driver license offices across the state, the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV) announced changes to appointment scheduling, office hours, and technology.
In a press release, the state agency indicated that as of May 1, appointments, which can be booked on the website skiptheline.ncdot.govThey will only be available in the morning.
After noon, all customer service across the state will be on a walk-in basis.
Even with this change, clients who come without an appointment may still have the opportunity to be seen in the morning if there is time between scheduled appointments or if a client does not show up for a scheduled appointment, the agency clarified.
“We’ve heard from the public that they want more walk-in availability, so that’s what we’re trying to deliver,” NCDMV Commissioner Wayne Goodwin said.
Goodwin noted that the DMV introduced the ability to schedule appointments during the pandemic, but now is the time to maximize potential efficiencies.
“I think now is the time to allow more walk-in capacity, given that data indicates that up to 25% of appointments don’t show up,” he noted.
More offices open at 7:00 am
Likewise, as of May 1, another five offices will open an hour earlier to provide their services starting at 7 in the morning.
The offices that will join the 35 that already offer one more hour of service are:
- Aberdeen
- Graham
- Kernersville
- Mooresville
- Washington
“We continue working to cover our personnel needs. My goal is to continue to add more offices to these 40 with more hours so that we can provide the services our residents need in a more timely manner,” said Commissioner Goodwin.
In addition to the nearly 100 new examiners hired statewide last year, 41 more have been hired or are in the process of hiring since December alone.
Estimated wait time in the office will be available online
As appointment scheduling shifts toward more walk-ins, a new feature will soon be available on the NCDMV Office Locations page, the NCDMV reported.
This, with the aim of showing the public the current estimated waiting time at driver’s license offices.
“I am particularly excited about this new online tool that will show customers estimated wait times at different locations,” Goodwin said.
The commissioner indicated that the objective is so that people can “make the best decision about which office to go to, or if they should try again another day.”
Saturday hours advertised for high season
As in previous years, NCDMV is preparing to offer Saturday hours this summer during its peak season.
These 16 offices will be open from 8:00 am to noon on Saturdays from June 3 to August 26:
Asheville, Charlotte-University City, Charlotte South, Durham South, Fayetteville West, Greensboro East, Greensboro West, Greenville, Hudson, Huntersville, Jacksonville, Monroe, Morganton, Raleigh North, Wilmington South y Winston-Salem South.
DMV is looking into adding more Saturday offices as staffing permits, the agency said.
Additional services available online
Also, the NCDMV mentioned that it is working to provide 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 will allow customers with these credentials to renew online for up to one year after their expiration.
Driving licenses can be renewed up to two years after their expiration.
“We realized that we had a bit of an inequity in how we are treating Tier 3 permit and ID card holders, so we are addressing that,” Commissioner Goodwin said.
“This should help shorten queues and wait times at our offices by getting people who previously had to come to the office off the line altogether,” he added.
Self-service kiosks in 2023
In addition, Goodwin said that he is launching a pilot program that will initially deploy up to 20 self-service kiosks in strategic locations throughout the state.
These devices will offer service transactions for drivers and vehicles, including renewals of driver’s licenses and vehicle registrations.
“My plan is to have these kiosks in various places with easy access, 24 hours a day, such as grocery stores and pharmacies in late summer.”
“If the public responds well to this pilot program, then I plan to make even more kiosks available throughout the state,” he noted.
Goodwin stressed that the goal is to reduce lines and wait times for people who need an in-person appointment.