To ‘better serve’ its customers DMV slashes office access

Perhaps you haven’t heard, but the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), in its onging dedication to serve the citizens of the state, has decided to reduce access to its office services at 20 of its offices.

Back on June 3, the DMV issued the following information:

To improve efficiency and to better serve the evolving needs of customers as part of its digital transformation, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will modify public hours at the Mariposa office located at 5264 Highway 49. The Mariposa office is one of 20 DMV offices that will implement new hours. The office will remain open to the public on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning July 1.

On weekdays when the office is closed to the public, DMV team members will process transactions started online that require additional processing or virtual customer interaction. This will help improve efficiency and speed up processing times for all customers as more tasks are completed online. As previously announced, starting today the DMV will no longer process simple transactions in offices that can easily be completed online or through other convenient options.

The DMV’s ongoing customer-focused digital transformation provides many opportunities online or through other convenient options to complete DMV tasks. Most DMV transactions do not require an office visit and can be conveniently started or completed online at dmv.ca.gov/online.

“We are committed to providing services to customers when and where they want,” said DMV Director Steve Gordon. “As a mobile-first organization, we are serving Californians through many channels on any device while at the same time still serving customers who must visit an office.”

Before making these decisions, the DMV closely reviewed transaction volumes, staffing, wait times and other criteria at its 170 offices statewide to determine which offices to move to a modified schedule while still being able to meet the in-office needs of the communities they serve. The DMV expects the change to have minimal impact on overall wait times.

Staff at offices with modified service hours will work on Virtual Office items during the days the offices are closed to the public.
Customers should note that regular DMV office hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. On Wednesdays, offices open at 9 a.m. This includes the Mariposa office.

Before Going to an Office – Try Online First!

The DMV has taken many steps to offer more digital services. Most DMV tasks do not require an office visit. The DMV encourages customers to use its online services and other service channels to complete transactions, including eligible driver’s license and vehicle registration renewals. Customers can also use the Service Advisor on the DMV website to learn their options to complete DMV tasks.

To sign up for paperless vehicle registration and driver’s license renewal notices, customers must sign in or create a secure online account at dmv.ca.gov and then opt in.