As with every other facet of life and business, Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) offices around the nation are responding to the coronavirus. And each is having to abide by different rules and mandates. If you’re wondering if your DMV office is even open, the answer is that it depends. And even if it is, the experience isn’t likely to be business as usual.
Some DMVs closed or appointment-only
In New York, all DMV offices have been closed as part of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s PAUSE mandate. On the other side of the country, in California, DMV offices initially remained open on an appointment-only basis. (See important update below.)
Update: 3/27/2020: California has announced all field offices will be closed to the public. “All appointments at this time have been canceled and no appointments are currently available,” it said. Online services remain available.
The good news is that, because all of this is out of our control due to the coronavirus crisis, DMV offices are offering lenience. Again pointing to our examples, New York is extending the expiration dates of licenses, registrations, and non-driver IDs. California, which has declared a state of emergency, has delayed expirations by 60 days.
California’s DMV alerted law enforcement officials last week about the potential delays to license and registration renewals. That should ease concerns for those whose cars might have expired tags.
In Texas, all DMV offices have been closed to the public for in-person transactions. And as with others, Texas DMV (TxDMV), has set up a dedicated webpage to answer questions in response to COVID-19.
Do this first
For the millions of Americans residing in other states, the best advice is to check first with your DMV regarding what is open, what can wait, and where you stand. And keep in mind, some or much of this can be done online.
Checking online first – from the safety of your home — will save a potentially painful and long-on-hold call to your DMV office or a frustrating and fruitless trip to your local DMV branch.
RELATED: Coronavirus, Cars, and You: Everything You Need to Know
