One of the most clichéd chores for most drivers — standing in line to renew a driver’s license — may soon be a thing of the past.
Gov. Pat McCrory announced Oct. 12 that online driver license renewal will now be offered statewide by the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles. The improvement is part of the governor’s “Driving Change” initiative, which is focused on improving customer service at the DMV through technology and increased efficiencies.
Among the other changes being made in the DMV are making more license plate and vehicle registration services available online.
Any driver who has no revocation or restriction, such as limited driving privileges due to serious traffic violations, will be eligible to renew their license online. Customers can print a receipt to show they applied for the license online, but the receipt does not do away with the need to carry a license.
McCrory said in a news conference that speeding up the renewal process will help the DMV work more efficiently, and enable workers to help more customers.
“Renewing driver licenses online will help thousands of citizens avoid waiting in lines each year, and free up staff time to serve more customers faster in DMV offices throughout the state,” McCrory said.
McCrory announced the measure while signing SB 370, which will allow the acceptance of electronic signatures for title registration applications as well as other related DMV documents.
Since launching a pilot of online renewals in June, more than 100,000 customers have renewed their licenses without coming into an office. Allowing online renewals decreases waiting times, an important consideration when NCDMV projects that driver license customers will grow by 1.9 million over the next 20 years.
“This is a ‘Eureka!’ moment. I applaud this new effort to make NCDMV more efficient and effective,” said NCDOT Secretary Nick Tennyson. “Our goal is to have 30 percent of all eligible renewals completed online. This means we can devote 30 percent more of our time helping others: helping the new driver safely complete a road test or helping the new resident learn North Carolina rules. This will be a game changer not only in our offices but also on North Carolina roads.”
First-time drivers seeking to complete testing and drivers with a restriction other than corrective lenses must also go to an examiner’s office. Those in the medical review program, anyone renewing a commercial driver license or a state ID card and those with suspended or revoked licenses must also go to an office.
The online driver license process will be available to drivers every other time they renew their license, which is allowed up to six months before its expiration date.
Online registration is only one of a number of customer service improvements implemented by Gov. McCrory’s Driving Change initiative.
Customers at DMV offices will now find cameras at every license examiner station, reducing wait time to obtain a photo. NCDMV is also installing customer-facing screens at each station and a system that will track and assist their progress throughout their visit.
Each station will also have a scanner and a printer to speed license issuance service.
NCDMV also now accepts credit and debit payments in its offices.
Self-service kiosks will provide customers with touch screen access to online services and credit card payment options. Future improvements to the kiosks will include credit card swipes and facial recognition for license photo updates.
“The new equipment is important, but it takes people to truly drive change,” said NCDMV Commissioner Kelly Thomas. “That’s why driver license examiners across the state are undergoing additional training to make the whole customer experience faster and more efficient.”
NCDMV will be upgrading offices across the state over the next several months, beginning with the state’s 25 busiest offices. After these offices are upgraded, phased improvements will begin at additional offices across the state.
When drivers receive their new licenses in the mail or in person, they’ll immediately notice another change.
The NCDMV is now issuing a more durable and secure driver license. The new license is coated in a protective, bendable and waterproof synthetic material that offers a durable card that will not crack or fade.
New security features include high-resolution graphics and laser-etched verbiage, as well as overlapping “ghost images” in various colors.
The new design helps prevent counterfeiting, reduces the risk of identity theft, decreases the potential for fraud and meets federal security features.
Front laminate highlights include images of the state seal, “NC” and “1775” (the year of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence). The license can also indicate active military or veteran designations, as well as organ donor status. The license is expected to be available in all NCDMV offices by Thanksgiving.
Introducing the MyDMV Portal
MyDMV will offer North Carolina citizens a secure way to view their personal driver license and vehicle information, as well as perform online transactions.
The portal will consolidate a view of all the customer’s NCDMV accounts, showing items such as driver license expiration dates and registration information for their vehicles. It will also offer links to other online NCDMV services, allowing customers to perform transactions from one online location.
Customers can sign up to the portal by clicking on the MyDMV icon on the NCDMV home page. They can download the icon and register using a smartphone or tablet.
To register, they must provide either the last four digits of their Social Security number, their I-94 Proof of Legal Entry number, or their alien registration number.
As the portal grows, it will offer “single sign-on,” which provides customers direct access to online services without the need to sign on to each application. In the future, it will offer facial recognition; photo updates; renewals and credit card payments via phone; 24/7 customer care coverage, including appointment scheduling, email reminders, system call backs and online chat; and boat registration when renewing trailers.
For more information, go to ncdot.gov.