North Carolina DMV to make scheduling changes, increase walk-in availability

The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles is making changes to appointment scheduling, office hours and technology to increase walk-in availability at its driver license offices across the state.

Beginning May 1, appointments, which can be booked at skiptheline.ncdot.gov, will only be available in the mornings. After noon, all customer services statewide will be provided on a walk-in basis.

"We’ve heard from the public that they want more walk-in availability, so that’s what we’re aiming to deliver," said NCDMV Commissioner Wayne Goodwin. "DMV introduced the ability to schedule appointments during the pandemic, but I believe now is the time to better maximize potential efficiencies by allowing for more walk-in capability, given that data indicates up to 25 percent of appointments are no-shows."

Even with this change, walk-in customers can still come in for morning-hour service if there is time between scheduled appointments or if a customer does not appear for a scheduled appointment.

Also beginning May 1, five additional offices will open an hour earlier at 7 a.m. Offices in Aberdeen, Graham, Kernersville, Mooresville and Washington will join 35 locations already providing an extra hour of service to customers.

"We continue to work on addressing our staffing needs," Goodwin said. "My goal is to keep adding more offices to these 40 with more hours so we can provide the services our residents need in a timelier manner."

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A new feature will soon be available on the NCDMV office locations page to show the estimated wait time at driver license offices.

"I’m particularly excited about this new online tool that will show customers the estimated wait time at different locations so they can make the best decision on which office to go to or whether to try again another day," Goodwin said.

The NCDMV will offer Saturday hours this summer during its peak season. These 16 offices will open from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays from June 3 to Aug. 26:

The NCDMV is also working to provide more services online. Currently state ID cards and level 3 full provisional licenses cannot be renewed online once they have expired. Changes are underway that would allow customers with these credentials to renew online up to one year after expiration. Driver licenses can be renewed up to two years after expiration.

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"This should help shorten lines and wait times at our offices by getting folks that would previously have to come to the office out of the line altogether," Goodwin said.

A pilot program will deploy up to 20 self-service kiosks at strategic locations across the state. These devices will offer driver and vehicle service transactions to include driver license and vehicle registration renewals.

"My plan is to have these kiosks at various easily accessible, 24-hour locations like grocery stores and pharmacies by the end of the summer," he said. "If the public responds well to this pilot program, then I plan to make even more kiosks available statewide. All with the goal of shorter lines and shorter wait times for persons requiring an in-person appointment."