SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — Beginning Monday, Feb. 9, North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles will cease early morning hours.
The extra hours were available in 90 offices statewide, as funded by the federal government’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State Fiscal Recovery Fund (SFRF) grant.
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Of the 90 offices affected were tri-county locations, including Wilmington, Burgaw and Shallotte. They were opening at 7 a.m. instead of 8 a.m. to provide additional customer service time and help address elevated demand for driver license and ID services.
The state DMV has struggled for a few years with customers unable to get appointments and having to wait in lines for hours to be seen. It’s averaged a 1-hour-and-15-minute wait statewide.
However, the DMV has implemented measures to help bring down the queue times, such as launching a new app that alerts customers when their turn is up at a license office, preventing them from waiting for long periods onsite.
The state legislature also approved extending online renewal services and funding for NCDMV to hire more examiners and reduce vacant positions. The DMV also added more Saturday locations during summertime’s peak months and has plans to open more offices, such as in Brunswick County, this year.
“Unfortunately, this funding stream has been exhausted, and we’ll no longer be able to provide this extra hour of service at our offices,” NCDMV Commissioner Paul Tine said in a release on Monday about ARPA funds. “We hope to be able to offer extended hours, including Saturday service, but that is dependent on future funding availability.”
Customers are encouraged to check the most up-to-date office hours by visiting here.
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