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Sorry, DMV Wait Line Lovers. Many Services Are Moving Online
The DMV changes start on Monday, June 3.
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Justin Sullivan
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Getty Images
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Topline:
If you like spending time in DMV lines, we’ve got some bad news for you. A new change is coming that will make those trips a thing of the past.
What’s happening? Starting June 3, the California DMV will only process certain services online or at a self-serve kiosk. If you need to renew your registration or get an updated ID — sorry. You won’t get to hang out with strangers for hours in those hard DMV chairs.
What services are changing? Vehicle registration renewals that are not past the due date, as well as driver’s license renewals that do not require an in-person visit. You’ll have to go online to also handle vehicle registration and driver records requests, as well as replacing a lost or stolen ID or driver’s license. Some of the services have already been allowed online, but the change means you won’t have the in-person option anymore.
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What’s still being done in person? There are some transactions that require an in-office visit, like finalizing a REAL ID application. (Which needs to be done by May next year, by the way). But many transactions that require you to come in can be started online — so that could help save you time.
Why is this happening? The DMV has been moving services online as part of a digital focus. The department has more than doubled online services offered between 2019 and 2024, and it expects 200,000 less office visits a month with this change. With more than 90% of services now done online, Californians may have to find another exhausting errand to bond over.
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