DMV expands hours, offers more services online to cut wait times

The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles is offering more services online and expanding hours in some locations to shorten wait times. 

Under the new policy, residents will be able to renew state IDs online. Teen drivers will also be allowed to upgrade their provisional licenses up to one year after expiration using the DMV’s website. 

DMV Commissioner Wayne Goodwin says the majority of their services are already offered virtually. 

“​As long as you're not a first-time driver, as long as you're not first-time moving into the state, or as long as you're not changing your name, then you only have to physically be in a driver license office once every 16 years," he says. 

Goodwin says he’s focused on reducing wait times at local DMV offices. Since January of 2022, he says the division has added 185 new license examiners and plans to hire at least 100 more by next January. 

The division will also start offering Saturday hours at the state’s 16 busiest offices starting June 3.