News

Online drivers license renewal goes statewide

By Bill Moss, Published: October 12, 2015

Gov. Pat McCrory announced Monday that online driver license renewal will now be available statewide through 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.

“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 in a news release.

The governor made the announcement at the Garner DMV office and used the occasion to sign into law legislation that will allow the acceptance of electronic signatures for title registration applications as well as other related DMV documents.

On hand to greet the governor was Garner native and country music star Scotty McCreery. The governor noted that young people such as McCreery, who is a NC State student, will probably be among the first to flock to the DMV’s growing digital services.

Since online renewals began testing 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 must still visit NCDMV to complete testing, and drivers with a restriction other than corrective lenses must also come in. Others who must make an office visit are those in the medical review program, those renewing a commercial driver license or a state ID card, or those with suspended or revoked licenses.

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 Governor McCrory’s Driving Change initiative.