Mainers no longer have to wait in line at the local Bureau of Motor Vehicles thanks to an online appointment system that launched Monday.

Secretary of State Shenna Bellows compared the system to setting up a doctor’s appointment or a visit to the hair salon.

“We know Mainers lead busy lives,” Bellows said outside one of the BMV branch offices in Augusta. “Some people are working two or three jobs.”

Bellows, who began her stint as Secretary of State in January 2021, said the appointment system is part of an overall strategy of using technology to provide better customer service.

The online system is linked to all 13 BMV locations across the state. Walk-ins will still be served, but those with appointments will be able to check in via text message and go to the front of the line.

Appointments can be made from one day to 20 days in advance.

Bellows said through the first six months of this year, BMV offices across the state have served 20% more people compared to the same period a year ago. She attributed the increase to an influx of people moving to Maine during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some services — such as vehicle registration renewals and driver license renewals and replacements — can be done online. Others, such as obtaining a REAL ID or state identification card, must be done in person.

To schedule an online appointment, visit the Bureau of Motor Vehicles website.