RALEIGH, N.C. — It’s no secret that lines at the Department of Motor Vehicles are usually long, no matter the weather or time of day.

That’s why DMV offices across North Carolina are working to keep customer traffic down, especially in the summer heat.

What You Need To Know

  • The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles launched a new program that aims to help cut wait times in half

  • Examiners at driver's license offices will check customers in and then send a text

  • The program will expand to close to 60 additional state offices

DMV offices have been experiencing long lines, delays and longer wait times for the past several months because of a lack of technology and workers.

In fact, Gov. Josh Stein is pushing to hire more people. But for now, folks have no choice but to play the waiting game.

TJ Johnston knows exactly what lines look like at the DMV on New Bern Avenue in Raleigh on weekends.

Johnston sells Italian ice cups and set up his stand right in front of the East Raleigh office.

He has been outside the branch for the past few weeks — benefiting from the long lines and the hot weather.

But business isn’t booming like it was a couple of weeks ago.

“Last couple of weeks that I’ve been out here, like the last, it was a lot. It was a lot of people,” Johnston said. “But the last few couple of days, I haven’t seen that many people for real.”

The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles is stepping up faster check-ins this summer.

Commissioner Paul Tine of the DMV stated that the extreme heat means no one should be outside.

“There shouldn’t be lines when you get there once we have things fully implemented,” Tine said.

The department launched a new pilot program this week that aims to cut wait times in half.

Examiners at driver’s license offices will check customers in and then send a text to let them know when it’s their time to enter the lobby. 

Tine added the program is in its first phase. It started in four branches. This week, he said it will expand to close to 60 additional state offices.

“That’ll be about 88% of the people that we serve on a yearly basis will go through this change. The others are smaller offices that will bring some change to later,” Tine said.

This is just one of the new initiatives designed to help speed things up at the DMV. Tine said there are other things the department is doing to better serve the public.

These include new scanners for staff, and offices are serving walk-ins all day.

“That has produced about a 22% uptick on our pilots. And so, we are serving people faster. We’re serving more people,” he said.

Tine said this is a system and operations change, so it will take a little time to get things perfect for customers.

He said if you don’t have to come into the DMV for the next couple of weeks — don’t.