FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  September 22, 2004
NEWS FROM: Motor Vehicle Information Technology Division 

DMV Adds New Conveniences

The Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles has two new ways for the motoring public to avoid waiting in line. Motorists with a vehicle registration suspension due to an insurance lapse can now reinstate the registration online at www.dmvnv.com. The department has also added driver license renewals on its popular self-service kiosks at offices in Las Vegas, Reno and Carson City.

DMV operates an Insurance Verification Program to identify uninsured motorists by comparing policy information from insurance companies with vehicle registration records. DMV will suspend the registration of a vehicle where insurance coverage cannot be verified or has not been in force continuously.

Certified letters sent by the department to notify owners of the suspension now contain an access code that can be used to reinstate the registration online. Motorists are also given the opportunity to renew the vehicle registration if it is due. The reinstatement fee of $250 and registration renewal fees may be paid with any of four major credit cards.

At DMV offices, meanwhile, the department is continuing to reduce wait times by introducing driver license renewals at its self-service kiosks. DMV encourages motorists to renew by Internet, telephone or mail when they are eligible to do so. Those who are eligible but choose to visit a DMV office instead will now be directed to the kiosk. One advantage of the kiosk renewal is that motorists may renew their license up to 30 days after expiration and receive the renewal sticker for the back of the license immediately.

The department debuted self-service kiosks for registration renewals at its offices in Las Vegas, Reno and Carson City earlier this year. With an average transaction time of less than two minutes, the bilingual kiosks have proven popular. In August, 10,416 customers avoided the wait and completed their registration renewal by kiosk. This is nearly ten percent of the total registration renewals for the month.

New services such as these and new staff at DMV offices have resulted in dramatically reduced wait times within the past year. Wait times in the Las Vegas offices now average slightly less than one hour. The wait at the Galletti Way office in Reno is now averaging about 65 minutes. The department’s overall goal is to reduce wait times to one hour or less at all times.

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