Motor Vehicles



DMV Frequently Asked Questions


What are the best times to visit the various DMV locations?

Inspection Station

  • The best times to visit the station are Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday afternoons from 3 pm - 6 pm. Customers are advised that the days before and after a holiday and most Saturdays are especially busy due to many customers being off from work.
Adjudication Services
  • The best times to visit to contest a ticket or make a ticket payment are Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Customers are advised that the days before and after a holiday are especially busy due to many customers being off from work.
Service Centers (Georgetown, Penn Branch, Brentwood and Southwest)
  • The best times to visit to obtain driver and vehicle services are Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Customers are advised that the days before and after a holiday and most Saturdays are especially busy due to many customers being off from work.
Customers are always advised to "skip the trip", avoid lines and conduct their transactions Online. However, if you do need to visit in person, please check our locations and hours.

Why didn’t I receive my renewal notice?

Renewal notices are sent for vehicle registrations, driver’s licenses, and vehicle inspections 60 days in advance of the expiration date. You may not have received your renewal notices for several reasons. Your renewal notice may have gone to your leasing company, or lien holder. In addition, you will not receive a notice if you have a bad check, have an insurance stop, or your license is suspended or revoked. Instead, you will be mailed a notification of the stop. It is also important (and required) that you inform DMV of any change of address. This must be done in person as it is necessary to review original documentation.


Why are the lines so long at the service centers and the inspection station?

DMV has high volume periods when constituents will wait longer to receive service. To avoid long lines, please visit our service centers on Wednesdays and Thursdays (however, there will normally be a line prior to opening at all of our service centers). The inspection station experiences less customer volume on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday afternoons from 3 pm to 6 pm. For your convenience Vehicle Inspection Appointment Scheduling is available online.

Customers are advised that the days before and after a holiday are especially busy due to many customers being off from work. Also take advantage of our many on-line services.


How can I make my trip to the DMV faster?

When you come to the DMV, please make sure that you have current up-to-date documentation for each transaction. In addition, using credit cards, checks or money orders will speed your process. Last, you can use our online services and “skip the trip.”


What services are offered online?

DMV encourages residents to skip the trip, and go online for personalized tag requests, Vehicle Inspection Appointment Scheduling, vehicle registration renewals, driver’s license renewals, driver’s record requests, and ticket payments. You may NOT obtain a license, register a vehicle or change a name or address online, because during these transactions you are required to present original documents in person at a DMV service location.


Page 1 of 3      1  2  3