More kiosks could shorten Nevada DMV lines

CARSON CITY -- Renewing your driver's license soon could be as fast and easy as shopping for groceries.

The state Board of Examiners voted 3-0 Monday to let private companies install 40 to 80 more kiosks in supermarkets where drivers can complete their Department of Motor Vehicles business without waiting in a long line.

If the kiosk plan catches on with the public, Director Bruce Breslow said, then there will be an added benefit: Fewer people will need to visit DMV offices, and the average wait at a typical DMV office will be reduced by 12 percent.

There are 27 kiosks, or computer terminals, open in supermarkets and other locations across the state, but they don't handle driver's license renewal.

Generally there is $1 extra charge for a customer to use a kiosk to handle a car registration renewal or other DMV business.

By April, Breslow anticipates kiosks will be able to renew drivers' licenses, a service that likely will cost more.

The Board of Examiners, led by Gov. Brian Sandoval, approved a 10-year contract to allow private companies to construct more kiosks.

From the user fees, they are expected to reap more than $27 million.

The state will not lose anything because the companies are compensated through the additional user fees.

Breslow said about 99 percent of current kiosk business is car registration renewals.

Most of the kiosks are in Southern Nevada, the latest at the Albertsons at Craig Road and Decatur Boulevard.

Locations of all kiosks can be found at the DMV website: www.dmvnv.com.

Contact Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.