Nevada DMV offices to reopen on June 15

Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles offices will reopen June 15 following a nearly three-month closure due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Department officials announced the opening date in a virtual news conference Monday. The reopening will mark the first time since March 17 that motorists will be allowed inside DMV locations to complete transactions.

Those who had a driver’s license renewal, a vehicle registration or any other time-sensitive document that lapsed during the closure have 90-day extensions. Those whose document expires between March 16 and June 16 will have 90 days from reopening to take care of their transaction. Those whose document falls within 30 days after June 16 have 60 days to complete their transactions.

“There is no need for most people to rush right down on Day One,” said Julie Butler, DMV director, during the virtual news conference. “We are going to be doing a phased reopening. We are are going to be serving those with the most urgent needs first and asking others to delay their visit for approximately 30 days or so.”

Renewals of documents that expired before March 16 also will be made a priority during the initial reopening date.

DMV officials recommend motorists take a three-step process upon returning. First, they should go online and see if they can complete their transaction there. If not, they are asked to wait, if possible, to let those with immediate needs complete their transactions in person first. Lastly, if they do require an immediate in-person visit, they should come prepared with all required documents and paperwork.

DMV: Go online first

During the first 30 days after reopening, the DMV will offer only services that directly affect a person’s ability to drive, the office announced last month.

Those transactions include driver’s license suspension or revocation reinstatements, driver’s license skills and knowledge tests, original vehicle registration of recently purchased vehicles not eligible for online registration, vehicle movement permits and title transfers.

“If you do not have the ability to drive legally, those are the types of transactions that we want to see in our office upon reopening,” Butler said. “But for everyone else that means we’re going to ask you to delay your visit for the first 30 days or so. Please don’t rush in if you can wait.”

The DMV will also prioritize transactions for those with disabilities or special needs, the elderly, or military members preparing for enlistment or deployment, Butler said.

Customers might be asked to wait outside in their vehicle until called. Customers will not be allowed to wait inside the offices for any extended period.

The offices may stop accepting new customers each afternoon based on demand.

The DMV will follow all social distancing guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Nevada Department of Health and Human Services. The department will limit the number of people in its buildings, including staff, to no more than 50 percent of the building occupancy limit.

DMV driving instructors will don face masks, face shields, gowns and gloves while motorists take the road test. Customers are urged to also wear a mask or face covering during the test. DMV staff in offices will wear masks, and customers are urged to do so, as well.

Appointments and driving skills tests will be available beginning June 15. DMV officials project they’ll be back at full service around mid- to late July.

Driving skills tests will be administered by appointment only.

The department staff was brought back to work May 26 and has been contacting customers with previous appointments and conducting vehicle registrations on a drop-off basis.

“We have been reaching out to people who had their appointments canceled during our closure and (have been) asking them to reschedule their appointments so that we can serve those folks who had appointments as part of our first in line process,” Butler said.

New technology

Upon reopening the DMV will implement two new technology services that were in planning stages before the closure.

The MyDMV online services portal now allows motorists to set up an account without using a Social Security number. This will give approximately 60,000 driver authorization card holders full access to DMV online services, including address changes, duplicate licenses and vehicle registration cancellation.

MyDMV will also ask all customers to answer security questions as an added security enhancement.

Additionally the DMV will launch “Mobile Ticket,” which will allow customers to check in and join the line by using their cellphones to scan a QR code or entering a web page link.

Mobile Ticket will send text messages showing customers where they stand in line, allowing the customer to wait elsewhere.

“The new mobile ticket feature will help us serve our walk up customers more efficiently,” said Tonya Laney, DMV field services administrator. “It allows us to enter them into a virtual line for customers to monitor their place in line from their smartphone or smart device.”

Contact Mick Akers at makers@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2920. Follow @mickakers on Twitter.