The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has made significant changes to its online services, enabling customers to complete transactions without visiting a branch office. Over 90% of transactions can now be completed on a phone, tablet, laptop, or computer. These services include renewing registration and driver’s licenses, requesting copies of registration and driving records, and replacing lost or stolen licenses.
DMV Director Steve Gordon stated that the agency aims to provide fast and efficient service to customers without the need for an office visit. The DMV is moving towards a mobile-first operation, making it easy for customers to handle simple transactions online. This not only saves time for customers but also reduces wait times for those who need to visit DMV offices. The processing time for receiving vehicle stickers and driver’s licenses has also been shortened, with most items being delivered in less than two weeks.
However, not all online DMV transactions are seamless. A viewer named Charles from Antelope experienced unexpected fees while trying to conduct business online. He was surprised to find over $70 in mandatory service charges, including service fees, credit card fees, and mailing fees. It was later discovered that Charles had clicked on a third-party site after googling the DMV, which charged additional fees for handling DMV transactions. CBS13 investigated and found that the official site for DMV transactions is dmv.ca.gov, and customers should be cautious when using third-party sites.
CBS News correspondent Kurtis Ming, an eleven-time Emmy Award-winner, reports on consumer investigations and anchors the CBS13 News on weekdays at 4 and 5:30 pm.