REDDING, California — A Redding man shares his recent experience with his local DMV after it changed its services to customers across the state.
Donald Arnold told us that in June 2024, he waited in line for 20 minutes at the DMV office on Civic Center Drive. He was there to renew his vehicle registration, but after waiting, a DMV employee told him that the service was no longer offered on-site. Instead, Arnold said, he was told to either use an off-site kiosk or apply for registration renewal online or by mail.
According to a flyer that was handed out to Arnold, the services that are no longer offered there include not only the renewal of vehicle registration, but also the renewal and replacement of driving licenses and identity cards, as well as the request for a driver and vehicle pass.
“I was shocked,” Arnold said. “And (the DMV employee) gave me this piece of paper that had all the things they’re not doing here at the DMV anymore. I was curious why this person is there if they’re not doing these things, and why are we as taxpayers paying for this building and all these people who work here if they’re not doing anything for us. Isn’t that what they’re supposed to do?”
DMV officials told us in a statement that starting June 3, 2024, the DMV is “expanding its digital transformation efforts and bringing more services online as part of California’s efforts to increase government efficiency.”
They say they have “reduced potential wait times for customers by requiring them to complete simple transactions through alternative, ‘outside the office.'” Those options include the Internet or using self-service kiosks, which they say are often located in DMV offices and places like grocery stores.
Arnold expressed concern that some people may not have access to the resources they need. He told us he wants to provide more information to customers about the changes.
