NC DMV to put self-service kiosks in grocery stores to speed up lines

July 19, 2023 • Republished from CharlotteAxios.com

As part of a wave of recent changes to cut office wait times, North Carolina’s Division of Motor Vehicles is placing kiosks in grocery stores this fall.

Why it matters: There’s been a dash to the DMV office in recent years. By May 2025, Americans need a REAL ID — which you must obtain in person from the DMV — to board a plane. Plus, the state Supreme Court recently ruled that North Carolinians will need a photo ID to vote in the 2023 election.

• But getting a license can be a day’s work, especially if the service you need requires an in-person visit.
• As of Tuesday, the next appointment at one of the four Charlotte offices wasn’t available until October.

Yes, but: DMV Commissioner Wayne Goodwin tells Axios part of the problem is that customers who could complete their tasks online are filling waiting rooms.

• In some cases, customers must appear in person, including if they’re new drivers or new state residents.

Details: The DMV will begin by deploying 20 kiosks in grocery stores and military bases around the state. They’ll predominantly be stationed in Mecklenburg and Wake counties, along with a few other metro areas, Goodwin says. The commissioner is aiming to expand to more than 100 kiosks statewide within a year and a half after the initial rollout.

• The locations have yet to be announced.
• The kiosks will have a to-be-determined fee. The fee for the online service is $3.

Like a lottery machine you’d see at your local grocery store, the self-service kiosks will be vertical devices with touchscreens, near the checkout. They’ll be an alternative for those who can’t or don’t want to complete services online.

• “It’s not the only solution for reducing lines and wait times, but it is a new tool in the toolbox for us to do that,” Goodwin says.

The big picture: Goodwin says demand at the DMV is up as North Carolina’s population quickly grows. Approximately 113 people moved to the Charlotte region every day from mid-2021 to mid-2022. It’s triggered a need for expanded options at the DMV. The division is also attempting to make up for staffing shortages.

• “Charlotte is certainly a ground zero for deploying the DMV kiosks,” Goodwin says, “because that’s where the greatest demand has been and where the greatest challenges exist with filling vacancies at DMV offices.”
• Goodwin suspects Charlotte’s cost of living has impacted the department’s ability to find workers. A DMV examiners’ starting salary is around $40,000.
• In April, Huntersville’s office was only 34% staffed.