DMV Saturday hours return as NC Governor and new commissioner address agency's challenges

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Governor Josh Stein and other state leaders talked about ongoing problems at the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles Friday morning.

The DMV is dealing with staffing shortages and low customer satisfaction. Long wait times are also a major concern as the demand for REAL ID appointments have increased.

Paul Tine, the new DMV commissioner, shared his plans to tackle these challenges.

He's focusing on better career benefits like higher pay, along with new equipment and uniforms. There will also be improvements to the website and social media, plus internal reorganization.

He also plans to make the walk-in process smoother and improve how appointments are managed.

"We have new core principles to promote problem-solving: service, efficiency, agility and accountability," Tine said at the news conference.

Saturday Hours Return

Saturday walk-in service hours return this weekend for several DMV offices across North Carolina.

The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles is expanding these services to include four additional offices in Elizabeth City, Clayton, Durham East, and Kernersville. Walk-in services will be available from 8 a.m. to noon on 11 Saturdays, from May 31 to August 23. There will be no services on June 28 and July 4.

The services provided include driver's license and ID card renewals or duplicates, address changes, REAL ID insurance, and road tests for customers who have completed the knowledge and written tests.

Last summer, nearly 17,000 people were served at 16 offices during 12 Saturdays.

These walk-in services will be available at the following 20 driver's license offices:

• Andrews, 1440 Main St.
• Asheville, 1624 Patton Ave.
• Charlotte North, 9711 David Taylor Dr.
• Charlotte South, 201 W. Arrowood Rd., Suite H
• Clayton, 1665 Old U.S. Hwy. 70 W. (Shotwell Station)
• Durham, 101 S. Miami Blvd.
• Elizabeth City, 1164 U.S. Hwy. 17 S.
• Fayetteville, 831 Elm St. (Eutaw Village)
• Graham, 111 E. Crescent Square
• Greensboro, 2391 Coliseum Blvd.
• Greenville, 4651 N. Creek Dr.
• Huntersville, 12101 Mount Holly-Huntersville Rd.
• Jacksonville, 299 Wilmington Hwy.
• Kernersville, 810-A N. Main St.
• Monroe, 3122 U.S. Hwy. 74 W.
• Raleigh East, 4121 New Bern Ave. (Wilder's Grove)
• Raleigh West, 3231 Avent Ferry Rd.
• Salisbury, US 29 S, 5780 South Main St.
• Wilmington, 2390 Carolina Beach Rd., Suite 104 (South Square Plaza)
• Winston-Salem, 2001 Silas Creek Pkwy.

Please note that the Raleigh East office will be open on Saturdays this year instead of the Raleigh North office.

With TSA now checking for REAL IDs, see here for requirements for air travel.

SEE ALSO | Travelers with no REAL ID can fly for now, but with likely extra steps