DMV to reopen remaining field offices in California

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. -- The California Department of Motor Vehicles will reopen its remaining field offices on Thursday.

The DMV offices have been closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the reopening, employees at 169 field offices will assist customers with current appointments at the offices and limit transactions that require an in-person visit.

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, employees will wear face coverings and maintain physical distancing and have access to disinfecting wipes, hand sanitizer, facial shields, gloves and soap and water.

The DMV will provide hand-washing stations for customers at select locations.

Customers will be required to wear a face covering and be six feet apart in line. Customers are also offered a text message that will allow them to wait outside the building until notified they are ready to be served.

Entry into the building will be metered, and customers may experience extended wait times.

The DMV recommends customers to use their online and virtual services to complete transactions. This includes eligible driver license and vehicle restoration renewals.

Services that can only be completed at the DMV field office will be the following:

• Paying registration for a vehicle impounded because of registration-related issues
• Reinstating a suspended or revoked driver license
• Applying for a reduced-fee or no-fee identification card
• Processing commercial driver license transactions
• Applying for a disabled person parking placards (this can also be done by mail using the REG 195 form)
• Adding an ambulance certificate or firefighter endorsement to a driver license
• Verifying a transit training document to drive a transit bus
• Processing DMV Express customers for REAL ID transactions, if time and space allow
• Vehicle verifications

DMV offices will also offer additional services for commercial drivers including vehicle inspections and basic control tests.

The commercial offices will begin contacting previously scheduled applicants to reschedule the vehicle inspection and basic skills components.

The DMV will be rescheduling appointments canceled during the temporary closure and notifying customers of the new date.

The DMV has expanded their credit card and digital wallet payment options to all offices statewide.

The DMV has also put a new program called DMV Express that will allow customers to fill out an online application for the REAL ID.

The REAL ID enforcement date begins October 1, 2021.

The DMV say they will also resume offering motorcycle drive tests.

Behind-the-wheel drive tests are not yet available.