After Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles offices close for next week and reopen, lines may be longer, the state commissioner of motor vehicles warns.
The state DMV will be open Saturday, but after that it closes for a week to upgrade its 50-year-old computer system, state officials have announced.
AAA offices will still be able to perform some DMV functions during the closure, and an extension is being given on deadlines for some renewals, state officials have announced.
“We ask [for] our customers’ patience — expect long lines when we reopen,” said Motor Vehicles Commissioner Andres Ayala Jr. at a news conference Thursday.
When other states have closed for similar computer upgrades, long lines result afterward — for some states this has lasted for weeks, for others it’s lasted for months, he said. Extensions have been given for deadlines to get driver’s licenses, IDs and some registrations, he said.
Therefore, Ayala said, “Don’t rush back when we reopen Aug. 18, because of those extensions.”
After DMV offices close on Saturday, “all of our registration services will be unavailable until at least Aug. 17, at the earliest, when online services begin,” he said. DMV branch offices will then open the next day. “Folks need to consider whether they should get to the DMV within the next couple of days to do anything registration related.”
The DMV will be closed “except for licensing services, which include scheduled appointments for knowledge and road-skills testing, as well as administrative penalty hearings for issues such as operating under the influence.”
“In the end, it will mean more online transactions, so you don’t have to come to DMV as often,” Ayala said. “There will be more efficient customer service, as well.”
You can find AAA Northeast offices near Darien here:
Here’s the July 22 announcement from the state, with links for more information:
Governor Dannel P. Malloy and Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Commissioner Andres Ayala, Jr., today announced that major customer service improvements, including the addition of new online services, will require DMV to close its offices – except for licensing services – from Tuesday, August 11 through Saturday, August 15, 2015. The department’s offices will reopen for all transactions on Tuesday, August 18, 2015.
The DMV\’s nearest “Hub Office” at 540 Main Ave. in Norwalk.
These improvements come as the DMV undertakes a major upgrade of its complex and outdated computer systems, which will modernize how residents interact and receive services from the agency. With the coming upgrades, Connecticut residents will now be able to complete many functions that previously required an in-person visit over the internet.
“This computer modernization project will significantly change how customers do business with the DMV by making more services available over the internet and ultimately making it more convenient for the residents of our state,” Governor Malloy said. “This will be the first upgrade of the Connecticut DMV’s computer system in nearly a half century. It will allow customers to conduct more routine business online, easing the burden on DMV offices and staff to provide better, faster service to Connecticut drivers.”
To help ease the effects of the shutdown and bringing up a new system, beginning August 11, Governor Malloy and Commissioner Ayala have ordered that the expiration date of all driver’s licenses, ID cards or vehicle registrations will be extended through October 10, 2015, and renewals can be done without a late fee until that date.
The agency’s shutdown will allow for the integration of databases and the transfer of technology from one system to the next, as well as the testing of various components of the system to ensure they work as designed. This cannot be done while the agency conducts transactions and needs to be done during the business work day.
Commissioner Ayala explained that this major change aims to make the DMV easier for customers, and allow them to avoid coming into the DMV offices in person.
“Customers will soon be able to ask themselves, ‘Do I really need to visit a DMV office?’ They will be able to get out of line and go online for many more services,” Commissioner Ayala said.
He cautioned, however, that in the days preceding and following the shutdown, customers should anticipate longer than usual lines at DMV.
“As we gear up, we expect heavier than usual business. During this period, we kindly ask customers to also use AAA offices, if possible, for license and ID renewals. Once we open back up, we also encourage them to use our new online services. This will help reduce unnecessary waits at a DMV office,” Commissioner Ayala added.
Although extensions have been given for the credentials and registrations DMV issues, emissions test due dates have not been extended, and all compliance issues remain unaffected by the extension. All customers who take advantage of the registration extension must maintain insurance coverage on their vehicles.
AAA offices will also be open during the DMV shutdown period for license and ID card renewals.
The DMV is also launching a radio, television and digital advertising campaign called “Gear Up,” beginning today, to make customers aware of the shutdown. The advertising will also inform customers of the new online services.
Beginning August 17, DMV
on its website will offer the following new online services:
• Improving the existing online registration renewal program
• Online checking for items, such as unpaid property taxes, lack of insurance, delinquent parking violations, which can hold up a registration renewal and cause repeat trips to DMV
• Reprinting a registration certificate from a home or other computer
• Canceling a registration online
• Ordering online special plates, such as vanity plates
• Ordering online replacements for damaged plates
• Providing customers with an option for DMV to contact them either by mail or e-mail
As DMV rolls out the new system, which involves converting millions of vehicle and customer records across several DMV databases, the agency advises customers to check the
DMV website for updates.
