North Carolina DMV to Add Nearly 100 Positions to Reduce Wait Times
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles is moving to address long-standing complaints about wait times by adding nearly 100 new employees across its offices in the next two years.
Effort to Fix Long-Standing Staffing Shortages
The DMV currently operates with about 528 employees across 115 locations statewide. Following a mini-budget signed into law earlier this month by Governor Josh Stein, 40 new positions were immediately authorized, with officials hoping to fill those roles in the coming months. In total, 97 additional staff members are expected to be hired by 2027.
“We hope it will make a difference. In total 97 positions over the next two years, it still might not be enough,” said DMV Communications Director Marty Homan. “Nothing is going to be a silver bullet, we have to get better in the office, more efficient, and more transactions online.”
Frustrations from Residents
Many drivers say staffing shortages have made basic services frustrating. Charlotte resident Sarah Dellinger said she waited two months for an appointment before finally getting her Real ID this week.
“Absolutely they need more,” she said, pointing to the ongoing struggle many North Carolinians face in booking appointments.
A state audit released earlier this month added further pressure, describing the DMV’s staffing model as “unsustainable” and highlighting the well-documented wait time challenges.
Policy and Service Changes
Beyond hiring, the DMV has also introduced operational changes in recent months to ease the strain. Walk-in visits are now allowed all day rather than just in the afternoon. Customers entering a branch are added to a queue system that assigns them a return time, eliminating the need to wait at the office.
Homan noted that while more staff are crucial, the legislature must continue to allocate positions: “You look around and see how hard our employees are working, but seeing that many people in line, we can tell we need more employees. That’s something we hear from customers all the time.”
The agency says these combined efforts have already helped more people access DMV services without enduring all-day waits.
As North Carolina continues to grow, state leaders acknowledge more reform may still be needed to modernize operations and meet demand.
Readers who have experienced long DMV waits are encouraged to share their stories or ideas on how service can be improved at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
