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North Carolina is on fire. Now, they have taken a historic step because they want to leave behind the in-person renewal of driver’s licenses, putting themselves at the forefront of modernizing public services! And really, waiting in line to renew your driver’s license could easily be among the 10 worst moments of any service. Now,
we’ll be able to avoid those excruciating visits to the DMV
to complete our paperwork because you’ll be able to renew your driver’s license online or at specially designed DMV kiosks. Want to know more? Well, here’s a complete guide so you know exactly how your life is going to sound now every time you need to renew your driver’s license:
The end of long waits at the DMV, finally!
It’s clearly our favorite news, North Carolina drivers can now renew their licenses without setting foot in DMV offices, thanks to the online and self-service options the state has rolled out.
But wait… how does it work?
It will be through the PayIt system, which allows citizens to renew their license and state ID from home. Let’s see, this service isn’t completely new since it’s already used for other payments, but the novelty is that now you can also renew your license.
And the process is super quick: you can start the process six months before your license expires or
up to two years after it has expired (as long as you meet the requirements, don’t think it’s always possible).
Of course, keep in mind that you’ll need to pay an additional fee of $3 per transaction and a 1.85% fee for card processing. These payments don’t go to the government, but instead cover the maintenance of the platform, the famous “processing fees”.
Once, once no
Although this convenience is a big step forward, you won’t be able to use it for every renewal, and that’s the only bad news we have. This means that online renewal is only allowed in alternating cycles, so one year you’ll be able to do it online, but the next year you’ll have to go to the DMV and endure those unbearable lines again… Even so, you avoid having to do it for eight or ten years!
And if I don’t use the internet?
Of course, the North Carolina DMV is aware that not everyone has access to the internet or is very tech-savvy, so they will offer self-service kiosks and renewals by mail to reach all users.
On one hand, the kiosks will allow any eligible driver to renew their license or ID without interacting with DMV staff. These devices will be placed at different strategic points across the state and it’s expected that their number will increase soon.
On the other hand, the renewal by mail is more limited: it can only be done once in a lifetime, except for military personnel stationed outside the state. They are allowed to do it twice, but with a temporary validity that will depend on their return to North Carolina.
What does it mean for the DMV?
This paradigm shift is transforming the way the DMV manages its services. With most routine renewals happening outside the offices, the staff can focus on more complex issues: first-time licenses, suspensions, or commercial needs, and everyone wins!
North Carolina is thus following the lead of other states where drivers aged 79 to 87 no longer have to take annual tests to renew their license. They’re moving towards simplification and digitization, and towards the comfort of the users.
Is it really the end of in-person renewals?
Not entirely, of course. Drivers who have legal issues with their license or who want to update their commercial permit will still have to go to DMV offices (and once every two years, so you don’t lose the habit!).
The online license renewal in North Carolina marks the beginning of a more convenient era for everyone. Digitization not only makes life easier for us but also helps to decongest DMV offices (thank God) and will allow more resources to be dedicated to cases that require personalized attention.
