Heavy traffic expected before and after Thanksgiving

The Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Monday after the holiday are notoriously busy days at the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

DMV recommends customers pick another day to take care of license and registration needs or use one of the alternate methods to conduct DMV business.

DMV offices will be closed four days from Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 27) through Sunday, Nov. 30. The Monday following Thanksgiving is traditionally the DMV’s busiest day of the year.

“The holidays are hectic enough without spending time in a crowded office,” said DMV Director Troy Dillard. “Some transactions require you to come to an office. However, most transactions can be carried out online, at a kiosk or by mail,” added Dillard.

Offices will also be closed Thursday, Dec. 25 for Christmas and Thursday, Jan. 1 for New Year’s.

The DMV offers motorists more than two dozen online transactions.  The agency also has self-service kiosks at most DMV offices and at 26 supermarkets and other partner locations across the state.

“Last year we conducted eight million transactions in the state of Nevada and 1.5 million of those were taken care of online or at a kiosk,” said DMV Director Troy Dillard.  “We launched our MyDMV portal last year and now have nearly 340,000 accounts. With MyDMV, all of your license and registration information is consolidated in one place for convenience,” he added.

DMV touch-screen kiosks can process and print a registration renewal certificate and decal; print a driver history record; renew or order a duplicate driver’s license, instruction permit or ID card; reinstate a suspended vehicle registration and process exemptions for registration renewals. They offer printed and audio assistance in both English and Spanish. Visit www.dmvnv.com/kiosk for details.

Dillard said those customers who do visit a DMV office should use the agency’s new Dash Pass queue system that allows them to log in with DMV by phone, text or online and place themselves in line without being physically present.  Dash Pass sends text updates or calls back with an estimated wait time. It then sends reminders and even tells the customers which window will serve them. Visit www.dmvnv.com/dashpass.htm for more information.

“It changes the whole dynamic of waiting in line at the DMV,” said Dillard. “Our customers can now check in from anywhere and use their time as they see fit.”