SAN DIEGO (KGTV) -- Two DMV field offices in San Diego County are among 25 locations across California that will reopen starting Friday.
DMV officials said the offices will be open starting May 8 to help customers with appointments and with any transactions that require in-person visits. The field offices that are reopening were selected “based on location, size, service capacity and the ability to offer enhanced service to commercial driver license customers,” according to officials.
The other field offices will reopen in phases in the coming weeks, the DMV said.
The two county locations that will reopen May 8:
- San Diego (in Hillcrest, on 3960 Normal St.)
- San Marcos on 590 Rancheros Dr.
The reopened field offices’ hours will be Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. On Wednesdays, the offices will open at 9 a.m.
Even with the reopening of the 25 field offices, DMV officials are reminding customers they can continue to use the department’s online services to complete transactions such as driver license and vehicle registration renewals.
The offices will be open for people with appointments and for select transactions, including:
- 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
- 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 allows
DMV officials said employees will maintain proper social distancing as they serve customers.
"In addition to physical distancing, employees will have access to disinfecting wipes, hand sanitizer, facial shields, gloves and soap and water. The DMV also will provide hand washing stations for customer use. Customers will be required to wear a face covering and remain 6 feet apart in line. Customers will also be 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 said.
During the state’s response to the pandemic, the DMV has taken the following actions:
- Extending all driver licenses that expire between March 1 and May 31, 2020. Drivers 70 years and older are receiving a 120-day temporary paper extension in the mail, and drivers 69 and younger can request a free temporary paper extension online
- Keeping expiring commercial licenses, endorsements and certificates valid through June 30, 2020
- Extending identification cards expiring on or after March 4, 2020, to be valid through June 22, 2020
- Waiving late fees [dmv.ca.gov] and penalties for vehicle registration renewals due between March 16 and May 31, 2020, and paid within 60 days of the original expiration date, as well as delaying other requirements
- Temporarily waiving required in-person renewals for eligible driver license and identification cardholders with expirations in March, April, and May 2020. Individuals who meet the criteria are able to renew online or by mail
- Launching the DMV Virtual Field Office to create new digital options for transactions that previously required an in-person office visit
- Canceling all behind-the-wheel drive tests to honor social distancing guidelines
- Suspending extended office hours and Saturday service
