A Message from Director Robinson

As we celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday this month, I'm thankful DC DMV has an opportunity to save lives everyday through the many services we offer District residents as well as the broader public. I'm also thankful I have the opportunity to work with so many hard-working colleagues who demonstrate their dedication to public service and providing quality customer service every day. Thank you Team DMV!  As November is National Child Safety and Protection Month, please read this month's Vision Zero article where we highlight several important tips to help prevent children from being injured or killed in a backover incident. Remember, we all have a responsibility to keep our children safe! In this month's newsletter, we remind the public that DC DMV offers more than 55 online services. So, Skip the Trip when possible and complete your DMV transaction at a time and location of your choosing. For those residents who served our country in uniform, we include a reminder that DC DMV continues to offer Veteran specialty vehicle tags available at all service centers. In this month's edition, we also include a reminder for domestic air travelers that the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA’s) deadline for REAL ID compliance is May 3, 2023. Finally, your feedback is important so please join me for our DC DMV Live Chat held the first Thursday of each month. I'll be online for a full hour to respond in real-time to any of your DC DMV-related questions. Our next online live chat is scheduled for Thursday, December 1 at 12 p.m.  Thank you for reading this edition of our newsletter. Enjoy and stay safe!

National Child Safety and Protection Month - Preventing Backover Incidents

November is National Child Safety and Protection Month. The entire month is dedicated to recognizing the unique potential dangers many children face in their everyday lives and taking tangible steps to address those dangers. Taking steps to prevent backover incidents is one way we can keep our children safe.

Many children are killed or seriously injured in backover incidents. A backover incident typically occurs when a vehicle coming out of a driveway or parking space backs over an unattended child because the driver did not see him or her. The following tips can prevent backover incidents:

• Teach children not to play in or around cars.
• Be aware of small children—the smaller a child, the more likely it is you will not see them.
• Teach children to move away from a vehicle when a driver gets in it or if the car is started.
• Have children in the area stand to the side of the driveway or sidewalk so you can see them as you are backing out of a driveway or parking space.
• Make sure to look behind you while backing up slowly in case a child dashes behind your vehicle unexpectedly.
• Roll down your windows while backing out of your driveway or parking space so that you'll be able to hear what is happening outside of your vehicle.

• Teach your children to keep their toys and bikes out of the driveway.
• Because kids can move unpredictably, you should actively check your mirrors while backing up.
• Many cars are equipped with detection devices that provide rearview video or warning sounds, but they cannot completely take the place of actively walking around your car to make sure children are safely out of the way. Do not rely solely on these devices to detect what is behind your vehicle.

Cancel Your Vehicle Tags Using DC DMV's Mobile App

Have you recently sold or donated your vehicle, or have one or both of your vehicle tags been lost or stolen? If so, you can easily cancel your vehicle tags by downloading DC DMV's free mobile app where a tag cancellation request may be completed, along with several other vehicle services transactions. Remember, after cancelling your tags, you are responsible for properly and permanently disposing of your tags.

Don't delay! Download our free mobile app and have DC DMV At Your Fingertips!

Scan the QR Code Below or click here & Download the DC DMV App Today!

Mask Requirement Reminder

Effective August 20, 2022, DC DMV recommends the use of masks by employees and customers at all DC DMV facilities.

Masks are still required during the in-vehicle portion of a road test. 

DC DMV Offers More than 55 Online Services

Did you know DC DMV offers more than 55 online services so you can Skip the Trip to a DC DMV Service Center? Whether its renewing your vehicle registration, submitting a ticket to be contested, scheduling a road test appointment, or completing a change of address, DC DMV's online services allow you to complete a variety of transactions from wherever and whenever you choose.

DC DMV's website and online services are secure and encrypted so you can complete your online transactions knowing your personal information is protected. Unless otherwise noted, all of DC DMV's online services are available seven days per week, 24 hours a day.

Learn more by watching this video.

Veterans Specialty Tags Available at DC DMV

As we celebrate Veterans Day this month, DC DMV reminds our local veterans they can purchase a veterans specialty license plate at any DC DMV Service Center. The specialty tags include separate designs and emblems for each branch of the United States Armed Forces including:

• Army
• Navy
• Marines
• Air Force
• Coast Guard

Veterans will pay a one-time application fee of $52 for the specialty tag, and a yearly display fee of $26. Both the application and yearly display fees support the Office of Veterans Affairs Fund through a specially dedicated fund.

Additional information on DC DMV specialty vehicle tags is available here.

German Delegation Visits DC DMV to Discuss Digital Credentials

On Thursday, November 1, DC DMV was honored to host a delegation from Germany at the agency's 95 M Street SW location. The foreign dignitaries met with Director Robinson and his leadership team to exchange information and best practices related to digital IDs and driver licenses.

The visiting delegation included Dr. Markus Richter, State Secretary for the German Ministry of Interior; Dr. Konstantin Dueker, Ministry of Interior, Office of the State Secretary; Lara Wiengarten, Ministry of Interior, Directorate-General of Digital Administration; Dr. Joachim Eichorn, German Embassy, Head of Transportation and Digital Infrastructure Section; and Felix Wagner, Ministry of Interior, German Liaison Officer to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

As a reminder, beginning May 3, 2023, every air traveler 18 years of age and older must have a REAL ID-compliant driver license or identification card, or another TSA-acceptable form of identification at airport security checkpoints for domestic air travel.

Holiday Closure Update

In recognition of the Thanksgiving holiday, all DC DMV locations will be closed Thursday, November 25 and Friday, November 26. Regular business hours will resume Saturday, November 27.

Many of DC DMV's services will remain available online or via the agency's free mobile app.