A Message from DC DMV Director Gabriel Robinson
Summer is well underway in our nation's capital, Washington, DC! For many, summer means time spent outside -- whether it's strolling around the neighborhood, traveling around the country, abroad, or dodging the summer heat with a splash at the nearest community pool or cooling center.
However you make your summer memorable this year, I encourage everyone to look out for each other, and as always, be sure to follow all the rules of the road. Watch out for pedestrians and cyclists, particularly when approaching intersections. Before you leave your vehicle, remember to check for children or pets. By taking these actions, we can all help achieve the Mayor's Vision Zero goal of seeing zero fatalities or serious injuries to travelers in the District because everyone deserves safer streets.
In this month's newsletter, there are safety tips on how to prevent your vehicle from theft, including what to do in the event your vehicle is stolen in DC. Additionally, keep reading to learn more about how to sign up for paperless notifications from the DMV or subscribe to our newsletter in Spanish!
As a reminder, your feedback is important to us. Please write us a letter or join me for the DC DMV Live Chat, held the first Thursday of each month. Our next online live chat is scheduled for Thursday, August 7 at 12 p.m. For a full hour, I will respond in real time to any of your DMV related questions.
To stay up to date on all things DC DMV year-round, follow us across our social media accounts on Instagram, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn. Thank you for reading this edition of our newsletter. Stay safe, DC!
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July is Vehicle Theft Prevention Month
This National Vehicle Theft Prevention Month, take steps to ensure you avoid being the victim of a costly crime. Vehicle theft is a multi-billion-dollar industry. In 2025, over 650,000 vehicles were stolen in the US. Since summer proves to be the worst season for vehicle theft, we encourage drivers and travelers to use common sense when parking and exiting a vehicle. Take note of the tips below to help keep your vehicle safe:
- Take your vehicle's key with you; do not leave it in or on your vehicle.
- Close and lock all windows and doors when you park. Park in well-lit areas if possible.
- Never leave valuables in your vehicle, especially if they can be seen from outside the vehicle.
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Additional measures to protect your vehicle can be found on MPD’s page dedicated to vehicle theft prevention.
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Contact the police - get a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) police report. Ensure that the report includes all necessary information such as your tag number; make, model and color of your vehicle; Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and any other identifying characteristics.
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File a claim with your insurance company as soon as possible.
- Please note: If you are the registered owner of the vehicle and you did not report it as stolen to the police, you may still be held responsible for any tickets issued.
- you have reported your vehicle stolen and are still receiving tickets, please contest your ticket and include a copy of the police report, ensuring it contains all relevant details about the stolen vehicle.
Vision Zero Reminder: 20 is Plenty
Slowing down gives you time to react and keeps everyone safe on the road. Remember, 20 mph is plenty on any street where people live, walk, bike or roll. Whether it's a ticket, a stressful close call, or a tragedy that can't be undone, speeding comes with a cost.
Getting there late is better than not arriving at all. At the end of the day, speeding catches up with you. Everyone deserves safer streets.
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