Orange County's DMV Offices Start To Reopen

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — The California Department of Motor Vehicles says it'll reopen 25 of its offices Friday to assist customers with appointments "and with transactions that require an in-person visit to a field office." The California Department of Motor Vehicles will reopen select field offices across the state on Friday, May 8, to assist customers with appointments and with transactions that require an in-person visit to a field office during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The DMV continues to encourage customers to use online services, its expanded virtual services and other service channels to complete transactions, including driver license and vehicle registration renewals.

The following Orange County offices will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the exception of opening at 9 a.m. Wednesday:

• Fullerton
• Santa Ana

Employees in the remainder of DMV’s 170 public offices will provide services through the Virtual Field Office. The DMV plans to open these offices in phases during the coming weeks. More information on office openings will be provided on the DMV website.

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.

Californians who do not have an urgent need to go to a DMV field office should delay their visit.

The DMV has taken a number of actions during the COVID-19 pandemic, including:

• 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 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.

Californians who do not have an urgent need to go to a DMV field office should delay their visit, they said.