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DMV Home General Information FAQs

DMV Frequently Asked Questions


What are the best times to visit the various DMV locations?

Inspection Station

  • The best times to visit the inspection station are Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday from 8 am - 10 am and 2 pm - 3 pm. Customers are advised that the days before and after a holiday, lunch hours and Saturdays are especially busy due to many customers being off from work. For your convenience Vehicle Inspection Appointment Scheduling is available online.
Adjudication Services
  • The best times to visit to contest a ticket or make a ticket payment are Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Customers are advised that the days before and after a holiday, lunch hours and the first day of the work week are especially busy due to many customers being off from work.
Georgetown, Penn Branch and Southwest Service Centers
  • We encourage customers to "Skip the Trip" and conduct their transactions online and by mail. The best times to visit a service center is on Wednesday and Thursday. Customers are advised that the days before and after a holiday, lunch hours, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays are especially busy at all Service Centers. Also, registration renewals can no longer be done in person and must be done online or by mail.
Customers are always advised to "skip the trip", avoid lines and conduct their transactions Online. However, if you do need to visit in person, please check our locations and hours.

Why didn’t I receive my renewal notice?

Renewal notices are sent for vehicle registrations, driver’s licenses, identification cards and vehicle inspections 60 days in advance of the expiration date. You may not have received your renewal notices for several reasons. Your renewal notice may have gone to your leasing company, or lien holder. In addition, you will not receive a notice if you have a bad check, have an insurance stop, or your license is suspended or revoked. Instead, you will be mailed a notification of the stop. It is also important (and required) that you inform DMV of any change of address. This must be done in person as it is necessary to review original documentation.


Is there anyway to verify whether my license, identification card or vehicle registration is currently valid?

Yes, DMV provides online transactions that allow you to determine whether a license, identification card (ID) or vehicle registration card is currently valid. You will need your license, ID or tag number to use these transactions. If your credential is not valid and it is not currently expired, you can either contact us at 311 (or 202-737-4404) or visit a DMV service center location to determine why your credential is no longer valid. Delinquent moving violation tickets, points and insurance lapses are some of the many reasons why a credential may be suspended and no longer valid.


How can I make my trip to the DMV faster?

When you come to the DMV, please make sure that you have current up-to-date documentation for each transaction. In addition, using credit cards, checks or money orders will speed your process. Last, you can use our online services and “skip the trip.”


What services are offered online?

DMV encourages residents to skip the trip, and go online for personalized tag requests, Vehicle Inspection Appointment Scheduling, vehicle registration renewals, driver’s license renewals, ticket payments and other services. You may NOT obtain an original license, register a vehicle or change a name or address online, because during these transactions you are required to present original documents in person at a DMV service location.


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