Every day at the east Raleigh DMV office, customers begin lining up at 7 a.m. Most of them wait around three and a half hours for service.
For a few minutes on Friday, Gov. Josh Stein joined them.
North Carolina’s Department for Motor Vehicles is facing a months-long backlog of appointments — with a typically busy summer season ramped up further by demand for REAL I.D. Stein has tapped a new commissioner for the department, who’s outlining both a series of quicker fixes and a longer-term “overhaul.” He and top transportation officials visited one of the offices as they delivered remarks on the plans.
“Know that we’re working,” said Paul Tine, who was named DMV commissioner at the end of April. “Know that these folks have not been empowered in the way that they need to, and that’s my job to do that.”
From left: North Carolina DMV Commissioner Paul Tine, Gov. Josh Stein and Secretary of Transportation Joey Hopkins speak to reporters about the DMV on Friday, May 30, 2025. (Photo: Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline)Tine’s first order of business, he says, is improving working conditions and morale in the understaffed offices. The department is moving to increase pay for examiners. They’re beginning to upgrade some long-outdated equipment, and issue new uniforms “for the first time in five years.” And they’re shuffling employees around to reinforce frontline desks — assigning both volunteering central staff and summer interns into high-demand offices.
Motorists visiting DMV offices in the coming months can also expect to see some changes, Tine said. Staff are beginning to “triage” walk-in customers — meeting them as they walk up and making sure they have correct documents so they don’t waste time in line. Four additional offices, and 20 total, are now open for some hours on Saturdays.
And the DMV has been aiming to streamline its website, making it easier to navigate options and clearly identify if you need a REAL I.D. — and if so, what documents you need to bring.
Tine says a longer-term strategic plan to transform the department is in the works. But part of that plan depends on the General Assembly — and whether lawmakers choose to invest more money into hiring additional examiners and bolstering DMV resources.
House Republicans’ proposed budget largely follows the governor’s lead, allocating money to fund dozens of new examiner positions. That budget also green-lights efforts to modernize the DMV’s technology and proposes a study to determine whether the DMV could be privatized.
The Senate budget does not include such additions, with Senate leader Phil Berger expressing skepticism that the department deserves more tax dollars. State Auditor Dave Boliek’s office is currently conducting an audit of the department, with results expected in the coming months.
Tine, who currently owns Midgett Insurance Agency, is a former state representative. He was elected as a Democrat but left the party later, calling himself an independent and choosing to caucus with Republicans. He co-chaired the transportation appropriations committee while in the General Assembly.
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