Latest news with #MartyHoman
Auto Blog
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Why North Carolina Lets Drivers Use Expired Licenses for 2 Years
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Backlog or not? Conflicting views regarding North Carolina's DMV As of July 1, North Carolina motorists are allowed to drive with a license that's expired until December 2027. The state's Governor, Josh Stein, signed the Senate bill into law for Class C licenses, the most common license type. Legislators cited long DMV wait times as their motivation behind passing the bill, and one state employee said what the state needs is more DMV offices and staff. The provision states: 'The General Assembly finds that there is a backlog of drivers unable to renew their driver's licenses in person. It is the intent of this section to eliminate that backlog,' according to the Port City Daily. However, Marty Homan, North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles communications manager, said: 'I would not use the term 'backlog.'' In 2024, North Carolina had a backlog of processing and issuing around 350,000 new and renewed licenses. This backlog was cleared last summer, and North Carolina's DMV identifies a state population increase, along with a recent deadline to obtain a REAL ID, as reducing service availability. Homan added that North Carolina's number of DMV examiner positions, staff that evaluate and test individuals applying for a license, permit, or ID card, has remained flat for decades despite a 2.5 million population increase. North Carolina state line road sign — Source: Getty Starting this weekend and through August 23, the state's DMV offices will resume Saturday walk-in services at 20 locations from 8:00 a.m. to noon, which include ID card renewals. This Senate bill clarifies that the state's license renewal grace period doesn't apply to those who have had their license suspended, revoked, or canceled. Why North Carolina's license renewal extension isn't all good news While not having to renew an expired North Carolina driver's license until December 2027 can be seen as a convenience, Homan noted: You may want to not delay in coming in because of all the other uses for your driver's license, those being, you know, getting on a plane, getting a bank loan, filling a prescription,' WFMY News 2 reports. North Carolina residents with an expired license also won't be able to renew or change auto insurance coverage. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Christopher Cook at Alliance Insurance Services said: 'If your license expired, they're [insurers] not going to renew the coverage that you've been offered. Maybe carriers will make an accommodation for our state because our state is behind, but today, they don't have a mechanism to make that accommodation.' Cook added that an insurance company will likely still pay your claim if you get into an accident with an expired license, but chances are that your coverage will experience changes when you renew. These changes can include higher premiums, restrictions, or denial. Drivers with an expired North Carolina license also face legal repercussions when driving out of state. People lined up at DMV kiosks — Source: Getty Final thoughts North Carolina legislators cited a backlog of license renewals as motivating their license renewal extension, but DMV employees in the state, such as Marty Homan, describe the problem as coming down to office and examiner employee shortages. Still, regardless of the General Assembly's explanation, lawmakers in the state can use the next two years to improve their in-person resources and expand their online license renewal options, like North Carolina's PayIt system, which allows eligible drivers to renew every other cycle virtually. About the Author Cody Carlson View Profile
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Yahoo
Woman passes out from heat while waiting in line for REAL ID at NC DMV
(WGHP) — A woman passed out from the heat while waiting in line at the office in High Point. EMS responded to the scene, and, after receiving help, the woman got back in line. Lines grow at North Carolina DMVs as REAL ID deadline looms She says she was in line to get a REAL ID, which she said she would need for work. With only one week left until REAL ID requirements are rolled out, many are rushing to the DMV. We spoke with people in line at the High Point DMV who said they had been waiting for hours in the heat from 7 to 8 a.m. They did not have appointments as the DMV was booked out two to three months. The DMV does not take walk-ins until noon. Starting May 7, REAL ID will be required to get on a domestic flight or to visit military bases, nuclear bases, federal courthouses, federal prisons, and other federal facilities. Marty Homan, the DMV communications manager from the North Carolina Department of Transportation, says you do not need a REAL ID if you are not taking domestic flights or visiting federal facilities. If you do not have a REAL ID after the implementation date, you can instead bring federally-issued identification, such as a passport or military-issued ID, though security may take longer than usual. Homan also said you can scan a QR code at the DMV to join the queue, and you will receive a text message when it's your turn, so you do not need to wait outside in the heat. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
Woman passes out from heat while waiting in line for REAL ID at High Point DMV
(WGHP) — A woman passed out from the heat while waiting in line at the office in High Point. EMS responded to the scene, and, after receiving help, the woman got back in line. Lines grow at North Carolina DMVs as REAL ID deadline looms She says she was in line to get a REAL ID, which she said she would need for work. With only one week left until REAL ID requirements are rolled out, many are rushing to the DMV. We spoke with people in line at the High Point DMV who said they had been waiting for hours in the heat from 7 to 8 a.m. They did not have appointments as the DMV was booked out two to three months. The DMV does not take walk-ins until noon. Starting May 7, REAL ID will be required to get on a domestic flight or to visit military bases, nuclear bases, federal courthouses, federal prisons and other federal facilities. Marty Homan, the DMV communications manager from the North Carolina Department of Transportation, says you do not need a REAL ID if you are not taking domestic flights or visiting federal facilities. If you do not have a REAL ID after the implementation date, you can instead bring federally-issued identification, such as a passport or military-issued ID, though security may take longer than usual. Homan also said you can scan a QR code at the DMV to join the queue, and you will receive a text message when it's your turn, so you do not need to wait outside in the heat. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
NCDOT responds to concerns of long DMV wait times
WASHINGTON, N.C. (WNCT)– Communities across the state are noticing longer lines and longer wait times at the local DMV with the Real I.D. implementation date fast approaching. You will need a Real I.D. starting May 7, 2025 in order to fly or visit government facilities in the United States. NCDOT wants to stress the importance that this is not a deadline and getting a Real I.D. is completely optional. You can still get your Real I.D. after May 7th. You do not need a Real I.D. to drive your vehicle but you will need to get it if you plan to fly without using a passport or other form of government identification. DMV offices served a total of 185,000 transactions in the month of March alone. Of those, 82,000 were for a Real I.D. This is the most Real I.D. transactions in one month for the DMV in their recent past and they expect that number to grow as we move through both April and May. As a result, 51 percent of licenses in the state are now Real I.D. When this initiative launched, the goal was to ideally have a number around 50 percent, so these results are a good sign for NCDOT and they expect that number to continue to rise as well. Real I.D. customers aren't the only people at the DMV offices causing congestion. 'It's due to a variety of factors. Number one is the explosive population growth we've seen across the state over the last two decades,' DMV Communications Manager for NCDOT Marty Homan said. 'Teen drivers have to come into an office three times in a year-and-a-half timeframe and so, that's a lot of folks that are coming into the office,' For the morning hours, the DMV only serves scheduled appointments, they then serve walk-ins in the afternoon. As of right now, if you try to schedule an appointment, the next available date could be as far as 90 days away. Some people in the senior community have been seen waiting outside with lawn chairs due to the elongated wait times. The DMV also turns away walk-ins after they have reached a certain capacity of customers that they can service before closing time, forcing them to turn away any other people who are still waiting outside. 'I figured I could wait an hour and that would be no problem,' Earl Carney of Belhaven said. 'After about two-and-a-half hours, I finally reached the front door. Then, they said they had reached their capacity inside and they would no longer be accepting walk-ins for the rest of the day. One man I met said he drove 50 minutes just to get down here and try before ultimately not getting in. He said he was going to have to come back and try again the next day until he could get in.' The NCDOT is already working on solutions. Ninety-two out of 115 DMV locations are currently operating with an extended hour each day to try and serve more people. Starting May 31st, they will also be offering Saturday hours from 8 a.m. until noon for select locations including Greenville. This gives some people a chance to get in who may not be able to find time for the DMV during their average work week. For any elderly or disabled seniors, they advise you to get in contact with someone at the front desk. As soon as you arrive, make your disability known so that they can help you with the process. The workers at the DMV office are unable to help you or prioritize you if they are unaware of this disability. There is also a push in state legislation to approve more DMV employees to try and meet this demand. H.B. 199 requests for 24 additional employees at two new office locations and 61 additional employee positions to fill spaces that are currently vacant across the state. This legislation was included in the Governor's budget but not in the Senate and has yet to be approved by the House. For more information on how to schedule an appointment or for answers to frequently asked questions visit their website here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Yahoo
Real ID enforcement begins in less than two months
JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) — Starting May 7, 2025, a Real ID or another acceptable form of identification will be needed to board a plane and get into most federal buildings and military bases. Close to 50 percent of active North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) customers already have a Real ID, according to the department. The new identification is an enhancement of the current license by adding a star to the top right corner. Other acceptable forms of ID that can be used instead are a passport or a Department of Defense ID. TSA's full list of acceptable IDs are here. 'There are a lot of options. Getting a real ID is not required. It's a convenience thing,' Communications Director for the DMV Marty Homan said. 'It's for if you don't want to lug your passport wherever you're going, if you're just taking a flight within the country, you don't want to use your passport.' Most REAL ID appointments are booked for the next 90 days; however, most DMV offices accept walk-ins after noon. Appointments can also still be made after May 7th. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
