Progress can often be counted in small steps or, in the case of the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV), in thousands of transactions. The state's DMV has reached a notable milestone of 25,000 transactions through self-service kiosks located in select Harris Teeter stores in three counties, since the program launched a year ago in March.
DMV Commissioner Wayne Goodwin shared his enthusiasm with the public, "I'm very excited about the success of our kiosk pilot." As reported by the official NCDMV press release, Goodwin believes that technology plays a pivotal role in streamlining services, reducing wait times and extending availability beyond the typical work week.
The kiosk services, which include driver's license and ID card renewals, as well as vehicle registration renewals and property tax payments, offer a level of convenience that aligns well with today's on-the-go lifestyle. The initiative has placed nine kiosks across Wake, Mecklenburg, and Cumberland counties, with locations strategically embedded within the community's daily bustle.
Commissioner Goodwin outlined the practicality of the kiosks saying, "The benefit of going to a kiosk to get your service is the ability to walk away with your product in your hand." This remark, courtesy of the NCDMV press release, underscores the immediate gratification of the system allowing customers to use their new paper license or registration sticker without delay.
Looking to the future, plans include a 10th kiosk to be installed at the Soldier Support Center on base in Fayetteville. Further expansions are on the horizon, dependent on reaching specific usage milestones. The kiosks emerged from a partnership with Intellectual Technology, Inc. (ITI), who handles the service at no upfront cost to the state. Users are charged a $4.95 service fee per transaction, as well as a 2% credit/debit card processing fee, to cover the operational expenses.
