Gov. Josh Stein, Secretary of Transportation Joey Hopkins and newly appointed North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Commissioner Paul Tine hosted a Friday press conference at the Raleigh East Driver License Office to highlight the state's response to ongoing DMV challenges. 

Hopkins addressed the issues of long wait times, difficulty booking appointments and an overwhelmed workforce within the DMV. He said that these issues increased due to a surge in population, strained staffing levels and a need for modernized solutions. 

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Because of these issues, Hopkins said he was honored to have Tine on as commissioner, as he brings a "wealth of experience" that will work on the urgent need of improvements. 

Tine addressed a number of changes he plans to implement, but most notable were:

  • Better career benefits for examiners, including increased pay, new equipment and new uniforms
    • New and improved website and social media, with better usability
      • Internal department reorganization
        • 20 locations to open on Saturdays for walk-in hours, perfect for families during the summer, starting this weekend of May 31

          "We have new core principles to promote problem-solving: service, efficiency, agility and accountability," said Tine. 

          "Service because we serve the people and business of North Carolina... efficiency because we need to do everything quickly and correctly the first time... agility, we need to be able to problem-solve and meet the customer where they are... and accountability is not to point fingers at our people, it's to empower them and say 'you are accountable for your job.'"

          WRAL's 5 On Your Side has tracked long DMV lines for years, and in March, the team reported that complaints about long waits were at an all-time high. 

          Tine said he plans to address this issue by changing the process of how walk-ins get through and how appointments are processed. 

          Starting this weekend, the DMV will resume walk-in service hours on Saturdays at 20 of its locations. 

          The offices will be open from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays from May 31 to Aug. 23. They will be closed on June 28 and July 5. 

          The offices will offer drivers licenses or ID cards, renewals or duplicate orders, address changes, REAL IDs and road tests for customers who have already completed the knowledge and written tests.

          Walk-in services will be provided at the following driver license offices (no appointment necessary):

          • Andrews, 1440 Main St.
            • Asheville, 1624 Patton Ave.
              • Charlotte North, 9711 David Taylor Dr.
                • Charlotte South, 201 W. Arrowood Rd., Suite H
                  • Clayton, 1665 Old U.S. Hwy. 70 W. (Shotwell Station)
                    • Durham, 101 S. Miami Blvd.
                      • Elizabeth City, 1164 U.S. Hwy. 17 S.
                        • Fayetteville, 831 Elm St. (Eutaw Village)
                          • Graham, 111 E. Crescent Square
                            • Greensboro, 2391 Coliseum Blvd.
                              • Greenville, 4651 N. Creek Dr.
                                • Huntersville, 12101 Mount Holly-Huntersville Rd.
                                  • Jacksonville, 299 Wilmington Hwy.
                                    • Kernersville, 810-A N. Main St.
                                      • Monroe, 3122 U.S. Hwy. 74 W.
                                        • Raleigh East, 4121 New Bern Ave. (Wilder’s Grove)
                                          • Raleigh West, 3231 Avent Ferry Rd. 
                                            • Salisbury, US 29 S, 5780 South Main St.
                                              • Wilmington, 2390 Carolina Beach Rd., Suite 104 (South Square Plaza)
                                                • Winston-Salem, 2001 Silas Creek Pkwy.

                                                  The NCDMV offers some services online including driver license and ID card renewals, ordering duplicate licenses and ID cards, address changes and voter registration applications.

                                                  To get a REAL ID, you still have to go into a DMV office. Although enforcement of the REAL ID Act has begun, you can still drive and vote with a regular driver's license or ID. 

                                                  >> Everything to know about getting a REAL ID    

                                                  The act requires people to have a REAL ID, U.S. passport or other federally approved identification to board commercial flights and enter federally secure buildings. But the Department of Homeland Security chief has said travelers without a REAL ID can still board commercial flights in the United States, but with extra probable steps.