Renew your driver’s license in a jif while getting lunch at the Star City Sheetz, with the DMV Now kiosk.
You’re going to Sheetz to gas up the car and you notice that your driver’s license has expired. Or you only have 30 minutes for lunch, and you want to grab a sandwich and update your car’s tags. You’re in luck. The Star City Sheetz is one of four locations in the state to house a DMV Now kiosk, a machine that allows you to perform those tasks at your convenience. “Our main goal is to make sure you’re taken care of in a timely fashion and to make the DMV business process better for everyone,” says Natalie Holcomb, West Virginia DMV public information specialist. In addition to the Star City Sheetz, drivers can opt for DMV Now renewal at three other locations across the state—Barboursville, Beckley, and Kanawha City in Charleston near the DMV state headquarters.
The kiosks were first unveiled by former Governor Earl Ray Tomblin at the 2016 State Fair of West Virginia; the one in Star City opened in early February. The machines are accessible during normal business hours of each location—which means 24/7 for the one at Sheetz. The kiosk is used regularly every evening during the week, says Chuck Pillar, manager of the Star City Sheetz. With flexible hours and an easy process, the kiosks are becoming popular: A total of 200 transactions were processed at the Star City location by mid-May.
The license renewal process is simple. Drivers need their current or recently expired licenses and the personal identification numbers (PIN) found on the renewal forms that they receive in the mail. Following the instructions on the kiosks, drivers scan their licenses and enter PINs to confirm their identities. Next, drivers answer routine renewal questions, like whether they need glasses, and then pay the renewal fee with credit or debit cards. The DMV Now vendor prints receipts that serve as the licenses until the real ones come in the mail in one to two weeks. The kiosk uses the most recent license photo for the ID; drivers have to go into the DMV for their next renewal to update the photo.
Aside from offering drivers convenience, the DMV Now kiosks help to reduce lines and wait times at DMV regional offices. “We encourage customers to use the online and kiosk renewal option because it makes it so much easier, and you can do it 24/7,” Holcomb says. The DMV Now kiosks put drivers in the fast lane when it comes to simple renewals; some DMV tasks also can be done online. dmv.wv.gov
written by Anna Saab
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