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"DMV" stands for Department of Motor Vehicles - the state agency that issues driver's licenses, learner's permits, vehicle registrations, license plates, REAL IDs and titles. About half of US states call it the DMV. The rest use a different abbreviation for the exact same thing. If you're searching for "DMV near me" but live in Indiana, Texas or Massachusetts, you're actually looking for the BMV, DPS or RMV.
| Abbr. | Stands For | States That Use It |
|---|---|---|
| DMV | Department of Motor Vehicles | CA, CT, DC, NY, NV, NC, NJ, OR, RI, SC, VA, VT, WV, WI and most others |
| BMV | Bureau of Motor Vehicles | Indiana, Ohio, Maine |
| MVD | Motor Vehicle Division | Arizona, New Mexico, Montana, Utah |
| DPS | Department of Public Safety | Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, Minnesota |
| RMV | Registry of Motor Vehicles | Massachusetts |
| DDS | Department of Driver Services | Georgia (driver licensing) |
| MVA | Motor Vehicle Administration | Maryland |
| SOS | Secretary of State | Illinois, Michigan |
| DOR | Department of Revenue | Missouri (vehicle services) |
Use the locator above to find the closest office regardless of what your state calls it. We have every DMV, BMV, MVD, DPS, RMV, DDS, MVA and SOS branch in the country.
Search by exact address, city, state or zip code. Or click the button above the map, and we'll automatically display the DMV offices near you so you can pick the closest one. The locator covers all 50 states plus Washington, DC, and includes self-service kiosks alongside full-service offices wherever available.
DMV self-service kiosks are stand-alone machines (often inside a grocery store like Ralphs, Safeway or Albertsons, or inside the DMV office itself) that handle the most common transactions in 2-5 minutes. No line, no appointment, no staff interaction. Not every state has them, and not every transaction can be done at a kiosk.
Services typically available at DMV kiosks:
What you'll need at the kiosk:
States with the largest kiosk networks include California (Now Kiosk and DMV-branded kiosks), Colorado (MV Express), Michigan (Self-Service Stations), North Carolina, Arizona and Nevada. The locator above shows kiosk locations alongside full DMV offices wherever your state offers them.
Most states now offer 30+ DMV transactions online, which means many "DMV near me" searches don't actually need a trip to the office at all. Before driving to the closest DMV, check whether your transaction is available online.
What you can usually do online:
What you can't do online: first-time driver's license issuance, REAL ID upgrade (most states require an in-person visit for ID verification), road skills test, and any transaction that requires fingerprints or a new photo.
Most DMV offices are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday hours vary. California, North Carolina and a handful of other states open select offices on Saturday morning, while most close on weekends entirely.
Walk-in vs appointment, rule of thumb:
In most states, you can also go to any DMV office in your state for any transaction (subject to that branch's posted services). A few states have specialized commercial-only or licensing-only branches. The "View Details" link on each office in the locator above shows exactly which services that branch offers, including REAL ID, road tests and CDL services.
Once you've located your nearest DMV office, click the marker on the map to see whether it's open today and find everything you need to know about it:
If you're heading to the DMV to take the written knowledge test for a driver's permit, license or CDL, our free state-specific practice tests match the official exam format. 1.15 million students used them last year, with a 95% first-try pass rate.
Take the practice test before you go - 30 minutes of prep can save you a return trip if you fail.
Quick answers to the questions we get most often about DMV offices, kiosks, hours, walk-ins, REAL ID and online services.
DMV stands for Department of Motor Vehicles - the state agency that handles driver licensing, vehicle registration, titling and license plates. About half of US states use the "DMV" name; others use BMV (Indiana, Ohio, Maine), MVD (Arizona, New Mexico), DPS (Texas, Alabama), RMV (Massachusetts), DDS (Georgia for licensing), MVA (Maryland) or SOS (Illinois, Michigan).
In nearly every state, yes. Any DMV office in your state can handle most transactions (driver's license, registration, REAL ID) regardless of where you live within that state. Some states have specialized commercial-only or licensing-only branches. The locator above shows which services each office offers. You generally can't use a DMV in a different state.
Most DMVs accept walk-ins but strongly prefer appointments, especially for REAL ID, first-time licenses and road tests. Walk-in wait times can be 1-3 hours at busy urban offices; appointments are usually under 20 minutes. Renewals can often be done at a kiosk in 5 minutes with no appointment.
Most DMVs are closed on Saturday and Sunday. Exceptions include California (select field offices open Saturday morning), North Carolina, parts of New York and a handful of other states with one or two Saturday-open offices in major metro areas. The locator above shows hours of operation for every branch.
A DMV office is a full-service branch where you can do anything: first-time licenses, REAL ID, road tests, written tests, registration, name changes. A DMV kiosk is a self-service machine (often in a grocery store or shopping center) that handles only renewals, duplicates and address changes. No human interaction, no line, prints documents on the spot. Use a kiosk if your transaction qualifies; otherwise use a full office.
In some states, yes. California, North Carolina, Arizona and a few others allow eligible drivers to renew at a kiosk. Eligibility usually requires no recent suspensions, no major changes since the last renewal, current vision, and you didn't renew online last cycle. Vehicle registration renewal at a kiosk is far more widely available.
Every state DMV with appointment-required offices has an online scheduling system on its official .gov website. Search "[your state] DMV appointment" or click the "Make Appointment" link on each office in the locator above. Same-week appointments are usually available for renewals; REAL ID and first-time licenses can require 2-6 weeks lead time depending on metro area.
It depends on the transaction. For REAL ID: proof of identity (passport or birth certificate), Social Security card or W-2, two proofs of address (utility bill, lease, bank statement). For registration renewal: renewal notice or current registration plus proof of insurance. For a first-time license: identity documents + Social Security number + proof of address + completed driver's ed (in most states). Use your state DMV's official checklist before going.
Most full-service DMV offices process REAL IDs, but kiosks and limited-service branches do not. REAL ID requires in-person identity verification - documents must be inspected by staff, so it can't be done online. The locator's "View Details" link shows which offices offer REAL ID processing.
For appointments, arrive 10-15 minutes early. For walk-ins, the first hour after opening (usually 8-9 a.m.) is the least busy - one of the most reliable ways to cut wait time. Avoid lunch hour (11:30-1:30) and the last hour before closing, when staff stop pulling new tickets.