RICHMOND, Va. -- The Virginia DMV is now allowing walk-in service after more than a year of being appointment only.
Walk-in service will be available on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, while appointment-only service will be offered on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at all 75 service customer service centers.
The DMV said they're using this hybrid operating model to offer more options and flexibility.
They began operating by appointment only when it reopened offices in May 2020 after closing for the COVID-19 pandemic.
The DMV said operating by appointment has been overwhelmingly popular with customers, 77% of whom said in a survey that they wished to see appointments continue.
“It was a smooth process but the line was very long," Hilton Heyliger said. Heyliger was one of dozens who showed up to the Richmond DMV on West Broad Street Tuesday morning.
‘I think that’s very good you know. Very convenient, very good," Heyliger said. "You can just come and join the line and get taken care of.”
He was also among thousands of Virginians that had to wait months just for a DMV appointment or travel hours to one of the eight DMV select locations that allowed walk-ins at the time.
“You had to have a number and appointment and you’re not really used to that," Heyliger said.
Heyliger added while he is grateful for the opportunity to have walkins again, he believes some things can still be improved.
“They could come up with maybe a better system where we don’t have to stand up so long in the line, but I know they’re trying to help people," Heyliger said.
You can still handle many DMV transactions on their website, dmvNOW.com
The website is also where you can continue to schedule an appointment. If you schedule an appointment and instead decide to walk in for service, remember to cancel that appointment to make it available for other customers.
The DMV said walk-in service will be provided on a first come, first-served basis based on the type of transaction; customers should anticipate wait times.
All customers are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings.
