The wait time at any DMV is as inconsistent as my confidence in having all the right paperwork to renew my vehicle’s registration, and I know I’m not alone thinking that. One community in particular has made the process more convenient for decades, driving a bus to the outskirts of their county that’s outfitted to take care of all kinds of DMV tasks.
“It cuts your time in waiting, especially if you’re working and you need to take a lunch break and it’s in a convenient area to you, you can go on your lunch hour and get it done,” said Debora Barbaini, an Ulster County resident and customer that day.
It’s become such a convenience that when it’s off the roads, calls come streaming in.
“People are on the phone… are you coming back next week? Are you coming tomorrow?,” said Nina Postupack, Ulster County Clerk.
Rarely does the Ulster County Mobile DMV have to take a day off, but when it does, it’s normally due to inclement weather or routine maintenance to the vehicle. When that happens, her office is flooded with calls looking for the bus. With the county’s only permanent DMV in Kingston, services offered here help Ellenville residents avoid the two-hour round trip.
“People really have it on their calendar,” said Postupack.
Just a little further south, once community it taking notes on how to make taking a permit test, getting a new license, fixing vehicle registrations, all more accessible to more remote parts of their county.
“It will help veterans, seniors, those with disabilities that can’t get to the DMV,” said Orange County Clerk, Kelly Eskew. She recently requested and got approved a $220,000 request for their own mobile DMV unit. With the wheels already rolling, the Orange County edition of the convenience is expected to hit the streets in January 2023.
“I’m hoping to bring DMV services to all the people in Orange County that don’t have the ability to get to one of our offices in Middletown, Newburgh or Goshen,” said Eskew.
Although not yet confirmed, Eskew is looking at towns like Warwick, Highland Falls and Monroe to station the vehicle one day per week, hopefully at a central location for everyone, like a town hall. While the convenience is helpful to neighbors, the new mobile DMV will also keep tax dollars close to home
“Please take advantage of that service because it’s really convenient, easy, and you’re keeping your tax dollars in Orange County, which is very important,” said Postupack.
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