Press Release - 10-14-15

DMV News

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Contacts:

Joe Morrissey    [email protected] 
Casey McNulty [email protected] 

 

 

NEW YORK STATE DMV ANNOUNCES NEW INITIATIVE TO SAVE TAXPAYERS MORE THAN $500,000

New Yorkers encouraged to sign up for innovative e-Notification service to receive timely, convenient renewal reminders

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) today announced that a new initiative to allow drivers to receive renewal reminders electronically will save taxpayers an estimated $500,000 per year and help conserve natural resources. This initiative will reduce the need for printing and mailing paper registration renewal reminders by sending notifications only via email and text messages for motorists enrolled to receive e-Notifications and for customers who recently renewed a registration through DMV’s website.

 

DMV will also send an email to eligible customers, who have chosen to renew online in the past or are enrolled in the e-Notification program, advising them that they may request to continue to receive renewal notices via “snail mail.”  The email will provide a link to DMV’s website that will allow the customer to request that they continue to receive paper renewal invitations.

 

The resulting reduction in paper and postage conserves valuable resources, provides a convenient service to DMV customers, and is designed to make it more convenient to renew a registration by linking directly to the agency’s website, which set a new record for online transactions in 2014 with more than 5.5 million transactions, up from 4 million in 2011.

 

In addition to receiving email and/or text reminders about their registration renewal, customers will also receive electronic reminders when their vehicle safety and emission inspections are about to expire, a feature that is exclusive to customers enrolled in this program.

DMV Executive Deputy Commissioner Terri Egan said, “New Yorkers are interacting online with DMV now more than ever, and reducing the number of notifications we send through the mail makes perfect sense in this age of innovation and technology. We hope even more motorists take advantage of our email and text notifications, not only because it saves taxpayers money, but because they receive reminders multiple times, which can reduce their risk of forgetting to renew their registration and inspections.”

DMV currently mails customers approximately 6 million registration invitations each year. New Yorkers who are not currently enrolled in the e-Notification program and wish to receive email and text notifications can enroll on the DMV website here. New Yorkers do not need a MyDMV account to enroll in this service.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the launch of email and text alert reminders for vehicle registration and inspection renewals in February 2014. Registration and license e-reminders are sent approximately 90, 60, and 30 days prior to expiration and again at expiration. Inspection reminders will be sent on the first of the month of expiration, the 15th of the month of expiration, and again when the inspection expires.

In 2012, Governor Cuomo launched the DMV Customer Service Initiative to increase efficiency, streamline services, and improve customer service. As part of this direction, in addition to e-Notifications, DMV implemented a reservation system to allow customers to reserve a day and time convenient for them without a wait. Other improvements include implementing new technology at call centers to expedite the 4.5 million calls received each year, installing self-serve kiosks at DMV offices, and the assigning employees to greet customers upon arriving at state-run DMV offices to ensure they can efficiently navigate the office and have the correct documents in hand. In September 2014, the average wait time at state-run DMV offices was reduced to 30 minutes, down from an average of 72 minutes in March 2013.

About DMV
The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is a national leader in providing efficient, innovative, and responsive government services. The agency issues secure identity documents, delivers essential motor vehicle and driver related services, and administers motor vehicle laws enacted to promote safety and protect consumers. For more information, visit dmv.ny.gov“like” DMV on Facebook, or follow @nysdmv on Twitter. 

 

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