FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, September 26, 2011

New York State Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Barbara J. Fiala announced today that the Department is implementing several changes in the way that it does business in an effort to improve customer service. Changes include the institution of a new Internet application called "MyDMV," which will allow customers to establish secure, personalized, online accounts that can be used to do business with the DMV that would otherwise require mailing, a phone call or a trip to a DMV office.

"These changes will make it easier for New Yorkers to use the Internet or mail to renew their driver license and conduct a number of other transactions," said Commissioner Fiala. "By allowing customers to conduct some of their DMV transactions at their leisure, we will also decrease the wait times at the DMV offices for those who need to conduct other transactions which require an in-person visit."

By registering for MyDMV through the DMV Web site (www.dmv.ny.gov), customers are able to change their address, receive e-mail reminders when their vehicle registration and inspection are about to expire, download and print a copy of their driving record, and monitor their teens driving behaviors. Customers establishing MyDMV accounts will eventually be able to use their usernames and passwords to access online services from other State agencies through the State's NY.GOV ID initiative. In addition to these new services, there are more than 40 other transactions and services that can be completed on the DMV Web site without establishing a personalized account.

Also, beginning on September 28th, the current license renewal process will be streamlined to allow customers to self-certify that they meet the vision requirement necessary to drive as they currently do for other medical issues. This change will allow motorists to easily renew their licenses on the DMV Web site or by mail. Those obtaining a driver license for the first time will still be required to take a vision test at the DMV and commercial driver license holders will still be required to undergo bi-annual medical and vision examinations by a medical professional.

The current vision testing procedure was instituted in 2000 and requires that the customer read a line on an eye chart located behind the DMV counter. From 1993-2000, vision testing was not required in New York and statistics show that there was no negative impact on traffic safety. Allowing vision self-certification on license renewals will expand an existing process in which applicants already self-certify that they have no driving related medical issues such as hearing or heart ailments or conditions which lead to unconsciousness.

Six states, including Connecticut and Pennsylvania, do not require eye tests at the time of license renewal. Eight additional states, including Massachusetts, allow for self-certification of vision adequate for driving.

"I am pleased that we have been able to respond to Governor Cuomo's call that State agencies identify and change procedures that are outdated, could be streamlined or could be transacted online," said Commissioner Fiala. "We anticipate that these actions will not only be a great convenience for our customers but will also allow us to provide better customer service to New Yorkers who must come into DMV offices for more complicated transactions."