The San Luis Obispo office of the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will now be open every Saturday starting this Aug. 4.
The DMV began opening select field offices twice a month starting in June in an effort to ease wait times.
It’s not uncommon to see the line at the San Luis Obispo DMV extend out into the parking lot. In fact, the DMV says wait times in the San Luis Obispo region increased 92 percent over last year. The average person now waits 56 minutes.
The DMV says the long wait times are partly because more people are going into field offices to get a REAL ID. Beginning Oct. 1, 2020, a REAL ID will be required to board a domestic flight or enter military bases and most federal facilities. To apply for a REAL ID, customers must visit a DMV field office. (See below for a list of documents you’ll need to apply for a REAL ID.)
The DMV says it’s also having trouble hiring employees.
San Luis Obispo is the only DMV field office in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties that will be open on Saturdays. Hours will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday appointments can be scheduled up to 90 days in advance using the DMV’s website or by calling 1-800-777-0133. Behind-the-wheel exams will not be available on Saturdays.
The DMV urges customers to avoid going into a field office to conduct business, if possible. Many services, such as paying registration fees, ordering personalized license plates and requesting a vehicle record, can be completed on the DMV website. AAA also offers registration renewal services to its members.
