What Does the DMV Do? Responsibilities and Importance

Did you know there are over 25 million automobiles registered in California alone? With the number of vehicles on the road, it’s important to have a government organization that can handle the legal registration of citizens and cars. This particular agency is called the DMV, which handles anything automobile-related.

What is the DMV?

The Department of Motor Vehicles, otherwise known as the DMV, is the agency administering motor vehicle registration and driver licensing. It is the official agency in charge of anything that has to do with vehicles.

Each state has its own DMV, even if the name varies. For example, Louisiana’s vehicle agency is the Office of Motor Vehicles, while it’s the Transportation Cabinet in Kentucky. While the names differ, these agencies all share the same responsibilities.

Brief History of the DMV

The agency was founded out of necessity, especially when vehicles became the main means of transportation. When cars began roaming the streets in the 20th century, anyone could buy a vehicle and drive.

As you can imagine, this led to drivers not knowing how to drive alongside pedestrians, horses, bicycles, and the like. As a response, Senator E. Birdsall enacted the official Vehicle Act of 1915, creating the DMV to manage vehicle registration and driver licensing.

Fast forward a couple of decades, and the DMV started to include driver safety programs, regulation of the motor vehicle industry, and revenue collection. These evolutions played a crucial part in shaping the DMV we know today.

Core Responsibilities of the DMV

The DMV’s main responsibilities include driver licensing/identification, vehicle titling/registration, driver safety programs, and vehicle regulation.

Driver Licensing and Identification

The DMV is in charge of providing motorists with driver’s licenses. Getting your license involves making an appointment at a DMV office, completing an application, and passing tests that include vision, knowledge, and driving.

It’s the DMV’s job to ensure only qualified drivers are on the road. They also provide and verify the identity of licensed drivers and ID card holders.

Vehicle Titling and Registration

The DMV also issues titles and registers different types of vehicles, including automobiles, trailers, vessels, and commercial vehicles used for interstate and intrastate commerce. A car title is a legal document issued to show who owns the vehicle.

On the other hand, vehicle registration states that a vehicle can be legally driven on public roads. Both documents are crucial since they’re legally required and have the details that can help identify the car if it’s stolen or involved in an accident.

Driver Safety Programs

The DMV works with the police to enforce traffic laws and investigate accidents to lessen road accidents and provide public safety. The agency also monitors and evaluates the driving performances of licensed drivers.

California’s DMV also has a digital case management system that provides attorneys and clients with faster response time to safety issues, challenges, and actions.

Regulation of the Motor Vehicle Industry

The final core function of the DMV is to license and regulate the occupations and businesses related to the manufacture, transport, sale, and disposal of vehicles.

This whole ordeal is called occupational licensing, which aims to protect consumers. Some of the businesses covered by occupational licensing include driving schools, car dealers, manufacturers, employer testing programs, and more.

Additional Services Provided by the DMV

Other services provided by the DMV include revenue collection and distribution, administrative services, and information technology services, among others.

Revenue Collection and Distribution

The DMV collects revenue through licensing, registration, and other service fees. They then distribute the revenue to other state agencies, local government, and their state’s General Fund. Annually, the agency collects about $7 billion or more in revenue.

Administrative Services

The agency also provides administrative services, including budgetary and fiscal management, contract and procurement processes, HR management, facilities and properties management, mail operation, and printing services.

Information Technology Services

The DMV also provides different IT services, including programming, installation, and maintenance of complex IT systems.

Enforcement Services

This involves auditing, monitoring, inspecting, and investigative services on entities related to the DMV’s programs.

Enterprise Risk Management

Lastly, the agency provides an independent assessment of its enterprise through risk management, oversight, enterprise planning, auditing, and privacy.

Why the DMV Matters

The DMV is important because it plays a crucial part in maintaining public safety, legal compliance, and standards within the transportation system. It’s responsible for licensing qualified drivers and ensuring road safety by keeping unfit drivers off the road to reduce accidents and promote safer driving.

The agency also facilitates legal vehicle ownership and registration by providing titles and license plates, making it easier to track vehicles. Some states that require emissions testing also rely on the DMV to enforce environmental standards to help reduce pollution.

The DMV supports state revenue systems through fee collection for licenses and registration to help fund transportation projects. Finally, the agency ensures the smooth operation of transportation-related businesses through occupational licensing. This protects consumers and supports local and national economies.

Frequently Asked Questions About the DMV

Here are some of the most asked questions regarding the DMV.

What Time Does the DMV Open and​ Close?

Typically, DMVs open between 7am and 9am, with closing time between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., depending on the branch and location. To verify, you can always check online by entering your zip code or city and state abbreviation on DMV’s office finder.

Is the DMV Open on Weekends​?

Some DMVs are open on the weekends, while others only operate from Monday to Friday. Similar to office hours, you can check if your local DMV is open by checking out the agency’s website.

What Does DMV Stand For?

The Department of Motor Vehicles is often abbreviated and referred to as the DMV. The only exceptions are in states where the agency is named something else, like the Transportation Cabinet in Kentucky.