In an effort to shorten lines and wait times at offices across the state and provide services outside of typical office hours, the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles is piloting the use of self-service kiosks in grocery stores.

NCDMV Express self-service kiosks are now available at the following Harris Teeter locations: 

• Highland Centre (2800 Raeford Road, Fayetteville)
• The Corners at Brier Creek (4221 Corners Parkway, Raleigh)
• Riverbend Village (4701 Smith Farm Road, Charlotte)

“I am excited to announce the launch of this kiosk pilot,” said DMV Commissioner Wayne Goodwin in a press release. “This is another example of the work we are doing to shorten lines and wait times by using technology to modernize our customer service and provide more options for customers to get what they need in a timely manner.”

At the kiosks, customers can renew their driver license or state ID card (unless they renewed online last time); order a duplicate or change the address on their driver license, permit or state ID card (you must know your driver license/ID number to complete this transaction); and apply/update their voter registration (only as part of a driver license/ID transaction listed above).

At the end of a transaction, the kiosk will print a Temporary Driver/Identification Certificate (TDC/TIC) just like one received at an in-office visit, to be used for up to 60 days until the official driver license or ID card arrives in the mail.

“Harris Teeter is always seeking new ways to enhance our shopping experience for our customers. We are thrilled to partner with the DMV to provide this additional service and offer added convenience to our customers’ everyday lives,” said Danna Robinson, director of corporate affairs at Harris Teeter in a press release. “We look forward to the pilot being successful and expanding to more stores soon.” 

NCDMV plans to add seven additional kiosks in the first half of 2024, and more kiosks are to be added as certain transaction thresholds are achieved.

Additional transaction types are also being developed for the kiosks, including vehicle registration renewals and paying property tax on a new vehicle. The kiosk will print license plate stickers at the completion of these two transactions. Customers will also be able to order duplicate registrations and change their address or insurance information as part of a duplicate or renewal transaction.

Intellectual Technology, Inc. (ITI) is NCDMV’s private partner for the kiosk pilot. ITI has partnerships with several states and grocery store chains to deploy kiosks for DMV transactions.

The kiosk pilot comes at no cost to the state. ITI is compensated via a $4.95 fee per transaction. Customers will also be charged a 2.35 percent credit/debit card processing fee.

This effort is among several recent initiatives aimed at improving the DMV customer experience:

• Hiring more than 250 new driver license examiners across the state (release)
• Extending office hours
  • 45 offices now open an hour early at 7 a.m. (release)
  • 16 offices with Saturday morning walk-in hours during summer “peak” season (release)
• Partnering with Department of Adult Corrections to provide IDs to offenders leaving prison (release)
• Adding more online services (release). Recent additions include:
  • Renew State ID within one year of expiration
  • Upgrade Level 3 Full Provisional License to regular Class C License
  • Renew Permanent Disability Placard
  • Exchange Specialty License Plate for a Standard Plate
• Launching Walk-in Wait Time Tool (release)
• Increasing walk-in availability, moving appointments to the morning only (release)
• Implementing Q-Anywhere so customers no longer have to wait in line (release)

“These recent operational and technological changes have collectively resulted in improved customer service at DMV over the last two years,” said Commissioner Goodwin in a press release. “While we have made great strides, we recognize there remains more work ahead as the state grows in population and the agency further modernizes.”