Today Governor Josh Stein cut the ribbon to welcome a newly opened driver license office to Charlotte. This expanded and relocated office, situated in one of the state's areas of highest need, is now the largest DMV office in North Carolina. The office is one of four major facility upgrades made possible by historic investments from House Bill 125, which the Governor signed into law in August 2025. In 2027, five new offices are scheduled to be opened or relocated.
“Every North Carolinian relies on the DMV at some point – and they want to get in, get out, and get on with their day,” said Governor Josh Stein. “We’re making steady progress to shorten wait times, provide better service, and improve the DMV experience statewide. To date, we have cut wait times by 86%. We will continue our work to get people back on the road safely and efficiently.”
“By expanding and modernizing offices like this one in Charlotte, we’re reducing wait times, improving customer service, and building a DMV that keeps pace with the needs of a fast‑growing state,” said NCDOT Secretary Daniel Johnson. “I’m grateful to Governor Stein and our partners in the General Assembly for their continued support as we work to deliver a better experience for every North Carolinian.”
“This new Charlotte office reflects the progress happening across DMV. Our teams are working hard every day to shorten visits, expand online services, and make it easier for people to get what they need,” said NCDMV Commissioner Paul Tine. “With strong support from Governor Stein and the legislature, we’re modernizing our systems, adding staff, and improving customer service statewide. North Carolinians are seeing the results, and we’re committed to keeping that momentum going.”
Charlotte is the fastest-growing city in America and was ranked the 14th-largest city in the nation by the U.S. Census. Governor Stein’s visit to the new office comes as the NCDMV continues to improve customer service statewide. In September 2025, the General Assembly passed and Governor Stein signed into law Senate Bill 245, which has since allowed more than 400,000 North Carolinians to complete transactions remotely instead of having to visit a DMV office and wait in line. NCDMV also added and filled 64 new driver license examiner positions with additional funding approved last summer. The 2026 Appropriations Act and House Bill 125 authorized an additional 68 new driver license examiner positions from July 2026 to July 2027, and recruiting is underway.
These investments are yielding results. As of August 2026, the average DMV wait time is down to 23 minutes statewide – an 86 percent decrease from a year prior. The NCDMV website has been refreshed to guide people to online transactions, offer quizzes to ensure people have the correct documents, and share live wait times so people can choose which office to visit. The division has also created more appointment times, upgraded every document scanner, removed an extra signature from the process, and cut down countless driver license examiner clicks, which allows for shorter customer visits.
Now, NCDMV and Governor Stein are working to keep improving people’s DMV experiences. NCDMV is working with law enforcement and local businesses with the goal of developing a digital wallet, with mobile driver licenses becoming available for residents in early 2027.
Learn more about NCDMV’s Strategic Plan and updated Staffing Plan.
Click here to read more about Team DMV’s work to improve the DMV experience statewide.