Hampton will provide dedicated area downtown for most DMV transactions

April 5, 2019 – Hampton’s DMV Select office has been so popular that it is expanding into its own space. The public is invited to attend a ribbon-cutting  Wednesday, April 10, at 10 a.m.

For nine years, the customer counter at the city’s Commissioner of the Revenue and Treasurer’s office has offered residents a less-crowded place to conduct many Department of Motor Vehicles transactions. It’s downtown on the first floor of the Ruppert Sargent Building at 1 Franklin Street.

Several of those counters have been set aside for DMV business, including new or replacement car titles, registration and license plates, as well as things like getting copies of your driving record. (The office does not provide drivers’ licenses, although the DMV mobile staff visits to provide license renewals and REAL ID services every two months.)

However, residents didn’t always understand which lines were for tax transactions and which were DMV – or even realize what DMV services were offered.

“This expansion will provide better service for all of our customers,” said Treasurer Molly Ward. “We will have a separate area for DMV transactions to simplify that process, and we can open more counters during busy tax times to help residents.” 

The move comes at a time when the state’s DMV offices expect a large increase in demand. The federal Real ID law mandates that, beginning in October 2020, people will need enhanced identification to board a domestic flight or enter a military base. Current Virginia drivers’ licenses do not meet that requirement, so millions of residents will be seeking a new license in the coming months. (Other forms of ID, such as passports, are also acceptable. Get more information here.) 

Commissioner of the Revenue Ross Mugler noted Hampton’s history of partnering to provide more services for residents. “We began working to provide DMV Select services in early 2010 and have built a strong partnership that benefits Hampton residents and the state.”

DMV Commissioner Richard D. Holcomb will speak at the ribbon-cutting to share the state’s perspective of the partnership and shared services. Hampton’s delegation to the General Assembly has also been invited.