HARTFORD – The Department of Motor Vehicles will shut down its offices, except for licensing services, from Tuesday, August 11 to Saturday, August 15 to upgrade their computer systems.
Governor Dan Malloy and DMV Commissioner Andres Ayala, Jr. made the announcement Wednesday. The shutdown will not impact licensing services.
The DMV is performing a major upgrade of its outdated computer systems, which when finished will allow residents to complete many functions that previously required an in-person visit over the internet. Databases, technology transfers and testing will be done at that time.
To help ease the effects of the shutdown and bringing up a new system, beginning August 11, officials said the expiration date of all driver’s licenses, ID cards or vehicle registrations will be extended through October 10, 2015, and renewals can be done without a late fee until that date.
Ayala said in the days preceding and following the shutdown, customers should anticipate longer than usual lines at DMV. AAA offices will also be open during the DMV shutdown period for license and ID card renewals, according to the agency.
After the upgrade is complete and the offices reopen Tuesday, August 17, the DMV website will offer new services:
- Improving the existing online registration renewal program
- Online checking for items, such as unpaid property taxes, lack of insurance, delinquent parking violations, which can hold up a registration renewal and cause repeat trips to DMV
- Reprinting a registration certificate from a home or other computer
- Canceling a registration online
- Ordering online special plates, such as vanity plates
- Ordering online replacements for damaged plates
- Providing customers with an option for DMV to contact them either by mail or e-mail
