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North Carolina DMV Ends Early Morning Openings at 90 Offices
The change takes effect on February 9th as federal funding for the extended hours expires.
Feb. 3, 2026 at 7:55pm
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The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV) will be ending the early 7 a.m. openings at 90 driver's license offices across the state starting on Monday, February 9th. The extended hours were made possible through federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, but that funding has now been exhausted.
Why it matters
The earlier opening times were introduced to help manage high demand for driver's licenses and ID services in North Carolina. The end of the extended hours may lead to longer wait times at DMV offices, especially in more rural areas of the state.
The details
The NCDMV had been using federal ARPA funding to open 90 of its driver's license offices at 7 a.m. instead of the standard 8 a.m. opening time. This was done to provide additional customer service hours and help manage the high demand for DMV services. However, the NCDMV has now stated that this funding stream has been exhausted, so they will no longer be able to offer the extra hour of service at these offices.
- The 7 a.m. openings will end on Monday, February 9, 2026.
- This week, from February 4-6, 2026, will be the final week for the 7 a.m. openings.
The players
North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV)
The state agency responsible for driver's licenses, vehicle registration, and other motor vehicle-related services in North Carolina.
Paul Tine
The NCDMV Commissioner who announced the end of the early morning openings.
What they’re saying
“Unfortunately, this funding stream has been exhausted, and we'll no longer be able to provide this extra hour of service at our offices.”
— Paul Tine, NCDMV Commissioner
What’s next
The NCDMV has stated that they hope to be able to offer extended hours, including Saturday service, in the future, but that will be dependent on the availability of future funding.
The takeaway
The end of the early morning openings at 90 NCDMV offices highlights the ongoing challenges faced by state DMVs in meeting high demand for services, especially in more rural areas. It underscores the need for stable and reliable funding sources to maintain and expand customer service hours.
