If youêve had any problems with the DC- DMV lately itês because We are in a period of total chaos, according to the lively, straight-talking Lucinda Babers of the DC DMV, one of three representatives from Maryland, Virginia and DC motor vehicle agencies who spoke to an overflow crowd at last weekês Regional Tag & Title Seminar.
Babers was referring to the recent closing of the DMVês facility at 65 K Street, NE due to major system failures and unhealthy interior conditions. The facility normally houses DMVês ticket payment and adjudication functions, as well as its call center, permit control, driver record and insurance services. Many of those functions had to be suspended or transferred to satellite offices, which has overloaded and delayed some services.
However, drop-off and walk-in dealer vehicle registration services are still available at 301 C St. NW, room 1034 and at the Penn Branch Service Center at 3214 Pennsylvania Ave., SE. But under the current conditions, and with new staffers assuming some duties, Babers pleaded with dealership reps to have a little patience.
Babers also discussed document requirements for new vehicle registration, and upcoming changes next month to temporary tags, which will be valid for 45 days instead of 20 days. The Dealers Services Section online at www.dmv.dc.gov will also include information about services, fees and list of active, suspended and revoked dealerships, as well as links to dealership registration, title, duplicate title, and power of attorney application/forms.
All Washington area dealers were invited to attend the DC DMVês Mandatory Seminar for DC Dealerships, which includes a comprehensive review and updates on all laws, policies and procedures affecting dealers. The tentative dates are Monday, Aug. 29, 2005 and Monday, Sep. 12, 2005. Both seminars run from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.
Rhonda Witt of the Maryland MVA offered summaries and handouts on 2005 Maryland MVA policies affecting dealers, including standards and restrictions on low speed vehicles (four-wheeled electric vehicles that have a maximum speed of 20 mph); emission test exemptions for qualified hybrid vehicles; changes to vehicles temporarily used in farming, trailers and semi-trailers registration, and new registration and parking requirements for individuals with disabilities.
Tips on electronic registration and titling included reminders that dealers must maintain internal controls over Maryland state properties (stickers, hard tags, registration cars and temporary tags), account for registration stickers by maintaining perpetual records, keep registration stickers secure and separate from other office supplies, and out of state dealers must charge excise tax of 5% on the first $100 of processing fee and remit to the MVA for the Maryland residents who title their vehicles in Maryland.
The MD MVA handouts also included a complete list of MVA service centers and managers, names and contact numbers for all MVA departments, and a list of the new registration rates for non-freight trailers, which become effective Oct. 1, 2005.
Joseph Owsiak of the VA DMV emphasized the agencyês steady move to electronic consumer and dealer services and transactions and away from paper. For example, effective immediately, it will be possible to replace or substitute lost titles online. Since July 1, 2005, customers have been able to hold their titles electronically, and sometime later this year, dealers will be able to do that for their customers, said Owsiak.
He also discussed requirements coming later this year for dealers to verify a customerês address and, in January 2006, for dealers to verify a customerês Social Security number. Dealers will be notified of specific changes when finalized. Up-to-date information is also available at the DMVês online Dealer Services site, http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/commercial/dealer/index.asp, or the Motor Vehicle Dealer Board website at www.mvdb.virginia.gov.
Benson Marsh of triVin, Inc., provided seminar participants a video presentation and update of online dealership vehicle registration services. He can be reached at (800) 876-2312 or benson.marsh@trivinc.com.
The seminar concluded with a lively and very candid Q&A in which no specific dealer questions went unanswered. The speakers received hardy applause at the end of what one participant called a really worthwhile meeting.
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