Although I personally prefer scheduling appointments at my local DMV whenever I can to skip the line and long wait times, there’s something to be said about being able to just drop by the local DMV office whenever I want to. Walk-in services at the DMV are still preferred as they’re able to provide a convenient option for folks who need immediate assistance or if you want to quickly get something done without having to schedule an appointment. But, what are the best walk-in hours at the Virginia DMV?
Well, if you live in Virginia and want to head down to your local DMV office, most DMV offices in the state offer walk-in services, and during the weekdays, this is usually from 8 AM to 5 PM. Additionally, some Virginia state DMV offices might also offer extended hours, like opening as early as 7:30 AM and closing later at 6 PM. A select few of these DMV offices might also offer walk-in services on Saturday, usually only for half a day. So, what that said, here’s everything you need to know about the Virginia DMV and their walk-in hours.
1) Which Virginia DMV Offers Walk-In Services?
As I mentioned earlier, most Virginia DMV office offers walk-in services, and some of the more prominent locations in the Old Dominion include:
- Arlington
- Richmond
- Virginia Beach
- Fairfax
- Roanoke
It’s worth bearing in mind too, that urban DMV locations usually have more extended walk-in hours compared to rural DMV offices. As you can imagine, each of these DMV offices will also have its distinct operating hours, types of services offered, and contact information. As such, I’d highly recommend checking out the Virginia DMV’s location finder tool here to figure out a bit more about each DMV office, including those that you might plan on visiting.
2) What Are The Typical Walk-In Hours At The DMV?
In short, most Virginia DMV offices that I’ve been to have their walk-in hours set from Friday to Monday, between 8 AM to 5 PM. Aside from that, some of these DMV offices may also have an extended operating hour, like opening as early as 7:30 AM or closing a bit later at 6 PM. On top of that, there are a select few DMV offices that are open on Saturdays, offering walk-ins from 8 AM to 12 PM.
There are a few caveats that you have to take into account, though:
- DMV offices in urban areas and larger cities tend to offer extended walk-in hours, which helps to accommodate folks who work standard business hours (9 AM to 5 PM). This means you can visit the DMV outside your work schedule.
- Those DMV offices that open on Saturdays are great for folks who can’t visit them during the week. However, be warned that those Saturday hours might be limited to specific services, so be sure to double-check that your local DMV office has what you’re looking for. This may also vary by location.
- Some DMV-related services, usually due to their complexity or if they need special staff, would still require that you make an appointment beforehand. This includes services like applying for road tests (usually for new drivers) or applications for a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) are among the types of services that you need to schedule an appointment prior to visiting. If you aren’t sure which services are and aren’t covered, just call the Virginia DMV for clarification.
3) What Services Are Available During Walk-In Hours
Speaking of, here are some of the services that you could do at the Virginia DMV on a walk-in basis, without needing to make an appointment beforehand:
- Renewing or replacing your driver’s license.
- Renewing existing vehicle registrations or registering a new vehicle.
- Transferring a title when you buy or sell a vehicle.
- Updating your address on your driver’s license or vehicle registration.
- Anything related to voter registration.
- Applying for a state ID card.
It’s worth bearing in mind too that the Virginia DMV lets you complete some of these services fully online, without even stepping foot inside a DMV office. These are usually for their simpler services, such as renewing your vehicle’s registration or your driver’s license, and changing the address on your license, as well as replacing your license, and so on. To find out what you can or can’t do online, be sure to check out the Virginia DMV’s website to learn more.
4) Best Walk-In Hours To Visit The DMV
I’m sure if you’ve been to any DMV office before, you’ll know how notoriously slow the service is there, and just how long the wait times often are. On average, the wait times at the Virginia DMV range from 30 minutes to over an hour, though this will vary greatly depending on which location you’re visiting, and what time of day you’re dropping by. Peak times like lunchtime or late afternoons could significantly impact your wait times.
The peak hours at most Virginia DMV offices that you should 100% avoid are normally during lunch hours (12 PM to 2 PM), as well as late afternoons (3 PM to 5 PM). These tend to be the DMV’s busiest hours, and wait times can stretch to way over an hour due to the high influx of folks visiting the DMV.
On the other hand, I’d instead advise that you visit your local Virginia DMV office during mid-morning (usually around 10 AM) or mid-afternoon (usually around 2 PM). These are their off-peak hours, and you’d typically notice shorter wait times. If possible, you should also visit the DMV in the early mornings, right after they open, which is significantly less crowded.