These aren’t the best times for California residents. Now, drivers in this state are facing the closure of one of the key Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) offices in the state. That’s right, Laguna Hills closed its doors on October 18th and, therefore, ceased operations in this area. So, users in this area are going to find that completing any DMV procedure will become a bit more complicated. We’ll tell you below why this decision was made.
What happened in California?
California was at its peak, and due to some changes in driving policies, the demand for vehicle-related procedures, such as license renewals or reissues, had even increased. However, all that is about to change now because, apparently, according to the DMV itself, the decision to close this office was due to the building’s infrastructure not meeting current accessibility regulations, which would result in the prohibition of any type of activity inside the building.
But why is it closing?
As we said, infrastructure issues. Apparently, this DMV building doesn’t meet the accessibility standards required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), so this platform has demanded that all offices meet minimum accessibility standards for people with reduced mobility.
Although an attempt was made to relocate the office to a shopping center in Mission Viejo, local authorities denied permission, arguing that the traffic and influx of people would affect nearby residents and schools (after all, how many hours do we spend waiting in line for help at the DMV?
What are the alternatives for drivers?
If you need to go to a DMV office and your usual office was the DMV, we regret to inform you that you will now have to travel to nearby offices. The closest to Laguna Hills are the following:
- Santa Ana
- Costa Mesa
- San Clemente
Remember that these offices will experience an increase in users, so be patient when completing any procedure because it will take much longer than usual to serve you, and the lines will be much longer than usual!
What does the DMV recommend?
Make sure you save as much as you can through their online services. Remember that you can complete some procedures through the DMV portal, such as license renewals, fee payments, and related services. However, if you need to go to the DMV in person, don’t delay too long and arrive early.
Will this impact users?
Of course, millions of them, especially those who until now relied on this center for urgent procedures, those who need quick renewals or documents of any kind, such as issuing a Real ID (which, as you know, will be mandatory before May 7 if you need to board domestic flights) or any other type of procedure. For these users, the closure of Laguna Hills means they’ll have to travel further and waste more time completing the procedure.
Furthermore, this not only affects regular users of Laguna Hills, but also those who frequent the other three offices, as they will see an increase in the influx of people and will take longer to serve them as well.
What can we do?
First, be patient and plan ahead for any DMV procedures you need to complete.
As we mentioned before, remember that you can complete a large number of procedures through the official DMV website. Take advantage of any savings you can make in person! Whether you’re requesting duplicate documents, paying fees, or renewing them, you can do so without having to step foot in an office.
If you absolutely have to go to the office, make an appointment in advance to avoid the long lines that usually form at the offices. If you have extra time, you can try your luck at offices in other nearby cities. While they may be busy, they won’t be as crowded as these three locations, where all the Laguna Hills users will be arriving. Good luck, patience, and plan well!