NC Audit Urges DMV Independence Amid Long Waits

A comprehensive audit by North Carolina State Auditor Dave Boliek found that average DMV wait times now exceed 1 hour and 15 minutes, with nearly 14% of visits lasting over 2.5 hours—a 79% increase since 2019. The audit identified critical challenges, including 160 examiner vacancies, low morale, burnout, safety concerns, and outdated technology. Many issues were linked to the DMV's governance under the Department of Transportation, which provides the agency a disproportionately small share of funding and staffing despite substantial revenue generation. Boliek recommended making the DMV an autonomous agency with direct budget control, conducting a full staffing analysis, and modernizing IT systems. The report noted bipartisan agreement that staffing has not kept up with the state's population growth. State leaders and customers expressed hope that these recommendations would result in improved DMV service.