California DMV's El Centro office set to reopen September 12

The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has announced the reopening of its El Centro office at 233 N. Imperial Ave. The office will resume operations at 8 a.m. on Thursday, September 12, following its closure on August 23 for remediation. Prior to reopening, the DMV conducted thorough air quality tests to ensure the environment meets stringent health and safety standards required for both staff and the public.

Area residents are encouraged to use this opportunity to apply for a REAL ID, which necessitates an office visit to complete the application process. Starting May 7, 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will require a valid passport or another federally approved document, such as a REAL ID driver’s license or identification card, to board flights within the United States and access secure federal facilities and military bases.

The DMV has emphasized that many services can be completed online without visiting an office. Most DMV tasks do not require an in-person visit, including simple self-service transactions that are no longer available in offices. Customers are encouraged to utilize online services and other service channels for transactions like driver’s license and vehicle registration renewals. Additionally, customers can use the Service Advisor on the DMV website to explore their options for completing various DMV tasks.

To sign up for paperless vehicle registration and driver’s license renewal notices, customers need to sign in to their MyDMV account or create a secure online account at dmv.ca.gov/mydmv and opt-in.

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