Tens of thousands of additional drivers each month are expected to flock to registries to renew their licenses starting Oct. 1.
Rachel Kaprielian, Registrar of Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, is seen at a meeting of the editorial board of The Republican in Springfield last week.SPRINGFIELD - Anticipating a glut of license renewals, The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles will extend its hours of operation at certain branches including Springfield - the state's third busiest.
During an editorial board meeting with The Republican, Registrar Rachel Kaprielian said the Springfield branch at 165 Liberty St. will open at 8 a.m. instead of 9 a.m., Monday through Friday, beginning Aug. 15. The branch is open until 5 p.m. each business day except for Thursday, when it stays open until 6 p.m.
Because the first wave of five-year as opposed to four-year license renewals has come to roost, Kaprielian said she anticipates tens of thousands more drivers each month flocking to the registry to renew their licenses by Oct. 1.
Drivers can renew their licenses one year before the expiration dates; most can renew online.
"We're coming off a drought, which wasn't very drought-like because we have more licensed drivers in the state," she said, adding that the expanded hours here and in other busy branches in Massachusetts is part of a continued effort to make the Registry of Motor Vehicles "better, faster, smarter."
Behind Boston's Chinatown branch and Worcester, Springfield is typically the third busiest in the state. Kaprielian said registry officials have been brainstorming ideas to alleviate long lines at branches. This has recently meant driving more traffic to the Internet.
Except for certain transactions, including 10-year license renewals (which require new photos) and out-of-state transfers, most transactions can be completed on the RMV website. And some, including car registration replacements, are instant.
"I love the under-35 crowd. They almost get hostile if there's something they can't do online," said Kaprielian, who took over the RMV three years ago and has successfully worked to drive Web traffic up by the millions. "If you do one transaction online, we know we've got you. You'll do it again."
Other advances included "pre-staging" of certain in-person transactions and registry appointments; the latter practice was piloted in Springfield and still needs some finessing, she said.
New drivers' test also can be pre-booked online and those users can shop available appointments at registries.
Kaprielian also highlighted a newly modernized phone system and other enhancements that have been added to the RMV's customer-service roster.
"We want to change the way people think about the registry. This isn't your grandfather's registry of motor vehicles anymore," said.
A full range of online RMV services can be accessed at www.massdot.state.ma.us