July 31, 2009 |
2009-R-0292 | |
MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION AND DRIVER LICENSING AGENCIES IN OTHER STATES | ||
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By: James J. Fazzalaro, Principal Analyst | ||
You asked how the other states structure their agencies to perform motor vehicle registration and driver licensing functions. In particular, you wanted to know which states have a free-standing motor vehicle department like Connecticut and which use other agency structures.
SUMMARY
It appears that nine other states perform motor vehicle registration and driver licensing functions through a free-standing motor vehicle department like Connecticut. In 31 states, there appears to be a motor vehicle division performing these functions that is part of a larger multi-function state agency. This is most frequently a transportation department (11 states), but in other cases it may be a revenue or taxation agency, a public safety agency, an administration agency, the office of the secretary of state, or some other entity. In seven states, the licensing and registration functions appear to be split between two different agencies. In Hawaii, these functions are performed at the county and not the state level.
STATE AGENCY ORGANIZATION FOR REGISTRATION AND LICENSING FUNCTIONS
Each state's organization structure for performing motor vehicle registration and driver licensing functions is shown in the chart below. Please note that, because of the immediate need for this information, this comparison is limited only to these two functions. We did not attempt to identify where other functions the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles performs such as monitoring the emissions inspection program, performing truck safety inspections, licensing motor vehicle-related businesses, or performing license or registration suspension hearings might be performed in the other states as this requires considerably more time to ascertain. We can do this in the future should you find it necessary.
State Agency Organizations for Motor Vehicle Registration and Driver Licensing
State |
Registration |
Licensing |
Alabama |
Motor Vehicle Division in Department of Revenue |
Driver Licensing Division in Department of Public Safety |
Alaska |
Division of Motor Vehicles in Department of Administration | |
Arizona |
Motor Vehicle Division in Department of Transportation | |
Arkansas |
Office of Motor Vehicles and Office of Driver Services in Department of Finance and Administration | |
California |
Department of Motor Vehicles | |
Colorado |
Division of Motor Vehicles in Department of Revenue | |
Connecticut |
Department of Motor Vehicles | |
Delaware |
Division of Motor Vehicles in Department of Transportation | |
Florida |
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (joint agency that also includes Highway Patrol) | |
Georgia |
Motor Vehicle Division in Department of Revenue |
Department of Driver Services |
Hawaii |
No state agency—licensing and registration done individually by county | |
Idaho |
Division of Motor Vehicles in Department of Transportation | |
Illinois |
Vehicle Services Department and Driver Services Department in Office of Secretary of State | |
Indiana |
Bureau of Motor Vehicles | |
Iowa |
Motor Vehicle Division in Department of Transportation | |
Kansas |
Division of Motor Vehicles in Department of Revenue | |
Kentucky |
Department of Vehicle Regulation in the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet | |
Louisiana |
Office of Motor Vehicles in Department of Public Safety | |
Maine |
Bureau of Motor Vehicles in Department of Secretary of State (administered by Deputy Secretary of State) | |
Maryland |
Motor Vehicle Administration in Department of Transportation | |
Massachusetts |
Registry of Motor Vehicles in Executive Office of Transportation and Public Works | |
State |
Registration |
Licensing |
Michigan |
Services provided by Customer Service Administration and Legal and Regulatory Services Administration in the Department of State Administration | |
Minnesota |
Driver and Vehicle Services Division on Department of Public Safety | |
Mississippi |
County tax collectors under State Tax Commission |
Driver Services Division in Department of Public Safety |
Missouri |
Motor Vehicle and Driver Licensing Division in Department of Revenue | |
Montana |
Motor Vehicle Division in Department of Justice | |
Nebraska |
Department of Motor Vehicles | |
Nevada |
Department of Motor Vehicles | |
New Hampshire |
Division of Motor Vehicles in Department of Safety | |
New Jersey |
Motor Vehicle Commission | |
New Mexico |
Motor Vehicle Division in Department of Taxation & Revenue | |
New York |
Department of Motor Vehicles | |
North Carolina |
Division of Motor Vehicles in Department of Transportation | |
North Dakota |
Functions under Deputy Director for Driver & Vehicle Services in Department of Transportation | |
Ohio |
Bureau of Motor Vehicles in Department of Public Safety | |
Oklahoma |
State Tax Commission (performed through local tag agents) |
Driver Licensing Services Office in Department of Public Safety |
Oregon |
Driver and Motor Vehicles Services Division in Department of Transportation | |
Pennsylvania |
Driver and Vehicle Services Division in Department of Transportation | |
Rhode Island |
Division of Motor Vehicles in Department of Revenue | |
South Carolina |
Department of Motor Vehicles | |
South Dakota |
Motor Vehicle Division in Department of Revenue and Regulation | |
Tennessee |
Division of Vehicle Titling and Registration in Department of Revenue (processed through county clerks offices) |
Division of Driver Licensing Services in Department of Safety |
Texas |
Vehicle Titling and Registration Division in Department of Transportation (however most paperwork submission and processing occurs at county tax offices) |
Driver Licensing Division in Department of Public Safety |
Utah |
Division of Motor Vehicles in State Tax Commission |
Driver Licensing Division in Department of Public Safety |
Vermont |
Department of Motor Vehicles | |
Virginia |
Department of Motor Vehicles | |
Washington |
All registration and licensing functions performed by Department of Licensing (agency also does all professional and occupational licensing) | |
West Virginia |
Division of Motor Vehicles in Department of Transportation | |
Wisconsin |
Division of Motor Vehicles in Department of Transportation (DOT also includes State Police) | |
Wyoming |
Functions come under Support Services Division of Department of Transportation but registrations are actually issued through county treasurers offices and titles are issued through county tax offices |
Support Services Division of Department of Transportation |
Summary of Organizations ● 10 states (bold) have a free standing motor vehicle agency ● 7 states have registration and licensing split between more than one agency (Wyoming is technically within a single agency but registration and titling is done through county governmental offices) ● 1 state (Hawaii) has no state agency—functions are performed by counties ● 31 states have a motor vehicle division or office within a larger state agency as follows—transportation (11), revenue and/or taxation (5), public safety (4), administration or finance and administration (3), secretary of state (2), revenue and regulation (1), highway safety and motor vehicles (1), justice (1), licensing (1), transportation cabinet (1), executive office of transportation and public works (1) | ||
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