Oregon DMV says about 7,000 C. Oregonians are trying to make appointments

Agency launches web schedule service, but still says it could take weeks

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- For more than two months, Oregon's DMV field offices have been almost entirely closed, only offering commercial drivers licenses by appointment only.

On Monday, to help serve hundreds of thousands of Oregonians looking to make appointments, the DMV office began taking phone calls to set appointments.

“Within the first hour Monday morning, we had 18,000 calls when normally we only get about 8,000 in a whole day," DMV spokesman David House said.

Now, the DMV is unveiling a new online scheduling service at OregonDMV.com. There, Oregonians will be able to fill out a form as to why they need an appointment.

Still, House said it could take days or possibly weeks from some people to get an appointment scheduled.

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Here's the Oregon DMV's news release Tuesday about the new service:

A new web-based form to request an appointment at a DMV office is now online at OregonDMV.com.

Using this form, DMV will set appointments for the following services at this time:

• Driver licensing and ID cards – originals, renewals and replacements, including passenger car and commercial licenses, and instruction permits
• Driver knowledge tests
• Driving privilege reinstatements with a license issuance
• Disabled parking placards
• VIN inspections for new-to-Oregon vehicles previously titled elsewhere
• Farm endorsements

We cannot do drive tests due to social distancing restrictions, and we don’t know when we can resume offering them, but there are private testing businesses and Driver Education providers that administer driver skills tests. We apologize for the long wait especially for new teen drivers in the traditional busy summer season.

How to request an appointment

At OregonDMV.com, a simple tool will ask a short series of questions to determine whether you need an in-person visit or can do your business online or by mail. If the service you need is available for appointments, the tool will take you to the new appointment request form.

The form asks for your name and contact information. A DMV agent will contact you to schedule the in-person appointment. Please remember, once you submit the online form, it will take some time for DMV to respond because of the high demand for service.

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Here's the DMV's initial news release about the issues, posted Monday:

ODOT said Monday it has developed a web-based request form for limited in-person services at DMV field offices to temporarily replace a phone scheduling process overwhelmed by more than 18,000 calls in an hour on Monday.

DMV normally gets about 8,000 calls in a day.

The new form will be in place at 8 a.m. Wednesday,  or sometime Tuesday afternoon, DMV said.

When it is available at www.OregonDMV.com, a simple tool will ask you a short series of questions to determine whether you can do your business online or need an in-person visit.

If you qualify, you can fill out a form with your name and contact information. A DMV agent will contact you to schedule the in-person appointment.

Please remember, once you submit the online form, it will take some time for DMV to respond to the historically high demand.

“We apologize for the wait Oregonians have already endured due to the COVID-19 crisis, and the wait ahead as we begin working the pent up demand,” DMV Administrator Tom McClellan said.

“We don’t know how long it will take to catch up with a backlog this huge, but we think it will take months, especially with health and safety protocols in place. Please continue to see if you can get what you need online or by mail, and please be patient.”

The new web-based form to request an appointment, plus an online index of services that can be done by mail, not just online, will make it easier for you to do business with us from home. We’re also expanding our call center capacity.

As of Wednesday, only these services will be available at about two-thirds of DMV's offices by appointment:

• Driver licensing and ID cards – originals, renewals and replacements, including passenger car and commercial licenses, and instruction permits
• Driver knowledge tests
• Driving privilege reinstatements with a license issuance
• Disabled parking placards
• VIN inspections for new-to-Oregon vehicles previously titled elsewhere
• Farm endorsements

The law enforcement grace period for expired licenses, permits, and registration is still in effect.

As we begin offering in-person services we’ll closely monitor how quickly we’re able to work through the backlog and will work with law enforcement to determine when the grace period will end. For now, schedule an appointment only if absolutely necessary to leave appointment slots for priority transactions. We will provide ample notice and communication before the grace period is set to end.

There are now many services you can do online. Find out more at DMV2U.Oregon.gov or get forms and a mailing address at OregonDMV.com.

When you do visit a DMV office, expect to follow safe social distancing and other measures in place for customers and employees.