Speeding Up at Vehicle Licensing

An increase in the number of visitors to the Department of Vehicle Licensing has meant that customers have been facing long queues at the service counters and inspection pit. As a result, Director David Dixon, is instituting a number of measures to reduce the problem.

Among other measures, the director has appointed interim additional vehicle inspectors to rectify the long queues at the George Town inspection area. These inspectors work with vehicle dealerships and they will conduct first inspections on their own shipments of new vehicles, but their inspections service will not extend to the public.

Other vehicle inspections for the public (for both new and used vehicles) will continue to be offered during daylight hours at Andy’s Auto in West Bay and at the Central Georgetown location. With the help of the dealership inspections, it is expected that waiting time will be reduced significantly.

The department also recently hired three additional cashiers who are now in training. Once they take their posts, the public should be able to complete their counter transactions quickly, reducing time spent in queues.

For those who have multiple transactions to complete, there is a Document Drop-off policy that allows forms and information to be dropped off at the Walkers Road office or left in the depository at Elgin Avenue. Customers can then phone the department to check on the status of transactions. Instructions for use of the drop box are listed on the Certificate of Registration.

The Vehicle and Licensing Department is also at the preliminary stages of arrangements to permit increased use of technology for various transactions.

However, customers should also remember that another way to avoid frustration is to plan ahead. If your driver’s licence expires at the end of the month, there is no need to wait till then to renew it. Statistically, the first and last weeks of the month are busiest so customers should try to avoid those times.

Again, wise customers will remember what services are offered at which licensing office. The Walkers Road office houses all administrative aspects including debt collections, accounts, administering drivers licence exams, and public transport. Also at the Walker’s Road location, staff members administer the general knowledge test, vet applications, and issue permits for taxi and tour drivers. In addition, they deal with all complaints and handle all investigations regarding persons licensed under public transportation permits.

The Elgin Avenue office is the hub for vehicle inspections and all driver licence transactions, including foreign, international, and local licensing. On site, there are two vehicle inspectors responsible for mechanical and peripheral checks on all vehicles, including public transportation vehicles.

“We also encourage customers who are renewing their drivers licenses to utilize the facilities at Walkers Road and West Bay in order to speed up the issuing of new licenses,” explains Mr. Dixon. “Once they have paid for a renewal at those locations, they can take the receipt straight to the photo clerk at the Elgin Avenue office and avoid waiting in the queue.”

Vehicles can be inspected at the West Bay office too; an inspector does the peripheral checks on site, prior to the trip to Andy’s Auto for the mechanical inspection.

The department asks the public to exercise patience and courtesy to the staff during this unusually busy time. Anyone with questions or concerns is asked to contact the department at 945-8344 or 945-8355.