The state Department of Licensing’s website will be affected by the Dec. 12 installation of a new computer system for vehicle and boat title and registration transactions.

The new system replaces a 30-year-old, text-based system that’s been used successfully in several other states across the country.

Here’s what customers can expect, according to DOL:

• Online vehicle tab renewal will be offline from midnight Dec. 6 until the new system is turned on Dec. 12. Other vehicle-related online services, like online filing of a report of sale, online vehicle or boat change of address, and other types of vehicle or boat online transactions or look-ups, will be offline from the evening of Dec. 9 until the new system is turned on Dec. 12.
• Licensing offices across the state may close a little early Dec. 9 to ensure all transactions are finalized prior to shutting down the old computer system that evening.
• All vehicle licensing offices will be closed on Dec. 10.
• Following the launch on Dec. 12, customers may experience longer office wait times as vehicle licensing office staff become comfortable processing transactions using the new system. DOL is asking customers for patience in the days immediately following the launch.

“The new system is a tremendous new tool to make our jobs faster and easier,” said Pat Kohler, DOL director, in a release. “We’ve invested in training to teach our users how to use it, but until they get comfortable processing real transactions with real customers, we expect office wait times to be a little longer than usual.”

Vehicle licensing customers can avoid longer wait times by taking care of annual tab renewals in vehicle licensing offices prior to Dec. 9 or online prior to Dec. 6.

The new system, called DRIVES, is being rolled out in two phases between December and June 2018. The first phase replaces DOL’s obsolete vehicle and boat titling and registration computer systems. The second phase, scheduled for June 2018, will replace DOL’s obsolete driver licensing systems.

When completed, the new DRIVES system will provide more reliable systems and processes and more accurate records for law enforcement use and allow for faster and easier system changes to support new or changing laws and business processes, DOL said.