Contact: Office of Public Affairs
2415 First Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95818
(916) 657–6437 | dmvpublicaffairs@dmv.ca.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 25, 2019
Pilot program offers new payment option and improved customer experience
Sacramento – Following recommendations by Governor Newsom’s Strike Team, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is now phasing in a pilot program to allow credit card and digital wallet (Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay) payments at field offices. The department announced today that that the Davis field office will be the first in the state to accept credit cards, starting September 30. The DMV is piloting this payment option in Davis, with additional DMV offices in Fresno, Victorville and Roseville joining the pilot in the coming weeks. Full implementation of the program is expected in all field offices by early 2020.
“This credit card option is one more way we are improving the customer experience at the DMV,” said DMV Director Steve Gordon.
In alignment with how other departments process credit and debit card transactions, DMV customers will be charged a 2.3 percent service fee when paying with their card or digital wallet at a field office. Customers who pay via cash, check or money order will not be charged a service fee.
While accepting credit cards is a new payment option offered at field offices, the DMV has been allowing customers to use credit and debit cards to complete transactions online, by phone and at DMV Now kiosks. Beginning September 29, these transactions will be charged a service fee of 2.1 percent.
The DMV accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover card, or debit cards with a Visa or MasterCard logo. Visit the Payment Options page for more information.
| Make an Informed Choice – DMV Payment Options | |
|---|---|
| Field office, online, phone, DMV Now kiosks | |
| Cash | |
| Check | (DMV Now kiosks do not accept checks) |
| Debit Cards with Visa/MC logo | (2.3 percent service fee if used at field office) |
| (2.1 percent service fee online, phone and DMV Now kiosk) | |
| Credit Cards | (2.3 percent service fee at field office) |
| (2.1 percent service fee online, phone and DMV Now kiosk) | |
| Digital Wallet | (2.3 percent service fee at field office) |
| (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay – not available online, by phone or at DMV Now kiosk) |
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