Processing Fee Hiked At Stamford Driver's License Renewal Site

Patch
The state DMV has added days at the Henry Street facility.

STAMFORD, CT — For the convenience of renewing your Connecticut driver's license by appointment at a new DMV Express office on Henry Street in Stamford, motorists will have to pay an $8 processing fee, a significant jump from the previous fee of $5.

The fee is on top of the $72 it costs to renew a Connecticut driver's license, and a DMV spokeman tells Patch that third-party operators requested the increase because "they weren't breaking even."

"DMV licensing partners may charge a convenience fee of up to $8 per transaction," DMV spokesman Jim Carson told Patch. "The convenience fee increased this year from up to $5 to no more than $8 at the request of DMV licensing partners. Prior to that, the fee went from $2 to $3 in 2013 and up to $5 in 2016."

Starting Wednesday, Nov. 28, the new Stamford DMV Express office will open at 137 Henry St. and will be open five days a week, Monday through Friday, instead of just two days for which it had been opened.

The office will be operated by The WorkPlace, Inc., and all renewals at the facility are by appointment only. Appointments can be made online through the DMV’s website.

"The WorkPlace looks forward to serving the residents of southwest Connecticut with expanded operations that increase convenience for DMV customers in the area," said Joe Carbone, President and CEO of The WorkPlace. "We appreciate the opportunity [DMV] Commissioner [Michael] Bzdyra has provided and are thankful for the tremendous support of his staff during the transition."

Carson said that drivers who want to avoid the processing fee can get their license renewed at a regular DMV facility and only pay the $72 renewal cost.

"The express sites are about convenience," he said, adding that at the Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union in Milford, which also serves as a DMV Express site, the $8 fee is waived if a driver opens a new bank account at the institution.

Services provided at the Stamford DMV Express office include:

  • Renewals of verified driver’s licenses (U.S. citizens only)

  • Renewals of regular driver’s licenses (U.S. citizens only)

  • Renewals of non-U.S. citizen regular driver’s licenses

  • Renewals of verified identification cards (U.S. citizens only)

  • Renewals of regular identification cards (U.S. citizens only)

  • Renewals of non-U.S. citizen regular identification cards

  • Duplicate driver’s licenses, identification cards, and learner’s permits

  • Name changes on driver licenses, identification cards and learner’s permits

The new Stamford office follows the recent openings of similar offices at West Haven City Hall and the aforementioned credit union in Milford. Plans are underway to open DMV Express offices in North Haven and Southington in the coming weeks.

"This DMV Express office in Stamford, similar to the recently opened locations in Milford and West Haven, as well as the ones opening soon in North Haven and Southington, will continue our efforts to make renewals more convenient while at the same time reducing the strain on other DMV locations," said Gov. Dannel Malloy in a statement. "This public-private partnership is serving as a model for how we can work together to make sure Connecticut residents receive the best possible services."

Added Commissioner Bzdyra, "The agency wants to spur innovation and create a network of convenient offices in New Haven and Fairfield counties, which are no longer served by AAA Northeast for DMV license and ID services. Our customers in lower Fairfield County will certainly benefit from the new Stamford DMV Express because it will be open Monday through Friday with additional hours than what was previously available for license and ID card renewal services."

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