DMV self-serve kiosk debuts at Safeway

Officials with the California Department of Motor Vehicles paid a visit to the Safeway near the Potrero Hill neighborhood to officially welcome a “DMV Now” self-service kiosk on Wednesday.

The DMV installed the kiosk inside the Safeway in September as a way for shoppers to easily renew their vehicle registration without having to step foot into a DMV office and wait in line, especially for procrastinators who wait until the last day to renew.

Armando Botello, deputy director of communications at the DMV, said:

“Now San Francisco Safeway customers can now easily pick up their dinner and renew their vehicle registration with just one stop.”

He added:

“That’s what DMV is all about, trying to offer the most convenient way for our customers to renew their registration.”

People can use the blue and yellow self-service touch screen kiosk as long they bring in their vehicle registration renewal letter or have their most recent vehicle registration card. Customers can pay the renewal fee with a debit or credit card.

The kiosk will instantly print out the vehicle registration card along with the license plate tag. Customers can also use the kiosks to file for non-operation status if they decide not to drive their vehicle.

Kiosks will offer instructions on how to the use the machines in English and Spanish.

Since the DMV installed the first kiosk in 2010, more than six million transactions have taken place at the kiosks, according to the DMV officials.

The DMV installed the kiosks in 14 grocery stores throughout the Bay Area and have 60 kiosks available for customers at field offices throughout the state, including at the Oakland Coliseum field office.

A list of where the kiosks are available can be found on the state’s DMV website. The kiosk in San Francisco is at 2300 16th St., inside the Safeway, in the Potrero Center.

Jerold Chinn

Jerold serves as a reporter and San Francisco Bureau Chief for SFBay covering transportation and occasionally City Hall and the Mayor's Office in San Francisco. His work on transportation has been recognized by the San Francisco Press Club. Born and raised in San Francisco, he graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in journalism. Jerold previously wrote for the San Francisco Public Press, a nonprofit, noncommercial news organization. When not reporting, you can find Jerold taking Muni to check out new places to eat in the city.