Over One Million Customers Served -- at Home

 Skip the Trip Mail-in Renewal Program Reaches Milestone;
Reduction in Agency Wait Times Hold

(TRENTON) – The success of the Christie Administration's Skip the Trip program was marked today as the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) received its one millionth license renewal by mail and announced the continuation of shorter wait times in traditionally high-volume agencies statewide.

"We are actually reaching this milestone about one month earlier than I had anticipated so the program's success is without question," said Chairman and Chief Administrator Raymond P. Martinez.

The Skip the Trip program was initially launched in July 2012 to those eligible individuals who were born on or before Dec. 1, 1964. The program was expanded to eligible customers of all ages in August 2013 for those whose licenses were due for renewal in October 2013.

Through the Skip the Trip program, drivers and non-driver ID holders only have to complete their renewal application, enclose a check or money order with the appropriate fee and within 10 days of receipt of payment, a new four-year driver's license or non-driver ID is issued and delivered to them through the mail. The secure process utilizes the customer's existing photo and address on record with the MVC.

In October 2013, the MVC had announced that wait times in its 10 traditionally high-volume agencies had dropped an average of 45 percent due to the Skip the Trip program and customer service initiatives.  A wait time analysis for the fiscal year that just ended on June 30 indicates wait time reductions are holding fairly steady, at 39 percent, despite a series of challenging operational impacts.

Martinez noted that in FY'14, the MVC was forced to close its 39 agencies on numerous days due to severe winter weather and storms. He also pointed out that new car sales in the state have risen, resulting in an increase in dealer business that can only be completed at an agency.

"Foot traffic has also been increased by new mandates from the Federal Government requiring commercial driver's license holders to come into an agency to present documentation," Martinez explained.

The agencies analyzed include: Eatontown, Edison, Lodi, Newark, Oakland, Rahway, Randolph, Springfield, Wallington and Wayne.

Skip the Trip is made possible because of enhanced MVC security procedures that utilize state-of-the-art facial recognition technology to confirm eligible customers’ identities prior to mailing a renewal notice. Customers who are offered the chance to renew by mail and choose to visit an agency instead will be required to present 6 Points of Identification.

“If you don’t have to come to an agency, why would you?” asked Martinez. “This is the easiest, most convenient process that the MVC has offered in years.”

Although many customers will receive the Skip the Trip notice, there are some instances where mail renewal is not permitted. Customers with a Commercial Driver License (CDL), Graduated Driver License (GDL), Temporary Visa Restriction (TVR), interlock device, boat license or suspension are not eligible for mail renewal and must visit an agency.

For more information about Skip the Trip, please visit www.njmvc.gov.