TEXAS, USA — The Texas Department of Public Safety announced Wednesday it will be offering expanded office hours at select driver license offices beginning Jan. 4, 2021.
According to a DPS press release, the longer office hours are an initiative to help customers still needing services because of COVID-19 office closures in 2020.
In addition to expanded office hours, DPS also implemented Saturday hours to help address the issue.
Expanded hours for the selected offices will be 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday thru Thursday and 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Friday. Customers can start making appointments for those time slots now.
Offices were selected based on the volume of customer transactions, according to the release.
Appointments are still available at several offices for Dec. 12 and Dec. 19 for customers needing renewals, replacements and election identification certificates.
Customers whose license expired while offices were closed should make an appointment as soon as possible.
While offices are closed, there are other options available to Texans needing services.
Online transactions will allow eligible Texans to renew their driver license, identification card or change their address online at Texas.gov without the need to visit an office
Renewals can also be done by phone by calling 1-866-357-3639. Requirements and cost for online or phone renewals are the same as in-person.
Additionally, services are currently being done by appointment only. Customers needing to schedule an appointment or check availability can do so on the appointment scheduler website.
Appointments can be scheduled for a specific time and date and up to six months in advance. Customers can show up to 30 minutes or less before the scheduled time and can check-in using the kiosk in the office or on a mobile device.
Customers who are not able to make the appointment are asked to reschedule in advance.
Many offices are offering customers without appointments a spot on a "standby" list. Customers are required to wait in the office and are assisted in the event of a cancelation or no-show, according to the release.
Each driver license office also has a limited number of same-day appointments, which are on a first-come first-served basis. Customers who schedule the same-day appointments can leave the office until their scheduled time.
