The State Worker: California DMV launches new website

The State Worker

Chronicling civil-service life for California state workers

August 8, 2011

California DMV launches new website

We'll just say it: Despite chronic complaints and stereotypes of California's Department of Motor Vehicles, we think DMV is easily one of the most innovative and user-friendly agencies in California's state government.

The latest proof is DMV's new website, which department spokesman Mike Marando says reflects a continued push for services designed to "help customers do business on their time, not on our time."

The revamped dmv.ca.gov, launched late last month, has an uncluttered layout and a homepage video (above) highlighting the various social media and technological avenues the department is exploiting to meet its mission.

Of course, the more that the department can shift work like registration and license renewals to state residents linked to computers, the more it frees employees to handle tasks that need face time with the public. So maximizing the web and DMV's successful self-serve kiosk program is a win-win.

Sure, DMV has endured the occasional belly flop when diving into the high-tech pool. (Remember the new driver's license debacle?) It will always be a target for comedians like Dane Cook. It's part of the price you pay for being one of the most ubiquitous arms of government.

But as DMV's new website shows, the department keeps trying to get better. Kudos for that.

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