RMV Service Centers and AAA Locations
RMV Service Centers
The RMV has a strict no walk-in policy at its Service Centers open to the general public. Reservations are available only for certain necessary and required in-person transactions that cannot be completed online, by phone, or by mail. If you are practicing social distancing and don't want to visit an RMV service center, more than 40 transactions can be completed using our online service center.
If you need to complete an in-person transaction, you are required to make or cancel a reservation online. You will be sent a confirmation email that you must show on arrival at your designated time at a specific Service Center. Customers arriving without an appointment will be asked to leave and make one online to return at a future date.
The reservation calendar will show dates that are available for booking, dates that are full/unavailable for booking, and dates that are not yet available for booking. If there are no appointments available, please check back later as appointments may open up during business hours.
Customers who make an appointment are advised to arrive on time and prepared for their visit at their selected location, and will be sent a confirmation email that they should be prepared to show on arrival. Customers who make a reservation are the only ones allowed in the Service Center - family and/or friends must wait outside. The only exception is for Learner's Permit applicants who are allowed a parent/guardian to accompany them. Customers who do not have immediate needs for necessary and required in-person transactions should delay their visits and not visit a Service Center without an appointment.
Only the following RMV centers will be open until further notice:
- Boston/Haymarket
- Brockton
- Danvers
- Fall River
- Greenfield - Commercial Registration Drop Off and Appointments (no learner's permit exams)
- Lawrence
- Leominster
- Martha's Vineyard
- Nantucket
- New Bedford - License/ID/Learner's Permit Only
- North Adams* - Registration Drop Off and Appointments starting 2/16/21
- Pittsfield* - Commercial Registration Drop Off and Appointments
- Plymouth
- Revere - License/ID/Learner's Permit Only
- South Yarmouth
- Springfield
- Worcester
- Watertown - License/ID/Learner's Permit Only
Senior Hours/Days for License/ID Renewal
Massachusetts law requires drivers who are 75 years of age or older to renew in person. The RMV has dedicated Wednesdays in October, November, and December certain RMV Service Centers to anyone 74 years of age or older to renew with an appointment.
Below are the options to make an appointment:
- If you are a AAA member, you may make a reservation now to renew your driver’s license/ID at a AAA location. Schedule your visit on the AAA appointment page.
- Please note that AAA does not have dedicated Senior hours/days.
- If you are not a AAA member, visit the RMV home page to make a reservation to renew at an RMV Service Center. Select the Seniors License Renewal option on the Make/Cancel a Reservation transaction
The Seniors License Renewal reservation warns customers that they will not be served if they select the Seniors option and they are not at least 74 years of age.
For your safety and ours, we ask all RMV customers to wear face coverings when you visit the Service Center for your scheduled reservation.
The RMV practices 'social-distancing' at our Service Centers. This means that we only allow a certain number of customers in each center at a time.
The RMV has taken other steps to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. In keeping with recommendations from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the RMV has:
- adopted enhanced cleaning practices for facilities
- purchased additional contactless hand sanitizer dispensing stations
- issued anti-viral disinfectant wipes and individual size hand sanitizers to certain employees
- expanded areas to be disinfected
Before visiting an RMV Service Center, please visit the RMV's Online Service Center to see if your transaction can be processed online. We offer over 40 transactions online.
Registration Drop Off
Registration Drop Off Centers are dedicated to performing a number of vehicle-based registration and title services for both commercial and individual customer transactions on a drop-off only basis. Customers choosing this option will be able to drop-off appropriate paperwork for processing within 4 business days. A complete list of drop off center locations is available.
Note: If it has been more than 4 days since you dropped off your paperwork, please email the RMV at RMVRegDropOff@state.ma.us.
AAA Locations
AAA has reopened select branch offices to perform RMV services. AAA members must make an online reservation. Appointments can be made up to two weeks in advance. Visit the AAA website to schedule an appointment.
Class D, M, and DM Driver's Licenses and Learner's Permits, and Mass IDs
Driver's Licenses and IDs
All Class D and Class DM driver’s licenses and ID cards that expired between March 1, 2020 and August 31, 2020, were extended. Refer to the Extension Chart below. The RMV is not offering additional extensions at this time. If your driver's license or ID card has expired, you must renew. You may be eligible to renew online. Visit the RMV's Online Service Center to see if you are eligible.
Learner's Permits
All learner’s permits that expired between March and August 2020 were extended until December 2020. The extension allowed additional time for permit students and driving schools to complete in-car instruction and road tests. The RMV is not offering additional extensions at this time. If your learner's permit has expired, you will need to retake the exam. Refer to the Learner's Permit Exams section below.
Learner's Permit Exams
Individuals seeking a passenger or motorcycle (Class D & M) learner’s permit will be required to start their application online and make an appointment to visit a Service Center to provide required identification documentation. Once an application and documents have been processed and verified at a Service Center, customers will be given login instructions and credentials to complete their test online at home.
Review these FAQs for more information.
Supervised Driving Receipt
The Supervised Driving Receipts, allowed to be issued by way of Executive COVID-19 Order No. 39, are no longer available. All Supervised Driving Receipts issued between June 18, 2020 and August 12, 2020 are now expired and no longer valid. Customers who have been issued a Supervised Driving Receipt should apply for a Learner’s Permit.
Additional Resources
Commercial Drivers
The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) has created a dedicated page for commercial drivers.
Renew Online Now, Get a Free REAL ID Later
On March 23rd, the federal government announced a revised REAL ID compliance deadline of October 1, 2021.
Customers who renew for a ‘standard’ Massachusetts driver’s license or ID card online between June 12, 2020 and the date when the State of Emergency ends, will be able to upgrade to a REAL ID if they need it starting 6 months after the State of Emergency is lifted at no additional charge. The cost of a license or ID renewal is $50 for a ‘standard’ or REAL ID, while the amendment or upgrade fee waived by an Executive Order is $25. Renew online through the Online Service Center.
Road Tests and Driving School Guidance
You can visit the Online Service Center to book an appointment. New appointment times will be added each day. Our live agents will not have the ability to schedule any road tests.
With limited exceptions for the foreseeable future, state vehicles will be used to conduct road tests to ensure the health and safety of our employees, customers, and their sponsors. Vehicles will be cleaned and disinfected between tests. Note that only the examiner and student taking the road test will be permitted in the vehicle for the duration of the road test. Sponsors must wait outside or in their own vehicle.
For more information on vehicle requirements and any exceptions to the policy, click here.
The RMV also recommends you watch these videos to prepare for your road test, and continue to check this page or monitor your email and mail for further updates.
Driving Schools
The RMV now has a dedicated safety standard page for mandatory reopening safety standards, recommended best practices and a checklist for driving schools.
In-Car Observation Hours for Junior Operators:
The statute currently requires junior operators with a learner’s permit to complete 6 hours observing another student driver, and 40 supervised driving hours with a parent, guardian or other adult over 21 with a valid license for over one year. The Executive Order signed on June 12th allows for 46 hours of supervised driving hours to be completed with a parent, guardian or other adult over 21 with a valid license for over a year, minimizing the need to spend additional time in a vehicle with individuals from different households which is discouraged under the Massachusetts’ Reopening Advisory Board’s Phase 2 guidance for driving schools.
Vehicle Registrations
Commercial Registration Renewals
The RMV is processing commercial registration renewals on the same day they are received. However, due to mailing delays with the U.S Postal Service, it is taking longer than usual for customers to receive their new registrations and decals in the mail.
Vehicle Registrations
Renew your registration
All passenger plate registrations that expired in March, April, May, and June were extended. In addition, all school bus, school pupil (7D), and bus registrations that expired in June were extended 30 days. Refer to the Extension Chart below. The RMV is not offering additional extensions at this time. If your registration has expired, you must renew. Below are the options to renew your vehicle registration.
- If your registration is due to expire soon or is in an expired status, visit the RMV’s Online Service Center.
- Contact your insurance company. If they participate in the RMV Electronic Vehicle Registration (EVR) program, they can renew your registration for you.
- If an insurance stamp is required because there is no insurance policy on record, mail a stamped Registration Renewal Application (RMV-2 form), or stamped Registration and Title Application (RTA) to:
Registry of Motor Vehicles
P.O. Box 55891
Boston, MA 02205-5891
- If you have your Registration Renewal Application (RMV-2 form), and one of your renewal options is listed as “renew by phone”, use the code and telephone number provided to renew by phone.
Reactivate your registration
Follow the steps below to reactivate a plate you have, or obtain new plates for a vehicle that was previously registered.
If your registration is in a cancelled status and you have your plate:
1. Contact your insurance agent/company and obtain a completed Registration and Title Application (RTA):
- Include the plate type and plate number for the plate you want reactivated in “Section A. Service Type”
- Select Register previously titled vehicle under “I want to”
- “Section K” must contain an insurance stamp and signature
- Policy change date or effective date cannot be more than 30 days old
- Include your email address and phone number in “Section D9”
2. Mail the completed application to:
Registry of Motor Vehicles
P.O. Box 55895
Boston, MA 02205-5895
3. An email with a link for payment will be sent to your email address provided once the transaction is processed.
4. Once the payment is received, a new Certificate of Registration and decal will be mailed to the mailing address we have on record.
If your registration is in a cancelled status, and you DO NOT have your plate:
1. Contact your insurance agent/company and obtain a completed Registration and Title Application (RTA):
- Include the plate type and plate number for the plate you cancelled in “Section A. Service Type”
- Select Change plate on existing vehicle with no amendments under “I want to”
- “Section K” must contain an insurance stamp and signature
- Policy change date or effective date cannot be more than 30 days old
- Include your email address and phone number in “Section D9”
2. Mail the completed application to:
Registry of Motor Vehicles
P.O. Box 55895
Boston, MA 02205-5895
3. An email with a link for payment will be sent to your email address provided once the transaction is processed.
4. Once the payment is received, a new plate, Certificate of Registration, and decal will be mailed to the mailing address we have on record.
Grace Period for Registration Transfers after Vehicle Purchase:
From June 12 until the date of when the State of Emergency ends, an Executive Order issued by Governor Charlie Baker temporary extends this grace period requirement to 21 calendar days from the date you dispose of your previous vehicle to register your new one.
IRP Renewals
The RMV is extending the expiration date for apportioned plates from June 30th until September 30th, 2020.
For 2020 renewals, the RMV is taking a different approach and will be staggering the IRP renewal mailing and assigning customers a specific month to renew.
- May mailing - Fleets 288770002 to 351880001
- June mailing - Fleets 20001 to 288760001
All applications will be processed in the order received for the assigned month. If you do not process in your assigned month, your application will be processed in the order received after the current month. This may cause a delay in receiving your credentials.
The renewal application you receive contains all the carrier and vehicle information currently on file for your account, and includes instructions for completing the application. The renewal application is organized by fleet with a vehicle equipment list and weight table for each vehicle. You will need to complete a renewal application for each fleet in your account. The account number appear at the top of each page of the renewal application.
Note: Your Account number has changed to include the Fleet number. For example, Account 2089 for Fleet 1 is now “20890001”; for Fleet 2, it is “20890002”.
Visit our dedicated renewal page for more information on IRP renewals this year.
Suspension Hearings
Hearings will be conducted at Boston/Haymarket, Brockton, Fall River, Lawrence, *Pittsfield (Wednesdays only), Springfield, and Worcester.
Due to the agency’s ongoing COVID-19 (coronavirus) response, suspension hearings will be conducted by telephone.
You must report to a designated RMV Service Center to begin this process. You are limited to one hearing on a particular suspension or revocation. You have the right to be represented by counsel or by any other responsible adult, but the applicant must accompany the representative at the time of the hearing. Please note that the RMV does not provide copy service. Have your copies ready ahead of time. Original documents will NOT be returned. During your hearing, it will be discussed whether further documents are required, and how to return those to us. For a list of Hearing locations, refer to the RMV Service Center section above.
Preparation:
- Bring all necessary documents with you to your hearing. Check what documentation you'll need for your hearing, as it varies depending on the type of suspension.
- Arrive as early as possible and allow extra time
- Chemical test refusal hearings are only held at the Boston/Haymarket RMV.
On the day of your hearing:
While in line, you will be provided with an entry ticket based on a first come, first served basis. If you do not receive an entry ticket, then there may be more hearings in the afternoon, and it is your option to return to register to speak by phone with a Hearing Officer.
Application:
- Upon arrival, you will be provided a Hearing Application form for completion.
- Make sure your application has been fully completed and all copied documents added. The RMV does NOT provide copy service, so ensure that you have made copies for yourself.
- The RMV representative shall collect and retain your application and documents. You then exit the building.
- A Hearing Officer will receive the supplied application and review it in advance of your telephonic hearing.
- You do not need to be on RMV property for the telephonic hearing
- Your hearing may require specific documentation. The Hearings Officer may need to spend time researching and retrieving documentation as it relates to your case. In some cases, they will need to request documentation from another agency or organization and wait for the response, which takes time.
What do I need if my case is successful?
- If your case is successful, you may need to apply or re-apply for a driver’s license or learner’s permit at a Service Center. In both of these circumstances, you will need to prove lawful presence as part of the license reinstatement process. Please refer to the document checklist which outlines the acceptable forms of lawful presence documentation.
Wait times:
- It is not possible to accurately predict your wait time. Some hearings take longer than others due to the many complex issues that can affect the suspension of a license or vehicle registration.
Payment of Fees:
- If the Hearing Officer determines that a fee is due, you have 3 options to make payment:
- Pay the fee online at Mass.Gov/RMV.
- Call the Contact Center at 857-368-8000 to provide payment over the phone.
- Visit an RMV Service Center for counter service.
National Safety Council (NSC) Class Requirement Information
- National Safety Council (NSC) in-person classes are now offered as online courses through June 1, 2021.
- An online course completion will count as your in-person class requirement.
- The most common course requirement is available online in both English and Spanish.
- Please watch for communication directly from NSC about registration and completing the course; please inform NSC if you prefer to be included in a future in-person class.
- You may check your license status by accessing your profile at Mass.Gov/RMV to determine your current license status.
- The National Safety Council contains additional information on how to register for the online course.
Additional Resources
Professional Credentials
Professional credentials for the following that expired between March 1st and June 30th were extended until October 1, 2020. The RMV is not offering any additional extensions for professional credentials. To renew, click the links below.
Other RMV Services and Processing Times
Other RMV Services
The following requests will be processed via mail only:
- Disability parking placards/plate (including disabled veterans plates)
- Tinted glass waivers
- CDL medical waivers
- All Section 5 transactions
Processing Times
During the State of Emergency, there may be delays in processing certain transactions. Below is a list of the most common transactions, expected time frame for processing, and contact information if it is beyond the stated time frame.
Please note, due to mailing delays with the U.S Postal Service, it is taking longer than usual for customers to receive their credentials in the mail.
|
Transaction/Credential |
Approximate Processing Time |
Who do I contact if it’s been longer than timeframe stated? |
|
Get an appointment for a road test |
60 days |
Appointments are opened throughout the day so if you cannot find a time slot, please try again later. |
|
Get an appointment at a Service Center |
14 days |
Appointments are opened throughout the day so if you cannot find a time slot, please try again later. |
|
Receive my plates in mail (have a temporary plate) |
20 - 22 business days |
857- 368-8031 Reminder: visit Mass.Gov/RMV’s Online Service Center to extend your temporary plate if you do not receive the physical plate(s) by the 20th day. |
|
Receive my registration/plates dropped off at an RMV Drop Off Center |
At least 4 business days |
Email us at RMVRegDropOff@dot.state.ma.us |
|
Receive duplicate title (no lien)
|
|
857-368-8000
|
|
Receive an Amended Title-Lien
|
|
857-368-8000 |
|
Receive renewed registration
|
|
857-368-8000 |
|
Receive duplicate registration
|
7 - 10 business days |
857-368-8000 |
|
Receive a response to my online DL/ID renewal issue |
7 – 10 business days |
857 368 8110 |
|
Renew my professional credential:
|
|
1. 857 368 8110 2. 857-368-7310 3. 857-368-7310 |
Extension Chart
|
Credential |
Current Expiration Date (on credential) |
New Expiration Date |
|
Class D, M, and DM Licenses Mass ID Cards |
March 2020 April 2020 May 2020 June 2020 July 2020 August 2020 |
September 2020 September 2020 September 2020 October 2020 November 2020 December 2020 |
|
Class D, M, and DM Permits
|
March 2020 April 2020 May 2020 June 2020 July 2020 August 2020 |
December 2020 December 2020 December 2020 December 2020 December 2020 December 2020 |
|
Commercial Driver's License (CDLs) Commercial Learner's Permits (CLPs) |
March 1, 2020 - December 30, 2020 | February 28, 2021 |
|
CDL Medical Certificates |
Certificates that expired between March 1, 2020 and May 31, 2020
Certificates that expire between June 1, 2020 and February 27, 2021 |
October 31, 2021 February 28, 2021 |
|
Passenger Plate Registrations |
March 2020 April 2020 May 2020 June 2020 |
July 31, 2020 July 31, 2020 July 31, 2020 July 31, 2020 |
|
School Bus, School Pupil, and Bus Registrations
|
June 2020 |
July 31, 2020 |
|
Commercial and Non-Commercial Inspection Stickers |
March 2020 April 2020 May 2020 |
July 31, 2020 July 31, 2020 July 31, 2020 |
|
All Motorcycle Inspection Stickers |
May 2020 |
July 31, 2020 |
|
School Bus Certificates School Pupil Transport Licenses (7D) Inspector Licenses Inspection Station Licenses Driving Instructor Licenses Driving School Licenses |
March 2020 April 2020 May 2020 June 2020 |
October 1, 2020 |