Drivers across the Finger Lakes will need to plan ahead next month as DMV offices shut down for a statewide technology overhaul.
DMV offices across New York State, including locations in Seneca, Cayuga, and Yates counties, will close as the state begins the first phase of a major upgrade to its aging computer systems.
The shutdown begins Friday, Feb. 13. In Seneca County, the Waterloo DMV at 1 DiPronio Drive will close at 1 p.m. Cayuga County officials said their DMV office will also close at 1 p.m. that day. In Yates County, the Penn Yan DMV will be closed all day Friday as statewide systems go offline at 2 p.m.
All DMV offices will remain closed through Tuesday, Feb. 17. Offices are expected to reopen Wednesday, Feb. 18, pending approval from state DMV leadership. The Waterloo DMV plans to open at 8:45 a.m. Cayuga and Yates county DMVs both plan to reopen at 9 a.m.
No DMV services will be available during the closure. That includes in-person transactions, online services, and state DMV phone lines.
During the shutdown, the New York State DMV will migrate about 30 million records into a new system. The work marks the first phase of a multi-year effort to replace and consolidate technology, some of which is more than 50 years old.
The state has contracted with FAST Enterprises LLC, a software company that has implemented similar DMV systems in more than 20 states. Officials said the upgrade is designed to make DMV services more secure, stable, and efficient for customers.
County clerks in Cayuga and Yates counties acknowledged the temporary inconvenience but said the upgrade will improve customer service once complete. Any changes to reopening schedules will be posted on county websites and official social media pages.
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