Software problems bring DMV to a halt Monday morning

Computers at the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles were down Monday morning, preventing customers from getting served at 113 state-run driver’s license offices statewide.

A software update over the weekend apparently caused problems with DMV’s customer address verification system. When a DMV employee entered a driver’s address into the computer, the system would shut down, said spokesman John Brockwell.

DMV employees noticed the problem shortly after their offices opened at 8 a.m., Brockwell said. The state Department of Information Technology corrected the problem at about 11 a.m., and the computers are now back online.

The problem also prevented customers from renewing their driver’s licenses online. Online services are now working again, too, according to DMV.

The software glitch did not cause problems at the offices where vehicle owners get registration and license plates.

Summer is among the busiest times for DMV driver’s license offices, in part because many teens are seeking their first license. That and obtaining the new REAL ID cannot be done online and must be completed in person at a DMV office.

This story was originally published July 30, 2018 at 12:11 PM.