The Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) announced that its Tillamook office at 308 Evergreen Drive and the Astoria office at 705 W. Marine Drive are closed today. The closure in Tillamook is due to a facility issue, while the Astoria office is closed because of staffing shortages.
According to the DMV, staffing challenges have persisted for years. The number of positions permitted by law remains nearly unchanged from 25 years ago, despite Oregon’s population increasing by more than 800,000 during that period. This growth has led to a greater demand for DMV services.
Ongoing funding issues, severe understaffing, and a hiring freeze have contributed to longer wait times for walk-in customers at DMV offices. There is no guarantee all visitors will be served on the day they arrive without an appointment. The DMV advises customers to schedule appointments through https://dmv2u.oregon.gov/ for better service predictability and check current office status on their website before visiting, as last-minute closures may occur due to staff shortages.
“Due to our funding crisis, severe understaffing, and a hiring freeze, customers dropping in at a DMV office can expect longer wait times with no guarantee they can be served that day. Making an appointment at DMV2U.oregon.gov is the best assurance for in-office service. Ongoing staffing challenges often cause last-minute office closures, so Oregonians should first check the office status on the DMV website.”
The agency has expanded online options; more than 20 transactions are available via https://dmv2u.oregon.gov/. Additionally, registration renewals and replacements can be completed at Express Kiosks located in 10 Fred Meyer stores along the I-5 corridor and in Bend, with plans for further expansion. Most vehicle transactions except VIN inspections can also be processed by mail.
“Wait times are shorter for everyone when customers can skip the line altogether. Oregon DMV now offers more than 20 transactions on DMV2U, and customers can renew and replace registrations and stickers at self-serve Express Kiosks in 10 Fred Meyer stores on the I-5 corridor and in Bend, with plans to expand to further locations. Vehicle transactions (other than VIN inspections) can be done by mail.”
