Choose your state to see which office actually handles car titles and registration there, the official page that lists its locations, and whether you need an appointment before you go. In 16 of the 51 jurisdictions here that office is not a state DMV but a county tax office, treasurer or clerk, so the right door is not always the one a map search suggests. Every entry was checked against the agency's own pages as of September 2026.
Last updated .
Pick a state and its office appears here: who runs the counter, which office to go to, whether to book ahead, and the agency's own list of locations.
A search for "DMV near me" assumes every state runs its own motor vehicle offices. Sixteen of these 51 do not, at least not for cars: the counter belongs to the county. Texas registers through county tax assessor-collectors, Georgia through the tag office each elected county tax commissioner runs, Kentucky and Tennessee through the county clerk, and Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming through the county treasurer. Most of them still have a state motor vehicle agency, but the office you walk into is the county's; Hawaii has no state DMV at all.
Two New England states start even more locally. In Maine you pay excise tax at the town office first, and many towns issue the registration right there; in New Hampshire registration begins with the town or city clerk, and the state portion follows at the clerk or a DMV office.
Elsewhere the office has a name a map search can miss: deputy registrars in Minnesota and Ohio, license offices run by private contractors in Missouri, Licensed Operators (formerly tag agents) in Oklahoma, and in Pennsylvania authorized agents — notaries, dealers and messenger services, all private businesses. Even where a state agency does the work, it is often filed under another department: revenue or finance in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, South Dakota and Tennessee, and the State Tax Commission in Utah. Illinois and Michigan run theirs through the Secretary of State, Massachusetts has a Registry of Motor Vehicles, New Jersey a Motor Vehicle Commission and Washington a Department of Licensing.
In several states the offices that handle licenses and the ones that handle cars are different buildings, and a locator for one will send you to the other. North Carolina's license plate agencies do titles and registration and are separate from its driver license offices, which are the only ones that take appointments. Washington's vehicle licensing offices are separate from its driver licensing offices too. PennDOT says its own driver license centers do not title or register vehicles at all, and Iowa DOT does not handle registration at its own offices; the county treasurers do.
The same trap applies to appointment advice. The research behind this page found state pages in Iowa, Kentucky and Kansas that recommend booking ahead — and in each case the advice was written for driver's license offices, not for the county offices that register cars. Some state-run vehicle offices are narrower than they look, too: Colorado's own office in Lakewood handles only special cases, and TxDMV's Regional Service Centers handle only special transactions.
Some states let you walk into whichever office is nearest: Alaska, Arkansas, Indiana (any branch, not just your county's), Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, Utah (whatever county you live in), Virginia, Washington and West Virginia. Rhode Island takes transfers from another state at any of its branches.
County-run states usually tie you to a county, and they do not all use the same test. Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Nebraska and Tennessee go by the county you live in; Kansas by where the car is garaged; Mississippi by where it is kept overnight; Wyoming by the county seat of your county of residence. Iowa is the exception that looks like a rule: Iowa DOT's page says any county treasurer's office, but the treasurers' own FAQ narrows that to your county or one that borders it.
This is the fact that changes most between offices, so the table below quotes each agency's own wording and links the page it came from. Grouped as of September 2026:
For a car coming from another state, a few offices will not start until something else is done. Some want the car inspected first: Delaware sends out-of-state vehicles through an inspection lane at one of its four offices, Kansas through a Highway Patrol inspection station for the MVE-1 VIN inspection, Kentucky through a certified sheriff's inspection, and on Oahu a safety inspection station issues a "failed" inspection certificate that the Satellite City Hall needs. Some New Mexico field offices want an advance appointment for the VIN inspection, and California needs a vehicle verification on its REG 31 form.
Others want a bill paid first. South Carolina's county auditor generates a vehicle property tax bill and the county treasurer collects it before an SCDMV branch will register the car; Maine collects excise tax at the town office.
And some want another document in hand. In Massachusetts a licensed insurance agent stamps the Registration and Title Application before the RMV sees it. Ohio converts an out-of-state title at a County Clerk of Courts Title Office before a deputy registrar issues plates. DC and North Carolina both want you to hold their driver license or ID first.
Most of the links here open a searchable map or a list of offices. A few open something else, and it helps to know before you click. Wyoming's is a one-page PDF of county treasurer contacts. Mississippi's is an Excel spreadsheet of county tax collectors. Kansas has no statewide page of treasurer offices, so its link is the state portal's list of county websites. Michigan has no standalone office list; its FAQ says the addresses appear when you schedule a visit, so the link is the scheduling tool. Minnesota's office search needs JavaScript switched on. Honolulu's list covers Oahu only, since Hawaii's other counties run their own offices.
Two links do not end in .gov. Iowa's locator is a map run by the county treasurers' association and Kentucky's is a directory run by the county clerks' association; in both cases the state agency links to it from its own pages, which is why it is the one given here.
This page answers where the counter is and what it asks for. What a seller has to file after the sale, and by when, is covered state by state in what protects you after the sale. Whether the plates stay with the car or come off with you is in license plates when selling, by state, and what the title transfer costs, split between what the seller pays and what the buyer pays, is in the title transfer fee calculator. Each state row below also links that state's seller forms and its selling page.
The 50 states and the District of Columbia, with the same facts the picker shows. Each state's research was done on September 27, 2026 from the agency's own pages, and every quoted sentence was matched word for word on its source. Every link below was opened again on September 28, 2026; a few agency sites turn away automated requests, and those were opened in an ordinary browser instead.
| State | Who handles titles and registration | The office you go to | Appointments | Official office locator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Alabama Department of Revenue (ALDOR), Motor Vehicle Division; registration is handled by county license plate issuing officials | The county license plate office: the probate office, license commissioner or revenue commissioner, depending on the county County license plate issuing office (the county's local licensing official). Depending on the county this is the probate office, license commissioner or revenue commissioner, as the county links on ALDOR's office list show. In Jefferson County, some cities also process renewals. | Not published The agency's pages do not say whether you need one. Source: revenue.alabama.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ ALDOR's list of county offices, with links to the counties. |
| Alaska | Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Department of Administration | A state DMV office, a contract agent office, or a private partner office (extra fees) State DMV offices and contract agent DMV offices. Private business partner offices handle most of the same work for additional fees. | Optional Optional: office appointments can be scheduled online (road tests and vehicle inspections have their own appointment rules) Source: dmv.alaska.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ |
| Arizona | Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) | An MVD office or an Authorized Third Party office State MVD offices plus Authorized Third Party offices (private providers licensed by MVD) | Optional; walk-ins welcome Optional: appointments through AZ MVD Now, and walk-ins are welcome (the New to Arizona page says no appointment is needed) Source: azdot.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ |
| Arkansas | Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), Office of Motor Vehicle | Any DFA State Revenue Office DFA State Revenue Offices (state-run, 130+ statewide; listed by county) | Optional; walk-ins accepted Optional: appointments can be booked online through MyDMV, and walk-ins are accepted at all offices Source: dfa.arkansas.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ |
| California | California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) | A DMV field office State DMV field offices. DMV kiosks and DMV business partners handle some registration tasks, such as renewals. Titles: A DMV field office; a car on an out-of-state title also needs a vehicle verification (REG 31). | Optional Optional: appointments can be booked online (dmv.ca.gov/portal/appointments/), and field offices also serve customers without one. Office pages post separate 'appt' and 'no appt' wait times, and a 'Get in Line Now' virtual queue is offered. DMV publishes no explicit 'walk-ins welcome' sentence for registration. Source: dmv.ca.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ |
| Colorado | Colorado Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV); titles and registrations are handled by the 64 county motor vehicle offices run by each county clerk & recorder | Your county motor vehicle office, run by the county clerk and recorder County motor vehicle office (county clerk & recorder). The state's own office (Westgate/Pierce Street, Lakewood) only handles special cases. Titles: The county motor vehicle office, the same office as registration. | Set by each county Set by each county. The state cannot book them. Some counties take walk-ins and others may require appointments. Source: dmv.colorado.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ |
| Connecticut | Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (CT DMV) | A DMV hub office, or the Enfield branch for out-of-state transfers State DMV offices: full-service hub offices plus the Enfield branch for out-of-state transfers. Express offices are non-DMV partners that do only limited transactions. | Required for out-of-state transfers Required. Out-of-state transfers are done in person by appointment only. Source: portal.ct.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ |
| Delaware | Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), part of the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) | One of the four state DMV offices, each with an inspection lane State DMV offices (four: Delaware City, Wilmington, Dover, Georgetown). Each has an inspection lane, which out-of-state vehicles must go through first. | Not published The agency's pages do not say whether you need one. Source: dmv.de.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ |
| District of Columbia | DC Department of Motor Vehicles (DC DMV) | A DC DMV service center DC DMV service centers (Rhode Island Ave NE, Southwest, Benning Ridge SE; Georgetown temporarily closed). There is also a separate DC inspection station. | Not published The agency's pages do not say whether you need one. Source: dmv.dc.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ |
| Florida | Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV); most motor vehicle services are delivered by county tax collectors (and some licensed license plate agents) | The county tax collector or a licensed license plate agent County tax collector office or licensed license plate agent. FLHSMV's county-by-county list calls them motor vehicle service centers. Titles: The same tax collector or license plate agent office that handles registration. | Many offices require one Many offices require appointments. Check the county tax collector's or license plate agent's own website. Source: flhsmv.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ |
| Georgia | Georgia Department of Revenue (Motor Vehicle Division), with registration handled at each county's Tax Commissioner tag office | The county tag office, run by the elected county tax commissioner County tag office run by the elected County Tax Commissioner in each county | Set by each county The state DOR sets no rule. Each county tax commissioner sets its own. Example: DeKalb County lets you book an appointment online or join a same-day waitlist. Source: dekalbtaxga.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ |
| Hawaii | County-run, with no state DMV. On Oahu: City and County of Honolulu Department of Customer Services, Division of Motor Vehicles (served through Satellite City Halls) | A county office: on Oahu, a Satellite City Hall County offices. Oahu: City and County of Honolulu Satellite City Halls, plus a registration office on Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam. Maui, Hawaii and Kauai counties run their own motor vehicle offices. | Required on Oahu Required on Oahu (AlohaQ appointment); limited standby, same-day service not guaranteed; appointments required at JBPHH Source: honolulu.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ Honolulu's list covers Oahu. Maui, Hawaii and Kauai counties run their own motor vehicle offices. |
| Idaho | Idaho Transportation Department, Division of Motor Vehicles (ITD DMV), with county-operated DMV offices | Your county DMV office, the county assessor's motor vehicle office County DMV office. Vehicle titling and registration go through the county assessor's motor vehicle office (offices are run by the county Sheriff's and/or Assessor's Office) Titles: The county assessor's motor vehicle office, before the car can be registered. | Varies by county office Varies by county office: some take appointments and some do not. The locator lists appointment scheduling links where offered. Source: itd.idaho.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ Lists an appointment link for each office that takes them. |
| Illinois | Illinois Secretary of State, Vehicle Services Department | A Secretary of State DMV facility, or the Secretary of State by mail State-run Secretary of State DMV facilities | Offered; not stated for title work The SOS offers 'Schedule a DMV Appointment'. License plate stickers and disability placards are walk-in. The SOS does not say whether title or registration needs an appointment. Source: ilsos.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ |
| Indiana | Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) | Any BMV branch in the state State BMV branch (any branch in the state, not just your county's) | Optional Optional: appointments through the BMV branch reservation program, with walk-in service also available Source: in.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ |
| Iowa | Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT), Motor Vehicle Division - registration is carried out by the 99 county treasurers | A county treasurer's office County treasurer's office | Set by each county treasurer Set by each county treasurer's office. Iowa DOT tells residents to check with their county office to see whether they need an appointment. Source: iowadot.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ A map run by the county treasurers' association. Iowa DOT's own registration page links to it. |
| Kansas | Kansas Department of Revenue (KDOR), Division of Vehicles - titles and tags are handled by the 105 county treasurers | The county treasurer's motor vehicle office where the car is garaged County treasurer's motor vehicle office. A Kansas Highway Patrol inspection station comes first for out-of-state vehicles (MVE-1 VIN inspection) Titles: The county treasurer, who handles tags as well. | Not published The agency's pages do not say whether you need one. Source: ksrevenue.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ The state portal's list of county websites. KDOR has no statewide page of treasurer offices. |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC), Division of Motor Vehicle Licensing - registration and titling are done by the County Clerk | The county clerk's office in your county County clerk's office. A certified sheriff's inspection comes first for out-of-state vehicles Titles: The county clerk, who handles registration as well. | Not published The agency's pages do not say whether you need one. Source: drive.ky.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ A directory run by the county clerks' association. KYTC's own pages link to it. |
| Louisiana | Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections, Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) | An OMV office or a Public Tag Agent State OMV field offices (customer service centers) and licensed Public Tag Agents (private businesses authorized by OMV) | Optional Optional. OMV offers online booking at its customer service centers but does not say appointments are required for vehicle registration. Only reinstatements are appointment-only, at select centers. Source: expresslane.la.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ |
| Maine | Maine Department of the Secretary of State, Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) - the municipal (town) office is the first stop for excise tax and, in many towns, the registration itself | Your town office first, then a BMV branch if the town does not issue the registration Municipal (town/city) office for excise tax, and for registration in towns that issue it; otherwise a state BMV branch office | Optional at BMV branches Optional at BMV branches. You can book an appointment to skip the line, but branches may limit walk-ins when they reach capacity. Town offices set their own practices. Source: maine.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ |
| Maryland | Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA) | An MVA branch office State MVA branch offices (full-service branches; many also have 24/7 self-service kiosks). Title and registration are done together at one appointment. Titles: Done together with registration, at one MVA appointment. | Required for new residents Required: new residents need an appointment to title and register a vehicle (made through MyMVA as a 'New to Maryland' appointment). Source: mva.maryland.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV), part of MassDOT | An RMV Service Center, once an insurance agent has stamped the application State RMV Service Centers. A licensed Massachusetts insurance agent must first stamp and sign the Registration and Title Application. The locator also lists AAA branches with limited RMV services for AAA members, by appointment only. Titles: One Registration and Title Application, stamped by an insurance agent before the RMV sees it. | Recommended; appointments served first Recommended: schedule an in-person appointment; walk-ins are welcome but appointments are served first Source: mass.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ |
| Michigan | Michigan Department of State (Secretary of State) | A Secretary of State branch office State Secretary of State branch offices. A first-time registration must be done in person; renewals can also be done online, by mail or at self-service stations. | Strongly recommended Strongly recommended; walk-ins are given the next available slot, which may be later that day or the next business day Source: michigan.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ The visit-scheduling tool: Michigan's FAQ says office addresses appear when you schedule a visit. |
| Minnesota | Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) | A deputy registrar office, or DVS by mail Deputy registrar offices that partner with DVS (for example county service centers such as Hennepin County's). You can also mail the application to DVS. Titles: One Application to Title/Register a Vehicle, at a deputy registrar or by mail to DVS. | Set by each deputy registrar No statewide rule is published by DVS; each deputy registrar office sets its own policy. Example: Hennepin County service centers accept walk-ins or scheduled appointments. Source: hennepincounty.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ The DPS office search. It needs JavaScript switched on. |
| Mississippi | Mississippi Department of Revenue (MDOR), Motor Vehicle Services; registration is done by each county Tax Collector | The county tax collector where the car is kept overnight County Tax Collector's office, in the county where the vehicle is kept overnight. Vehicles over 10,000 lb used interstate register at MDOR offices instead. | Not published The agency's pages do not say whether you need one. Source: dor.ms.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ An Excel spreadsheet from MDOR with every county tax collector's address and phone. |
| Missouri | Missouri Department of Revenue (Motor Vehicle Bureau) | Any license office in the state DOR license offices run by private contractors. A resident can use any license office in the state, not only one in their home county. | Not published The agency's pages do not say whether you need one. Source: dor.mo.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ |
| Montana | Montana Department of Justice, Motor Vehicle Division (MVD). Titling and registration are handled by County Treasurer offices. | Your county treasurer's office County treasurer's office (motor vehicle department) Titles: The county treasurer, at the same time as registration. | Varies by county Varies by county. MVD tells residents to check with their County Treasurer whether appointments are required or encouraged. Source: mvdmt.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ |
| Nebraska | Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Titles and registrations are issued by the County Treasurer (County Motor Vehicle Office) in the county where you live. | The county treasurer in the county where you live County treasurer's motor vehicle office in your home county Titles: The county treasurer, who issues registrations as well. | Not published The agency's pages do not say whether you need one. Source: dmv.nebraska.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ |
| Nevada | Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) | A DMV office, by appointment State DMV office (metropolitan and rural offices) Titles: Title documents can be dropped off without an appointment. | Required, with a few exceptions Required. All DMV services are by appointment only, except plate drop-off, past-due debt payments, VIN inspections (Pahrump, Elko and metro offices only) and title document drop-off. Source: dmv.nv.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ |
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire Department of Safety, Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Registration starts at the town or city clerk. | The town or city clerk first, then the clerk or a DMV office Town/city clerk's office (municipal permit; many clerks also act as the state's Municipal Agent), then the state portion at the clerk or a state DMV office | Required at state DMV offices State DMV offices are fully appointment-based. Town/city clerk practices vary and are not published by the DMV. Source: dmv.nh.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ |
| New Jersey | New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC) | An MVC Vehicle Center State-run NJMVC Vehicle Centers (the MVC calls them motor vehicle agencies). New registrations and out-of-state transfers are handled at the Title/Registration counter by appointment. Titles: The Title/Registration counter at a Vehicle Center, by appointment only. | Required for titles and new registrations Required. New registrations and titles, including transfers from another state, are by appointment only, with no walk-ins. Source: nj.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ |
| New Mexico | New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division (MVD), part of the NM Taxation & Revenue Department | An MVD Field Office State MVD Field Offices. Private 'MVD Partner' offices also exist, but the first registration of a vehicle in your name must be done at an MVD Field Office. | Required at most offices Required at most offices. Some Field Offices also need an advance appointment for the out-of-state VIN inspection. Source: mvd.newmexico.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ |
| New York | New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (NYS DMV) | A DMV office, following your county's instructions DMV offices listed in the NYS DMV office locator. The steps differ by county; the register page says to follow the instructions for the county you live in. | Recommended Recommended (reservation strongly encouraged). When an office has long waits, only people with a reservation get in. Not every office takes appointments. Source: dmv.ny.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ |
| North Carolina | North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV), part of the NC Department of Transportation | An NCDMV license plate agency, not a driver license office NCDMV license plate agencies, which handle title and registration and are separate from NCDMV driver license offices Titles: The license plate agency, which handles registration as well. | Walk-in only Walk-in only. License plate agencies take no appointments; appointments exist only at driver license offices. Source: ncdot.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ |
| North Dakota | North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), Motor Vehicle Division | Any NDDOT motor vehicle site NDDOT motor vehicle sites: the state Motor Vehicle office in Bismarck plus branch and contracted Motor Vehicle offices, several of them inside county treasurer courthouses (Bottineau, Bowman, Cavalier, Emmons, Ransom). Branch fees apply at branch sites. | Varies by site Appointments through a statewide scheduler (1-855-633-6835 or online). It varies by site: some are appointment-only (e.g., Bismarck), while others take walk-ins but give appointments priority (e.g., Fargo, Dickinson, Bowman). Source: dot.nd.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ |
| Ohio | Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), Ohio Department of Public Safety | Any deputy registrar license agency Deputy Registrar license agencies register the vehicle and issue plates. The out-of-state title must first be converted at a County Clerk of Courts Title Office. Titles: A County Clerk of Courts Title Office; the deputy registrar does registration and plates. | Walk-in; hold a place online Walk-in with a line. The BMV offers 'Get In Line Online' to hold your place in line. The page does not say an appointment is required. Source: publicsafety.ohio.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ |
| Oklahoma | Service Oklahoma | A Licensed Operator (formerly a tag agent), or Service Oklahoma on N Classen in Oklahoma City Licensed Operators (formerly Tag Agents), which are locations approved by Service Oklahoma, plus the Service Oklahoma office on N Classen in Oklahoma City Titles: The Licensed Operator, together with tag and tax. | Varies by location Varies by location. Many offer both appointments and walk-ins. Service Oklahoma's own Licensing and Exam locations have online check-in and need no appointment. Source: oklahoma.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ |
| Oregon | Oregon Driver & Motor Vehicle Services (Oregon DMV), a division of the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) | A DMV field office, or DMV Headquarters by mail State DMV field offices; the title application can also be mailed to DMV Headquarters in Salem Titles: A DMV field office, or by mail to DMV Headquarters in Salem; a title appointment can include registration. | Walk-in; some offices book Walk-ins accepted. Some offices also take appointments, and a vehicle title appointment can include registration. Registration-only transactions cannot be booked as in-person appointments. Source: oregon.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Driver and Vehicle Services (Bureau of Motor Vehicles) | A PennDOT authorized agent: a notary, dealer or messenger service PennDOT-authorized agents (online messenger services, notaries and dealers), which are private businesses. PennDOT's own driver license centers do not title or register vehicles. PennDOT titles at the Harrisburg Riverfront Office Center. Titles: Through an authorized agent; PennDOT's driver license centers do not do them. | Not published; call the agent ahead Authorized agents are private businesses and PennDOT publishes no appointment rule for them. PennDOT recommends calling the messenger or agent ahead to plan the visit. Source: pa.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles (RI DMV) | A DMV branch, with a reservation State DMV branch offices: Cranston Headquarters and the Middletown, Wakefield and Woonsocket branches. AAA offices handle only some registration transactions, such as renewals, for AAA members. | Required (reservation) Required: in-person service at DMV branches is by reservation only Source: dmv.ri.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ |
| South Carolina | South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV). The county auditor and treasurer handle the vehicle property tax that must be paid first. | An SCDMV branch, once the county property tax is paid State SCDMV branch offices. You first pay the county vehicle property tax at the county treasurer, then take the paid receipt to an SCDMV branch. | Walk-in, by ticket number Walk-in. SCDMV branches serve customers by check-in and ticket number. SCDMV's appointment page covers only road and skills tests. No appointment requirement is stated for title or registration. Source: dmv.sc.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ |
| South Dakota | South Dakota Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division. Titling and registration are done at county treasurer offices. | The county treasurer's office County treasurer's office (all 66 counties) acting for the state Department of Revenue Motor Vehicle Division Titles: The county treasurer, who handles registration as well. | Not published The agency's pages do not say whether you need one. Source: dor.sd.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ |
| Tennessee | Tennessee Department of Revenue, Vehicle Services (Title and Registration) Division. The public is served by county clerks. | The county clerk's office in your county County clerk's office (motor vehicle section) in each of the 95 counties Titles: The county clerk, and only the county clerk. | Not published The agency's pages do not say whether you need one. Source: tn.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ |
| Texas | Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV). Registration is done by county tax assessor-collector offices. | The county tax assessor-collector's office County tax assessor-collector office (county tax office, or an approved substation); TxDMV Regional Service Centers handle only special transactions | Varies by county Varies by county; some county tax offices require appointments Source: txdmv.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ |
| Utah | Utah State Tax Commission, Division of Motor Vehicles (Utah DMV) | Any Utah DMV office or county assessor DMV location State DMV offices run by the Tax Commission, plus county assessor's offices that provide DMV services in many counties; any location serves any resident | Recommended Recommended. The six main state DMV offices (Ogden, Farmington, Taylorsville, South Valley/Draper, Provo, Hurricane) prioritize appointments; walk-ins are accepted, but availability after 4 PM may be limited. Source: dmv.utah.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ |
| Vermont | Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles (Vermont Agency of Transportation) | A DMV office, or the DMV by mail State DMV offices (Montpelier main office plus branch offices such as Bennington, Dummerston, Newport, Rutland, Saint Albans, Saint Johnsbury, South Burlington, Springfield, White River Junction). Participating town clerks can renew some registrations only; they do not do new registrations. Titles: One Registration, Tax and Title Application (VD-119), by mail or in person. | Recommended, not required Recommended, not required, for registration services. Only exams require an appointment. Source: dmv.vermont.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ |
| Virginia | Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) | A DMV customer service center, DMV Select office or mobile office State DMV customer service centers. Registration can also be done at DMV Select offices (partner offices), DMV mobile offices, or by mail. | Optional Optional. You can make an appointment, reserve a same-day spot with E-Ticket, or walk in during regular office hours. Source: dmv.virginia.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ |
| Washington | Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) | A vehicle licensing office, not a driver licensing office Vehicle licensing offices (DOL calls them 'subagent offices'). They are separate from driver licensing offices, and the finder lists them by county. | Walk-in only Walk-in only. Vehicle licensing offices do not offer appointments. Source: dol.wa.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ The finder lists offices county by county. |
| West Virginia | West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles (WV DMV) | A DMV regional office or an authorized private license service State DMV regional offices. Title and registration are also possible by mail or through authorized private license services. Some county sheriffs renew Class A and G registrations only, and DMV Now kiosks handle renewals. Titles: A DMV regional office, by mail, or an authorized private license service. | Optional, for some transactions Optional. Appointments can be booked at most regional offices, but only for certain transaction types. The pages do not say appointments are required. Source: dmv.wv.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) | A DMV customer service center or a third-party service agent State DMV customer service centers. Third-party title/registration service agents also handle title transfers and new plates for walk-in customers, and new residents can apply online (eMV Public) or by mail. Titles: A DMV customer service center, or a third-party agent, which handles title transfers for walk-in customers. | Walk-in; no appointments for vehicle work Not offered for vehicle transactions: DMV does not schedule appointments for titles or license plates. Walk-ins are welcome. Source: mydmvvisit.wi.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ |
| Wyoming | County Treasurer (registration and plates) in each of Wyoming's 23 counties; titles go through the County Clerk. The state oversight agency is the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT), Motor Vehicle Services. | The county treasurer at the county seat, with the county clerk for titles County treasurer's office at the county seat (registration and plates), after a Wyoming title from the county clerk's office when one is needed Titles: The county clerk, in the same county seat as the treasurer. | Set by each county Not needed (walk-in), as stated by Natrona County Treasurer. This is set by each county and there is no statewide rule. Source: natronacounty-wy.gov ↗ | Office locator ↗ A one-page PDF from WYDOT with each county treasurer's phone, address and website. |
No. In 16 of the 51 jurisdictions on this page the counter work is done by a county office: the tax assessor-collector in Texas, the tax collector in Florida and Mississippi, the tax commissioner's tag office in Georgia, the county treasurer in Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming, the county clerk in Kentucky and Tennessee, the clerk and recorder in Colorado, the assessor's motor vehicle office in Idaho and the county license plate official in Alabama. Hawaii has no state DMV at all; its counties run the offices.
It depends on the state. Alaska, Arkansas, Indiana, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, Utah, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia let you use any of their offices, and Rhode Island takes transfers from another state at any branch. Most county-run states tie you to a county: the one you live in for Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Nebraska and Tennessee, the one where the car is garaged in Kansas, and the one where it is kept overnight in Mississippi. Iowa allows your own county or one bordering it.
Going by each agency's own wording as of September 2026, Connecticut for transfers from another state, Hawaii on Oahu, Maryland for new residents titling and registering, Nevada for nearly every service, New Hampshire at state DMV offices, New Jersey for titles and new registrations, New Mexico at most offices and Rhode Island at every branch. North Carolina's license plate agencies and Washington's vehicle licensing offices take no appointments, and Wisconsin's DMV does not schedule them for titles or plates.
Because the county runs the office. Kansas has no statewide page of county treasurer offices, so the state portal's county list is the locator; Tennessee, South Dakota, Georgia and Nebraska publish lists of county offices; Mississippi publishes a spreadsheet and Wyoming a one-page PDF.
All of them go to government sites except two: Iowa's locator is run by the county treasurers' association and Kentucky's by the county clerks' association, and each state agency links to its directory from its own pages.