GAITHERSBURG, Md. (January 6, 2020) – Montgomery County residents now have 1,239 additional appointment opportunities each week to help them satisfy the federally mandated REAL ID requirement and other driver’s licensing needs. Today, the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA) opened additional customer service space in the Walnut Hill Shopping Center adjacent to the
MDOT MVA Walnut Hill branch office in Gaithersburg. MDOT MVA opened similar spaces in Columbia and Parkville in 2019 to help expand access to appointments.
“We are always looking for new and innovative ways to help people conduct their MDOT MVA business as quickly and efficiently as possible,” said MDOT MVA Administrator Chrissy Nizer. “I encourage all Marylanders to schedule an appointment for their REAL ID and driver’s licensing needs. Customers are guaranteed to be seen within 15 minutes of their scheduled appointment time.”
The new 3,011-square-foot Walnut Hill Annex located at 16516 S. Westland Drive includes 11 stations for REAL ID and other driver’s licensing transactions. Fifteen new staff positions were created, and the additional appointments nearly double the total number of appointments available at the Walnut Hill branch office and Walnut Hill Annex to 2,341 per week.
Hours for both offices are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; and 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday. The offices also have temporarily extended hours on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
“We’re proud to say 62 percent of Montgomery County residents are REAL ID compliant, which is the second highest jurisdiction in Maryland,” said Administrator Nizer. “With less than nine months until the federal REAL ID deadline of October 2020, we are excited to open this additional capacity for residents who are not yet compliant to make a REAL ID appointment and receive a premier customer service experience.”
Marylanders can check their REAL ID status by entering a driver’s license or identification card number into the
REAL ID Lookup Tool on the MDOT MVA website,
realid.mva.maryland.gov. If required to bring in documents, customers can visit
mva.maryland.gov/odg to identify and collect the needed documents and to schedule an appointment.
