Is the DMV Open on Holidays? Federal and State DMV Closures Explained

The DMV is often closed on major holidays, especially holidays observed by state government offices. However, there is no single national DMV holiday schedule. DMV offices are run by state motor vehicle agencies, so the exact closure dates depend on your state, local office, and the holiday being observed.

Major holidays such as New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are common DMV closure days. Other dates, such as Good Friday, Black Friday, Christmas Eve, and New Year’s Eve, vary more by state.

DMV Holiday Hours at a Glance

Holiday or closure day	Typical DMV availability
New Year’s Day	Usually closed
Martin Luther King Jr. Day	Usually closed
Presidents Day / Washington’s Birthday	Usually closed
Good Friday	Depends on the state
Memorial Day	Usually closed
Juneteenth	Often closed, but check your state
Independence Day	Usually closed
Labor Day	Usually closed
Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples’ Day	Depends on the state
Veterans Day	Usually closed
Thanksgiving Day	Usually closed
Black Friday	Depends on the state
Christmas Eve	May be open, closed, or close early
Christmas Day	Usually closed
New Year’s Eve	May be open, closed, or close early

Are DMV Offices Open on Federal Holidays?

Many DMV offices are closed on federal holidays, but federal holidays are not the only factor. The DMV is usually a state agency, so each state can set its own holiday calendar for driver license offices, vehicle registration offices, title offices, and related service centers.

The federal holiday calendar includes New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Many state motor vehicle offices close on several or all of these holidays.

However, you should not assume every state DMV follows the exact same list. Some states observe additional holidays, rename certain holidays, close the day after a major holiday, or adjust closure dates when a holiday falls on a weekend.

Is the DMV Open on Good Friday?

The DMV may be open or closed on Good Friday depending on the state. Good Friday is not one of the standard federal holidays listed by OPM, but some states observe it as a state holiday or include it on their motor vehicle office closure calendar.

For example, some state DMV holiday schedules include Good Friday as a designated closure day. In other states, DMV offices may operate on a normal Friday schedule.

Because Good Friday changes dates each year, check the current year’s state DMV holiday schedule before visiting. This is especially important if you need a road test, REAL ID document check, title transfer, registration renewal, or license plate service before a weekend.

Is the DMV Open on Black Friday?

Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is not a standard federal holiday, but DMV offices may still close in some states. This depends on whether the state treats the day after Thanksgiving as a state holiday or includes it on the DMV closure schedule.

For example, the California DMV holiday schedule lists both Thanksgiving Day and the following Friday as DMV closure days. Other states may open normally, close only certain offices, or use a modified schedule.

If you plan to visit the DMV around Thanksgiving, check both Thanksgiving Day and the Friday after Thanksgiving. The first business day after a long holiday weekend can also be busier than usual.

Is the DMV Open on Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve?

Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve are more difficult to predict than Christmas Day or New Year’s Day. Some DMV offices may be open on a normal schedule, some may close early, and others may close entirely depending on the state calendar and how the dates fall that year.

If Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve falls on a weekday, do not assume your DMV is open until 5:00 p.m. Some government offices may reduce hours before a major holiday, especially if the date is connected to a longer holiday weekend.

The best approach is to check the exact branch page or appointment system for that date. If you have a deadline near Christmas or New Year’s, try to complete the transaction several business days early.

Is the DMV Open During a Government Shutdown?

A federal government shutdown does not automatically mean every DMV office is closed. Most DMV offices are run by state agencies, not the federal government. That means a federal shutdown and a state DMV closure are separate issues.

However, the answer can still depend on the situation. A state government shutdown, local funding issue, emergency closure, staffing shortage, weather event, or system outage could affect DMV operations. In some cases, related services may be delayed or unavailable even if the office building is open.

If you are searching because of a current shutdown, check your state motor vehicle agency’s homepage and your local office page. Look for banners, emergency notices, appointment updates, and service alerts before you travel.

Are Online DMV Services Available on Holidays?

Many online DMV services may still be available when physical offices are closed. This depends on the state and the type of transaction, but online services can be useful during weekends, holidays, and busy office periods.

Common online DMV services may include:

Vehicle registration renewal
Driver license renewal, if eligible
ID card renewal or replacement
Address changes
Appointment scheduling
Duplicate registration cards
Duplicate driver licenses or ID cards
Vehicle tab or sticker renewal
Driving record requests
Fee payments

Some services still require an in-person visit. First-time licenses, road tests, vision tests, REAL ID document verification, certain title transfers, and transactions involving original documents may not be fully available online.

How to Check Your State DMV Holiday Schedule

The most reliable way to check DMV holiday hours is to use your official state motor vehicle agency website. Depending on the state, the agency may be called the DMV, BMV, RMV, MVD, DOL, Secretary of State, or another similar name.

Use these steps:

Search for your official state DMV or motor vehicle agency website.
Look for a page labeled “holiday schedule,” “office closures,” “locations,” or “hours.”
Check the current year, since holiday dates and observed dates can change.
Open your local branch page to confirm location-specific hours.
Review appointment availability if your service requires a booking.
Check for weather, staffing, system outage, or emergency closure notices.

The state motor vehicle services page can help you find the right agency for driver licenses, REAL ID, license plates, registration, titles, and related services.

Before Visiting the DMV Around a Holiday

DMV offices can be busier right before and right after holidays. If your deadline is close, do not wait until the last possible business day.

Before visiting, confirm:

The office is open on the date you plan to go
Your specific service is available at that location
You have an appointment if one is required
You have the correct documents, IDs, and forms
You know which payment methods the office accepts
You have allowed extra time for holiday crowds or reduced hours

If your renewal, title, plate, or license deadline falls on or near a holiday, check your state’s rules early. Some deadlines may be affected by weekends or holidays, but you should not assume an extension unless your state agency clearly says so.

Featured Image Source: latimes.com