Which States Have a DMV (and Which Don’t)？ BMV, MVD, and More

Only about nine states officially call their motor vehicle agency the Department of Motor Vehicles. Everywhere else, the agency goes by another name, often tucked inside a larger department of transportation, revenue, public safety, or the secretary of state’s office. The work is the same across the country: licenses, registrations, titles, and driving records. The sign on the building just changes.

States That Officially Call It the DMV

These nine states use “Department of Motor Vehicles” as the actual legal name of the agency:

  • California
  • Connecticut
  • Nebraska
  • Nevada
  • New York
  • South Carolina
  • Vermont
  • Virginia
  • West Virginia

The District of Columbia also uses the Department of Motor Vehicles name, though it isn’t a state. Oregon’s agency appears online as “Oregon DMV” but technically operates as a division within the Oregon Department of Transportation rather than a standalone department.1NHTSA. List of State Departments of Motor Vehicles

In California and New York, the DMV is a cabinet-level agency serving tens of millions of drivers. In Vermont or Nebraska, it is the same name attached to a much smaller operation. The naming is what unites them.

States Where DMV Means “Division of Motor Vehicles”

A separate group of states uses the DMV acronym on signs, websites, and in conversation, but the “D” stands for Division, not Department. The division sits under a larger parent agency.

  • Alaska: Division of Motor Vehicles, under the Department of Administration.2State of Alaska. Division of Motor Vehicles
  • Colorado: Division of Motor Vehicles, under the Department of Revenue.3Colorado Department of Revenue. Motor Vehicle
  • Delaware: Division of Motor Vehicles.
  • Idaho: Division of Motor Vehicles, under the Idaho Transportation Department.4Idaho Transportation Department. Idaho Division of Motor Vehicles
  • New Hampshire: Division of Motor Vehicles, under the Department of Safety.
  • North Carolina: Division of Motor Vehicles, under the Department of Transportation.5North Carolina Department of Transportation. North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles
  • Rhode Island: Division of Motor Vehicles, under the Department of Revenue.6Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles. RI Division of Motor Vehicles

If you live in one of these states and someone says “go to the DMV,” you’ll end up in the right place. The organizational difference mainly matters when you’re navigating a state government website and have to click through the parent department first.

BMV States: Indiana, Ohio, and Maine

Indiana and Ohio both call their agency the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Residents say “BMV,” not “DMV.”7Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles8Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles Maine also runs a Bureau of Motor Vehicles, housed under the Secretary of State’s office rather than standing on its own.9Maine Secretary of State. Department of the Secretary of State

States Where Another Department Handles Motor Vehicles

Most of the country folds motor vehicle services into a larger agency. The parent department varies, and the choice reflects how the state treats the function: as transportation, as revenue, as public safety, or as part of general state recordkeeping.

Under the Department of Transportation

Arizona, Iowa, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Wyoming all run driver licensing and vehicle registration as a bureau or division inside the state DOT.1NHTSA. List of State Departments of Motor Vehicles10Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Contact Driver and Vehicle Services11Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Use Our Online Services

Under the Secretary of State

In Illinois and Michigan, the same official who oversees elections and business filings also issues licenses and plates. Illinois labels its locations “DMV Facilities” even though the agency is not a DMV in name.12Illinois Secretary of State. Illinois Secretary of State Michigan uses “Department of State,” abbreviated SOS.13Michigan Department of State. Michigan Department of State Maine’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles reports to its Secretary of State as well.

Under the Department of Public Safety

Texas, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and South Dakota run motor vehicle work through their Department of Public Safety. Texas splits the function: DPS handles driver licensing and testing, while a separate Texas Department of Motor Vehicles manages vehicle titles and registration.14Department of Public Safety. Driver License Minnesota’s division is called Driver and Vehicle Services.15Minnesota Department of Transportation. All About Cars and Driving

Under the Department of Revenue

Alabama, Kansas, and Missouri place motor vehicle services under the Department of Revenue, reflecting the fact that registration and titling bring in significant tax income.1NHTSA. List of State Departments of Motor Vehicles Colorado and Rhode Island do the same, as noted above with the Division of Motor Vehicles states.

States With Their Own Agency Names

A handful of states use names that don’t fit any of the categories above. Searching for “DMV” in these states may not surface the right office right away.

  • Florida: Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), which partners with county tax collectors for many in-person services.16Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
  • Georgia: Department of Driver Services (DDS), focused on licensing and identification.17Georgia Department of Driver Services. About Us
  • Louisiana: Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV).
  • Maryland: Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA), part of the Maryland Department of Transportation.18Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration
  • Massachusetts: Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV).19Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles. Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles
  • Montana: Driver licensing falls under the Department of Justice.
  • New Jersey: Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC), an independent agency rather than a division of a larger department.20NJ Motor Vehicle Commission. NJ Motor Vehicle Commission
  • New Mexico: Motor Vehicle Division (MVD).
  • Washington: Department of Licensing (DOL), which handles both driver and professional licensing.21Washington State Department of Licensing. Washington State Department of Licensing

Arkansas handles the function through the Driver Services division of its Department of Finance and Administration. Hawaii is an outlier: vehicle registration happens at the county level rather than through a single statewide agency. North Dakota and Utah each use a “Driver License Division” that doesn’t carry the “motor vehicles” label at all.1NHTSA. List of State Departments of Motor Vehicles

Finding the Right Agency in Your State

The agency name isn’t always obvious from a web search. Someone moving to Massachusetts who types “Massachusetts DMV” will eventually land at the Registry of Motor Vehicles, but it takes an extra click. The USAGov motor vehicle services directory lists every state’s correct agency and links straight to it, which is the fastest way to skip the guesswork.22USAGov. State Motor Vehicle Services

If you’ve just moved, the transfer timeline is tight. Most states give new residents between 30 and 90 days to get a new license and register their vehicles. North Carolina, for instance, allows 60 days from the point you establish residency, which typically means starting a job, enrolling children in school, or registering to vote. Whatever the state calls its agency, that’s where the paperwork goes.