Along with your milk and eggs, you can now also register your vehicle at local grocery stores in certain parts of California.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles has installed self-service kiosks in several Vons, Superior and Albertsons grocery stores within the state.
“We are very excited to launch this new partnership with the Department of Motor Vehicles,” said Mimi Song, chairman and CEO of Superior Grocers. “Our customers are always looking for convenience and added value, and Superior Grocers is always looking for ways to improve our customers’ shopping experience.”
“DMV Now” kiosks will allow CA residents to renew their vehicle registrations during their routine grocery store visit in order to help speed up the overall DMV registration process. They can also get new registration cards or license plate tags on the spot with the help of the high-tech touch-screen terminals.
If residents don’t plan on driving the vehicles they own, then they can choose to register their vehicles as non-operational in order to continue abiding by state vehicle registration laws.
To be eligible to use the kiosks, driver’s will need to have their vehicle registration renewal notice or most recent vehicle registration card on hand.
Residents who wish to renew their vehicle registration will need to scan the bar code on a renewal notice or registration card, swipe a credit card and walk away with a printed registration card and license plate sticker.
According to DMV Spokeswoman, Jessica Gonzalez, the CA DMV started launching service kiosks in some DMV locations around the state in 2010. The agency then decided to expand to grocery stores for drivers’ convenience.
“Grocery stores nowadays are kind of becoming that one-stop-shop,” Gonzalez said. “So you go there, you get your grocery shopping done as well. That’s kind of the idea behind this…It takes about two minutes and you’re done.”
Drivers who use the “DMV Now” kiosks will have the option of choosing English or Spanish in order to complete their transactions.
Superior grocery stores were some of the first in south Los Angeles to install the bright-yellow kiosks on June 19. However, some grocery store employees didn’t notice much traffic being drawn by the new self-service machines.
“Most people don’t seem to know about the kiosk yet, but the ones who do are really happy,” said Al Jimenez, director of the grocery’s South Avalon location.
Other CA DMV kiosks can be found in alternative grocery stores located in Tarzana, Simi Valley, Lancaster, Palmdale and Canoga Park.
The California DMV has also announced plans of expanding their “DMV Now” program to 40 kiosks by the end of the year.