By Jack Hagel for WRAL News
North Carolina’s top government watchdog is launching a multi-pronged probe of the state Division of Motor Vehicles, seeking to fulfill a campaign pledge to audit an agency that has developed a reputation for slow service.
State Auditor Dave Boliek said he notified the division of the audit this week of his office’s plans for an expansive “floor-to-ceiling” examination of the DMV’s functions, spending and technology in an effort to improve financial and operational efficiency.
Boliek says his office’s review will consist of at least five parts. And he expects to release multiple reports with findings, compiling them into an anthology that includes recommendations for the department and lawmakers.
“We anticipate it having some real-life solutions and some real-life meaning to everyday, average North Carolinians,” Boliek told WRAL in an interview Friday. “And it will set the tone of how we’re going to approach performance audits in the future in this office.”
A spokesperson for the DMV said Friday that the division’s leaders plan to meet with Boliek next week and that they look forward to working with him on the audit.
The review comes as lawmakers have focused on improvements at the DMV in recent months. Last year, Senate and House lawmakers grilled the DMV’s head, Commissioner Wayne Goodwin, in multiple hearings as the division faced mounting delays in issuing driver licenses and identification cards.
Goodwin, a former state commissioner of insurance, took over in 2022 and has attempted to modernize the DMV, including by opening some offices on Saturdays, pushing for electronic driver’s licenses that could be stored on smartphones, and installing self-service kiosks at grocery stores around the state to let people handle some basic DMV tasks without needing to go to a DMV office.
But complaints about the DMV haven’t let up.
Boliek said he plans to start with a full line-item review of the division’s spending and financial compliance. “This will not be a 30,000-foot view,” he said. “This is going to be an in-depth view of exactly what the division spends.”
Boliek then plans to dig into operations in the division’s licensing operations, which has been under scrutiny for delayed delivery of driver’s licenses and identification cards — a situation DMV officials have blamed on staffing woes and an underperforming private contractor. He also plans to examine operations focused on licenses plates, registrations and taxes. The auditor’s office plans to launch an additional review of the DMV’s progress on planned technology upgrades — an issue that has gained attention following a series of technology disruptions and outages at DMV offices in recent months.
Boliek says he has discussed his plans with Gov. Josh Stein and that he is scheduled to meet next week with Goodwin and Secretary of Transportation Joey Hopkins. The DMV is part of the DOT, and both fall under Stein’s administration.
“I’m anticipating really good cooperation from the commissioner and the new secretary of transportation on this audit, because I think he can really help North Carolinians, and I hope they think it will too,” Boliek said.
DMV scrutiny
The DMV has been working to implement changes to improve efficiency at the agency, such as efforts to allow customers to renew licenses or update them online, without standing in long lines or taxing in-person staff. But concerns over wait times and staffing have also caused some lawmakers to push for privatizing more of DMV functions.
While on the campaign trail, Boliek — a Republican who unseated the sitting Democratic auditor, Jessica Holmes, in the November general election — frequently pledged to audit the division, saying he regularly heard constituents’ horror stories of long wait times or poor service.
The state auditor examines programs, municipalities, state agencies and universities, among others, to ensure resources are being used efficiently. It also seeks to ensure that all corners of state government are meeting performance expectations, using proper financial controls and complying with state and federal regulations.
“As part of the state auditor’s job, efficiency and economy audits are authorized by statute,” Boliek told WRAL in August. “I feel like the DMV is a great place to start. We’re going to do a top-to-bottom audit of the DMV for efficiency and economy. I want to be able to give the folks that work every day at the DMV the right tools and the right leeway to help people out.”
The office’s examination of the DMV follows months of scrutiny from lawmakers.
In addition to reviewing license and ID card delays, legislators last year questioned Goodwin over alleged contract breaches and service delays related to the cancellation of contracts with third-party license plate agencies that handle license plate purchases and replacements.
During a committee meeting last year, state Sen. Michael Lazzara, R-Onslow, told Goodwin that the DMV is “a source of frustration and disruption to the lives of our citizens. Commissioner Goodwin, unfortunately, this responsibility belongs to you.”
WRAL reported Friday that the state recently posted a job opening for the DMV commissioner’s position, which Goodwin still occupies. Goodwin will have to reapply for his job under Stein if he wants to continue in the role. He told WRAL on Friday that he plans to reapply.
“North Carolinians need and expect a DMV that is easy to access and use,” a Stein spokeswoman said in a statement on Friday. “The Stein Administration is committed to doing everything we can to make that happen.”
WRAL News reporters Brian Murphy, Will Doran, and Paul Specht contributed to this report.
The preceding article originally appeared on February 14, 2025 at WRAL’s website and is made available here for educational purposes only. This constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. section 106A-117 of the U.S. Copyright Law. Any views or opinions expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Carolina Leadership Coalition.
