BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) New York State has been looking the other way when it comes to expired registrations, inspections and license renewals, because of the pandemic. But the extension on those documents is ending November 3rd.
"The targeted date is November 3rd," said Erie County Clerk Mickey Kearns. "This is how I read it. If you have a vehicle registration or inspection that has expired during the pandemic, from March 16th going forward, or a non-driver ID, you have to get that renewed by November 3rd. That's when Governor Andrew Cuomo's executive order is scheduled to expire."
It also means someone could receive a ticket for one of those expired documents
after November 3.
Kearns said he's been preparing for this at Erie County auto bureaus. "We have thousands of appointments ready to go. We're caught up." There is one new change. "You can go online to Erie.gov/clerk and you can now renew your registration without having to come into the DMV" (Department of Motor Vehicles).
There has always been an emphasis on keeping DMV transactions local. "We want to keep the business local because each transaction means 12.75% to the county. It's important, now more than ever, with budgetary issues, to renew local," said Kearns.
In the past, local auto bureaus have had a problem with people misusing the reservation process by making multiple appointments online, taking slots away from others. That's not happening anymore. "We're calling people who book multiple appointments," said Kearns. "Our frontline workers are doing their best to move people through."
Erie County operates the largest auto bureau outside of New York City. The Erie County Auto Bureau is open and offering limited in-person transactions. All visits are by APPOINTMENT ONLY or you can call 716-858-7450.
Two locations are open on Saturdays. Erie County has the only auto bureaus that are open on Saturdays at the Cheektowaga facility and the Northtowns facility on Sheridan Drive. Kearns is hoping to have a new facility opening at the start of 2021 at the Eastern Hills Mall.