Nevada DMV resumes limited services as drivers face hours-long waits at kiosks

Vehicle registration services return after week-long ransomware shutdown, but challenges persist

Nevada drivers lined up for hours Tuesday evening at DMV kiosks as the agency resumed limited services following a devastating ransomware attack that has crippled state government systems for more than a week.

While DMV facilities remain closed to walk-in traffic, self-service kiosks outside buildings came back online Tuesday for vehicle-related services, creating bottlenecks as frustrated motorists rushed to complete overdue registrations. At the Sahara DMV location, steady lines persisted until 9:30 p.m., with some people waiting up to five hours due to technical glitches and system errors.

Mixed results as services slowly return

The partial reopening brought relief to some drivers like Saul Garcia, whose registration had been in limbo for eight days. “Finally, you know, after waiting like 8 days already. Got my paper back. I’m feeling so happy,” Garcia told FOX5.

However, many others encountered frustrating technical difficulties. Multiple kiosk users reported error messages that forced them to restart the process, while some experienced repeated failures despite hours of waiting. Mike Rojas described seeing numerous people emerge from kiosks seeking help after encountering errors, forcing him to consider trying different locations.

One unnamed driver reported waiting upward of five hours after multiple failed attempts to complete his transaction, highlighting the ongoing instability of the restored systems.

What services are available

As of Tuesday, the Nevada DMV has restored the following services:

• Vehicle registration renewal (through kiosks and online)
• Online original registration
• Personalized plate ordering
• Insurance updates
• Driver history printouts
• Registration and insurance status checks
• Vehicle tax history

Notably absent are identification and driving privilege services, including new IDs and driver’s licenses, which remain unavailable indefinitely.

Unprecedented statewide cyberattack

The service disruptions stem from what officials describe as a “sophisticated ransomware attack” discovered on Sunday, August 24. The incident forced Nevada to take multiple systems offline, marking what cybersecurity experts believe is the first documented case of a cyberattack effectively crippling nearly an entire U.S. state government.

Timothy Galluzi, Nevada’s chief information officer, confirmed during a press conference that hackers had exfiltrated data from state systems, though the specific nature of the compromised information remains under investigation. Federal agencies including the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency are assisting with recovery efforts.

Relief measures for affected drivers

Recognizing the hardship caused by the extended closure, state officials announced several accommodations:

• All late fees and penalties incurred during the outage will be waived
• Appointments canceled between August 25-30 will be honored as walk-ins for two weeks following full restoration
• Expiration dates falling within the closure window are being programmed for automatic waiver
• Law enforcement agencies have been notified to provide “appropriate consideration” during this period

Looking ahead

While Tuesday’s reopening marks progress, full restoration remains uncertain. Governor Joe Lombardo acknowledged public frustration during a Thursday press conference, stating “We’re working through it. I understand everybody’s frustration. I’m frustrated.”

For now, drivers like Darryl Shumpert, whose registration expired on Tuesday, are maintaining perspective. “No one lost life or limb. We might lose some assets or resources but they’ll get everything back online, back up and running,” he said.

The DMV continues to post updates on its social media channels and temporary recovery website as Nevada works to restore full functionality to its government systems following this unprecedented cyberattack.

Image Sources: https://www.fox5vegas.com/video/2025/09/03/nevada-drivers-line-up-after-hours-dmv-kiosks-after-some-services-resume/

Category: Local News
Subcategory: Government & Politics
Date: 09/3/2025