PORTLAND - Ron Stiver, Commissioner of the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), today officially opened the new Portland License Branch. The branch is located at 1031 Votaw Street in the developing retail area near Wal-Mart.

"We are pleased to open this new and improved license branch," said Stiver. "Our customers can now visit a conveniently located facility with ample parking, a public restroom and a new branch layout to foster improved service."

BMV customers across the state have been able to complete their license branch visits in less than nine minutes on average in 2008. "This represents significant improvement under Governor Daniels' leadership and has contributed to customer satisfaction ratings of 97 percent," said Stiver. "With our new Portland license branch, I fully expect visit times and service to improve even further for our Jay County area customers."

Stiver also encouraged customers to avoid any line at all, when possible, by taking advantage of new online services and partnerships with more than 150 automotive dealerships across Indiana. To date, more than 700,000 Hoosiers have renewed their registrations online, taking advantage of a $5 discount and collectively saving over $3.5 million.

In addition, last month the BMV expanded online services through the launch of myBMV, a secure and personalized online portal in which customers can complete several BMV transactions from the convenience of home or work, as well as sign-up for email reminders for driver's license and registration expiration dates. Already, more than 50,000 Hoosiers have established a myBMV account.

Stiver conveyed regrets that the former Portland-based branch was intermittently closed, but emphasized the efforts made to accommodate local customers, including weekly visits by the BMV2YOU mobile unit and extended hours at nearby Berne and Albany partial service branches. With the opening of the new Portland branch, Berne and Albany will return to their regular satellite branch hours.

The Portland branch occupies just over 1,900 square feet in a new retail center with 80 parking spaces. There will be five customer service terminals, an expanded seating area and a new public restroom.

Visit www.mybmv.in.gov for more information.

Media Contacts
Dennis Rosebrough, Communications Director, 317-233-5323 or drosebrough@bmv.in.gov
Julie Fletcher, Deputy Communications Director, 317-233-2517 or jfletcher@bmv.in.gov

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