New DMV Office Opens in Palm Desert

As workers are putting the finishing touches on landscape, Palm Desert's new Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) location opened this week, to ease the stress on DMV locations in Indio and Palm Springs.

Located at the 74-740 Technology Drive, north of Gerald Ford Drive, the office hopes to draw the mid-valley users that faced up to 45-minute drives to either existing DMV office. 

"It's much easier than going to Palm Springs," said Palm Desert resident Annie Bracero, who was getting the driver's handbook for her soon-to-be 16 year old granddaughter.  "I really thought it would be more crowded."

A noon time visit found more DMV workers than patrons in the new facility.  

Leroy Ramirez, Regional Administrator for the California DMV says the new facility will accommodate over 200 patrons a day, and that the need for a new office in the Coachella Valley was overdue.

"The location was thought up about five years ago," explains Leroy Ramirez, Regional Administrator for the California DMV, "and it was budgeted back then to build another building in this area to help with the congestion because of the growth in the Coachella Valley."

The last DMV location in the desert was the Indio location, built in 1990, and remodeled in 2012.  

You can reach DMV customer service by calling 800-777-0133.

To make a DMV appointment online, click here.