Tired of waiting in line for driver services? New app will change that

Lines and wait times at the Georgia Department of Driver Services may get shorter by the end of the year.

The department is working with Georgia-based Scope IT Consulting to develop a mobile app that will let you do on your phone just about anything you can do in a DDS office.

“The app will give customers direct access to all of the website services, including renewing a license or changing your address,” said Susan Sports, a public information officer for the department.

The app is scheduled to be ready for use by the end of 2017 or early 2018, according to a release.

There will also be push notifications — messages that pop up on a mobile device. They will notify users when it’s almost time to renew a license, for example, and more.

“A lot of people get their license suspended because of confusion with different fees and dates,” she said.

Sports said they’re particularly excited about the new app because it will allow the DDS to directly communicate with customers through the alerts.

Users will be able to renew their license on the app 60 days before the expiration date, and it’ll be mailed to them in 10 days.

Sports said the app is just another avenue for people.

“Some people will still prefer coming in, but this new option will cut down on visits and calls about strange occurrences with their licenses,” she said. “Our customers will be much better informed.”

Not everyone will be able to avoid going into the DDS office, including new Georgia residents, new drivers and drivers over the age of 64 who have to take vision tests.

Scope IT Consulting has worked with Amtrak, BearingPoint and Revolution Technologies, among others.

The app will be available for Android and Apple products. Middle Georgians can keep up with the progress of the app at www.dds.georgia.gov or by following the DDS on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @georgiadds.

Until then, the website www.dds.georgia.gov is available for services.

This story was originally published July 24, 2017 at 5:57 PM with the headline "Tired of waiting in line for driver services? New app will change that."