California DMV reopens Santa Ana office after mold concerns

The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has announced the reopening of its Santa Ana office, located at 1330 East 1st Street, on Thursday, September 26, at 8 a.m. The office had been closed since September 20 due to suspected mold. In preparation for the reopening, the DMV collaborated with an industrial hygienist to conduct comprehensive air quality tests to ensure the environment meets stringent health and safety standards required for both staff and the public.

Residents in the area are encouraged to use this opportunity to apply for a REAL ID. An office visit is necessary to complete the application process. Starting May 7, 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will require a valid passport or another federally approved document, such as a REAL ID driver’s license or identification card, for boarding flights within the United States and accessing secure federal facilities and military bases.

The DMV also highlights that many services are available online. Most tasks do not require an office visit and can be completed through digital services. These include simple self-service transactions that are no longer available in offices. Customers are urged to utilize online services and other service channels for tasks like driver’s license and vehicle registration renewals. The Service Advisor tool on the DMV website can help customers determine how to complete various DMV tasks.

To receive paperless vehicle registration and driver’s license renewal notices, customers need to sign into their MyDMV account or create a secure online account at dmv.ca.gov/mydmv and opt-in.

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