INDIANAPOLIS - Bureau of Motor Vehicles customers who renewed their 2008 vehicles registrations online collectively saved $6.5 million due to a $5 discount incentive, according to Ron Stiver, Commissioner of the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV).

More than 1.3 million BMV customers renewed their registrations online in 2008, compared to just 390,000 in all of 2007. Stiver announced today that the $5 discount offer, originally unveiled by Governor Daniels in December 2007, will continue for 2009 online registration renewals, with the goal of attracting even more customers to the convenient and secure online service.

As the 2008 partial-year registration cycle ended on October 31, Stiver reminded customers that a more convenient year-round registration schedule will begin in January 2009. Next year provides 45 due dates for registration renewals rather than the 19 due dates in past years. A customer's new due date is on the 2008 registration documents.

"By more than doubling the number of due dates, we will spread out registration transactions more evenly throughout the year and lessen the impact of the 'last minute rush' associated with any one due date," said Stiver. "This will further improve customer service regardless of whether a customer conducts BMV business online, via mail or in a branch or partner location."

To further enhance the security of Indiana driver's licenses and identification cards, Stiver also announced the adoption of new state-of-the-art facial recognition technology. The technology will allow the BMV to compare a customer photograph, taken during a driver's license or ID transaction, with the six million photographs in the Indiana BMV database to help further protect customers from identity fraud.

He commented, "We take very seriously our responsibility to help protect the personal identity of Hoosiers, and the employment of this innovative technology is yet another important step forward in doing just that."

Background on the New BMV Year-Round Registration Schedule

As a result of the BMV's move to a year-round schedule in 2009:

• Registration due dates will increase from 19 to 45.
• The average number of registrations on a due date will decrease from 363,000 to 161,000.
• The highest volume of registrations on a single due date will decrease from 625,000 to 398,000.
• The registration schedule will go through mid-December as opposed to concluding on October 31.

Stiver also reported on the Customer Choices program that, through partnerships and innovative online services, offers more convenient locations to transact BMV business. Since the program's inception, 289 such partnerships have been created, as well as the launch of the myBMV virtual license branch. Results include:

• Auto dealerships: 266 participating provide on-site titling and registrations with 117,583 transactions completed to-date.
• AAA offices: Seven branches in Indianapolis, Clarksville, Noblesville and Lawrenceburg provide on-site titling and registrations.
• Old National Bank: Five branches in Evansville, Marion, Fort Wayne, Bloomington and Indianapolis provide registration renewal services on touchscreen kiosks in the bank branch lobbies.
• Envirotest: Seven Clean Air Car Check emission testing sites in Lake and Porter Counties provide, or will provide, one-stop vehicle registration renewal and vehicle emissions test.
• myBMV virtual license branch: Expanded online service, including registration renewals with a $5 discount, along with 14 other BMV services previously offered only in a branch or by mail. More than 1.3 million online registrations in 2008 (compared to 390,000 in 2007). More than 313,000 personal accounts established.

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