The Department of Motor Vehicles office in Cheriton, the only DMV service center on Virginia’s lower Eastern Shore, will close its doors permanently in June, leaving thousands of residents without local access to essential motor vehicle services.
The Cheriton DMV Select, which operated out of the Cheriton Town Hall, will shut its doors in early May after years of serving thousands of residents. The closure means locals now must travel nearly an hour or more — either to DMV locations in Hampton Roads via the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel or north to Onancock — to complete tasks such as renewing licenses, titling vehicles, or updating identification.
DMV Select offices are limited-service partners operated through agreements with local governments and treasurers.
DMV officials cited low foot traffic and budgetary constraints as reasons for the closure. Many residents were not aware this was happening and did not have an opportunity to voice their concerns.
For older folks or anyone without reliable transportation or internet service, this is more than an inconvenience — it’s a real barrier.
Mobile DMV visits and partnerships with libraries or town halls to host pop-up service centers may be an option, but no long-term solution has been announced.
I didn’t care for that DMV. The people there were arrogant as hell. They wouldn’t let you ask a simple question. Take a number and sit down. Good riddance!
Go online for DMV services.
Really see how you fare in Onancock
I think you are the arrogant one you will be humble soon enough
Arrogant one? Wow! Explain why you slander this man openly in this fashion.
No hospital, no emergency room, and now no DMV. Good freaking job, Northampton.
Maybe another town would agree to open a DMV select. Eastville, Cape Charles, Nassawadox???
It was in Cape Charles until about 2008. The Town terminated the franchise because the operation was losing money. It is likely that there is still insufficient business volume here to break even.
I disagree. That was 17 years ago. The Town is thriving. Some people don’t have the option of doing transactions online or going to Onancock. If you are able to go to the Onancock DMV, prepare to spend a great deal of time. Like everything else, Northampton County loses again!
This is very unfortunate. I personally used this DMV often. And it was rarely empty of other customers. Sad that one more convenience is being taken away from lower Northampton Co. residents.
Northampton is bound and determined to be absorbed by Accomack. Fine, as you wish. Keep it up and see what happens. Maybe then businesses will be allowed to operate, subdivisions can be built for regular folk, and people will actually not be fleeing in droves to escape nothingness. Except for rich vacationers in Cape Charles, no one moves here to actually live – because there is NOTHING.
Perhaps the town of Eastville can open a DMV satellite as a service to the town and county. It would stimulate activity for its growing commercial area. This would be more logical than some of the shady, self dealing activities they have used their considerable speeding ticket revenue on lately.