Most DMV offices are closed on Good Friday
Good Friday is a federal holiday, and most state DMV offices close on that day. However, the rule is not absolute — a small number of states and individual locations stay open. Your best move is to call your local DMV office directly or check your state's DMV website the week before Good Friday to confirm whether your branch will be open.
Good Friday falls on a different date each year because it is tied to Easter, which moves based on the lunar calendar. In 2024 it was March 29; in 2025 it will be April 18. If you need a service that day, you should plan ahead rather than assume your office will be there.
The closure affects all standard DMV services — driver's license renewals, vehicle registration, address changes, and written tests. If you have an appointment scheduled for Good Friday, contact your DMV to find out whether it will be kept or rescheduled automatically.
Key Takeaways
- Most state DMV offices close on Good Friday because it is a federal holiday, but some states and locations remain open.
- Call your local DMV office or visit your state's website one week before Good Friday to confirm whether your branch will be open.
- If you have an appointment scheduled for Good Friday, contact the DMV to learn whether it will be kept or moved to another date.
- Good Friday occurs on a different date each year, so do not assume the same closure pattern applies year to year.
- Plan DMV visits for the day before or after Good Friday if you want to avoid the risk of finding your office closed.
How to learn about your DMV is open on Good Friday
Your state DMV website usually lists all holidays when offices will be closed. Search for your state's name plus "DMV holiday hours" or look for a "Locations and Hours" page. Most sites show the full year's schedule, including Good Friday.
If the website does not list Good Friday specifically, call your local DMV branch directly. The phone number is on the location page. Ask whether they will be open on the specific date — do not assume based on what you read about other holidays.
Some states allow you to check hours through their online appointment system. If you try to book an appointment for Good Friday and the system will not let you select that date, that is a sign the office is closed.
States and locations that may stay open on Good Friday
A handful of states do not observe Good Friday as a closure day. These include Nevada, South Carolina, and a few others, though the list can shift. Even in states that officially close, some individual DMV branches in larger cities occasionally stay open on a rotating basis.
The safest approach is never to assume your location is open. Call ahead or check online. A wasted trip costs more time than a five-minute phone call.
Some DMV services are also available outside the office — online renewals, mail-in registration, and kiosk services at grocery stores or vehicle inspection stations. If your local DMV is closed on Good Friday, one of these alternatives might work for what you need.
What to do if you have an appointment on Good Friday
If you booked an appointment before realizing Good Friday was a holiday, contact your DMV when ready. Many offices automatically reschedule appointments that fall on closure days, but some require you to call and request a new time.
When you call, have your confirmation number ready. Ask the staff member whether your appointment was already moved or whether you need to select a new date. Some DMV systems let you reschedule online; others require a phone call.
If you cannot reach anyone by phone, visit the DMV website and look for an online appointment system. You may be able to cancel the Good Friday slot and book a new one without speaking to anyone.
Planning around Good Friday closures
Good Friday is one of only a few federal holidays that falls on a different date each year. The others that affect DMV hours are Thanksgiving (always the fourth Thursday in November) and Christmas (always December 25). New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day are fixed or predictable enough that most people remember them.
If you have a important date coming up — a license renewal, registration expiration, or vehicle inspection — check the DMV calendar in January or February and mark Good Friday on your own calendar. This gives you months to plan around it rather than discovering the closure a few days before.
If your important date falls on or very near Good Friday, schedule your DMV visit for the week before. This also avoids the possibility of longer wait times on the day before a holiday, when people rush to get things done.
Online and alternative services during Good Friday
Many states let you renew your driver's license online if it is not expiring for a few months and you have no medical restrictions. You can also renew vehicle registration online in most states. These services work on Good Friday because they do not require a physical office visit.
Some states offer DMV kiosks in grocery stores, pharmacies, or vehicle inspection stations. These kiosks handle basic services like license renewals and registration updates. Check whether your state has kiosks and whether they are open on Good Friday — kiosk hours sometimes differ from office hours.
If you need to take a written test or renew your license in person, you will have to wait until the office reopens. There is no way around this, so plan ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every state close the DMV on Good Friday?
No. Most states close, but Nevada, South Carolina, and a few others do not observe Good Friday as a holiday. Even in states that officially close, some individual locations may have different hours. Call your local office to be sure.
What if I need to renew my license on Good Friday?
If your state allows online renewal and you meet the requirements, you can renew online. Otherwise, you will need to visit the DMV on a day when it is open. If your license expires soon, renew the week before Good Friday.
Will my appointment be automatically rescheduled if it falls on Good Friday?
Some DMV systems reschedule automatically, but others do not. Contact your DMV as soon as you realize the conflict. Have your confirmation number ready and ask whether the appointment was moved or whether you need to book a new time.
Can I use a DMV kiosk on Good Friday?
It depends on your state and the kiosk location. Some kiosks are open on holidays; others close. Check your state's website or call the kiosk location directly to confirm hours for Good Friday.
When is Good Friday in the coming years?
Good Friday changes each year because it is based on the lunar calendar. In 2025 it is April 18, in 2026 it is April 10, and in 2027 it is April 2. Check your state DMV website for the official holiday schedule.