Westford COA Takes Part in 'New RMV Near Me' Program

By Liz Taurasi (Patch Staff)

WESTFORD, MA - The Westford Council on Aging is one of almost 60 in the state who have entered into a pilot partnership to help senior citizens receive assistance processing routine Registry of Motor Vehicle transactions online.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the Registry of Motor Vehicles announced the launch of the program “RMV Near Me” on Friday. The program is the latest in a series of initiatives designed to improve customer service at the Registry by offering alternative service solutions.

“The RMV Near Me Program is another great example of our commitment to identifying new, creative ways to improve customer service at the Registry of Motor Vehicles,” said Gov. Charlie Baker in a statement issued Friday. “We are pleased to be partnering with Councils on Aging across the Commonwealth to provide opportunities for our seniors to receive assistance with processing online Registry transactions.”

“Providing a positive customer service experience for all Registry customers is at the forefront of our agenda,” said Registrar of Motor Vehicles Erin Deveney, in the same statement. “When we sat down to think about alternative service solutions to bring our business to our customers, we saw that the answer was simple but innovative- ask our existing, long term partners to help. The RMV is grateful to the Councils on Aging that have made “RMV Near Me” a success and we look forward to training others in the very near future.”

To date, approximately 60 Councils on Aging, listed below, are participating in the program, where Council staff were trained by RMV staff, and are now able to assist residents with conducting online transactions as well as helping to locate important RMV forms, documents, and resources online. Examples of several RMV transactions that can be processed at COA locations include: Renewing Massachusetts driver’s licenses online (if the resident is younger than 75), and renewing a motor vehicle registration without having to visit the local RMV branch.

Over the last year, the RMV has been increasing the use of existing alternative service channels, increasing RMV staff performance measured by improving accountability and customer treatment, and improving customer wait times through the use of dual queuing methods that have eliminated hidden wait times at participating branches. The RMV has also redesigned MassRMV.com to be more customer friendly and improved outreach to increase online use.

The partnership with the Councils on Aging follows an RMV partnership with 12 AAA offices throughout the Commonwealth offering Registry services for members. For a complete list of transactions, visit http://www.southernnewengland.aaa.com/.

Councils on Aging participating in this program include: Adams, Amesbury, Athol, Bellingham, Blackstone, Blandford, Brewster, Brimfield, Brockton, Clinton, Chester, Dartmouth, East Longmeadow, Easthampton, Erving, Framingham, Gardner, Gloucester, Great Barrington, Hamilton, Holden, Huntington, Lawrence, Littleton, Longmeadow, Merrimac, Methuen, Middlefield, Middleton, Millbury, Monson, New Bedford, Newton, Nahant, Peabody, Pembroke, Pittsfield, Plymouth, Rowley, Russell, Scituate, Sharon, Sheffield, Spencer, Taunton, Wakefield, Wales, West Boylston, Westford, Wilmington, Winchendon and Woburn.