A Charlotte dad builds a tool to beat DMV delays

Entrepreneurs find workarounds to long lines

The following article appeared in the August 15, 2025, edition of The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with smart and original local news for Charlotte. We offer free and paid subscription plans. More info here.

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New tool cuts DMV waits: South Charlotte dad builds a scraper site that sends text alerts when appointments open; ‘DMV Smarter, Not Harder!’

Miserable souls waiting at the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles office in east Charlotte on Thursday morning. (Photo by Daniel Larlham Jr.)

by Daniel Larlham Jr.

It’s no big secret that North Carolinians are having a tough time getting their business done at the DMV. Chronic understaffing and a surging population have resulted in long wait times at the door and booking appointments months in advance.

A recent study found that Charlotte has the worst average DMV experience in the nation. Politicians are promising shake-ups and more workers. A damning audit released this month found that 14% of customer visits exceeded 2.5 hours.

The good news, though, is that amid the long lines and mounting frustrations, some among us are finding innovative workarounds.

Jennifer Szakaly is just one of many who’ve found their dealings with the DMV less than efficient. In June, the only appointments she could find were months away.

But on a Charlotte area moms’ Facebook group — Connecting Moms Together CLT, where her frustrations were often echoed — she came across a solution: a bare-bones website built by a south Charlotte dad in his spare time that got her into the DMV in less than 24 hours.