DMV facilities across US experience network outage after 'loss in cloud connectivity'

CHICAGO (WGN) — DMV facilities across the country experienced a network outage Thursday following a "loss in cloud connectivity," according to the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA).

Transportation agencies across the country began reporting outages at their DMV centers on Thursday morning, with officials in states including Arkansas, Massachusetts, North Carolina and Virginia confirming trouble with their systems on X.

"DMVs across the country are having trouble issuing car tags and licenses as the database maintained by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators is currently down," a tweet from the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration warned.

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias also described the issue as a "nationwide network outage."

The American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, or AAMVA, has since shared a statement on the outage, though the non-government group had yet to identify a cause as of Thursday afternoon.

"From approximatively 09:50 a.m. EDT and 12:30 p.m. EDT today the network that connects motor vehicle agencies across the United States to each other and to various verification services experienced an outage due to a loss in cloud connectivity," Claire Jeffrey, a communications manager with AAMVA, told Nexstar in an emailed statement. "During that time, there was no ability to process messages that support transactions of driver licenses and motor vehicle titles. This prevented a number of motor vehicle agencies from issuing driver licenses and vehicle titles during the outage.

"AAMVA is working internally and with our cloud providers to determine the root cause of the outage," the statement concluded.

AAMVA, based in Arlington, Virginia, describes itself as a nonprofit organization and "information clearinghouse" working to develop "model programs in motor vehicle administration, law enforcement, and highway safety," according to its website.

A representative for AAMVA did not immediately say what role the organization plays concerning the databases or networks affected during Thursday's outage.

Many of the agencies affected by the outages have since confirmed they were back up and running by around 1 p.m. EDT.

The secretary of state in Illinois, meanwhile, had advised the public to call ahead before visiting a DMV, warning of impacts to operating hours or services, including road tests.

This is a developing story. Check back for details.