Massachusetts RMV Trims Hours, Services to Deal with Cuts

The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles will cut branch hours as it scales back amid a massive, statewide budget cut.

The RMV saw $2 million chopped from its budget as part of $1 billion in cuts and spending controls announced by Gov. Deval Patrick this week. The state is facing a $1.4 billion spending gap.

RMV Registrar Rachel Kaprielian said Friday that the agency will save $40,000 by opening most branches a half hour later at 9 a.m. Branches that have been closing late on Thursdays at 7 p.m., will now close at 6 p.m.

Another $800,000 will be saved by eliminating courtesy notices for various services, such as license renewals.

RMV spokeswoman Ann Dufresne said the rest of the cuts will come in areas that won’t be as noticeable to customers, such as using less expensive paper and reformatting forms.