It is normal for most to assume that only the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) can issue Arizona driver licenses along with title registration services for vehicles. The state of Arizona has also contracted with over 150 third party company locations to handle these same services the state normally does.

Known as Authorized Third Party (ATP) companies, these private businesses were authorized in 1993 by the state legislature to assist with official state functions. The intent of the ATP was threefold: 1. Reduce wait times by providing an alternative channel for delivering services. 2. Reduce workloads without opening additional field offices. 3. Expand service hours for the public beyond normal business hours. This is where ATPs have excelled in the eyes of customers. “There was a decision to authorize the ATPs because of past concerns about wait times. Having additional offices available to perform services and transactions takes pressure off of the state offices,” said Doug Nick of ADOT Communications. “We welcome the third parties because of the benefit they provide to customers. Combining our (state) efficiencies with the ATPs and also our new digital platforms have really helped the entire process for the customer.”

There are approximately 37 full-service ATPs in the state that can handle all of the same transactions as the state can. The very first private driver license provider in Arizona was created in 2010 in Wilcox. Owned and operated by Jan Korsten and her husband Jack, the couple were quick to help their community when a need arose. “In 2010, the state decided to close our local Wilcox MVD office as a cost saving measure. The community was shocked and upset, and we acted quickly to fill the need for customers,” Jan said. The Korsten’s rapidly formed a business named Motor Vehicle Processing and opened their doors in Wilcox just as the state office closed their own. The private company has now been in business for 7 years, and the Korsten couple even opened another full-service ATP office in Benson.

The volume of business at the Benson office is very light compared to what one may experience in the city of Tucson. Jan added, “Typically we assist around 25 people per day at Benson. There is often no wait time at all when a customer walks in. Even when our office is packed, the wait time is a maximum of 30 minutes.”

Many customers in the state have realized this speed advantage and have taken their business to the ATPs. In 2016, authorized third party offices performed 4.5 million transactions compared to state MVD offices that performed 3.6 million transactions. The speed and convenience advantages of an ATP does come at a price. For example,  to obtain a duplicate vehicle title, a state MVD office will charge $4 for the transaction. That same duplicate title charge is going to cost $20 at the ATP in Benson. Jan added, “We will pay the $4 to the state, and my processing fee is $16.” It all comes down to what your time is worth.

Meanwhile, the state is pushing for more customer service efficiencies. ADOT spokesperson Doug Nick explained that all of the state urban offices conduct real time monitoring of everything from how many lanes are open to the number of minutes people wait for a service. “Because of the efficiency initiatives we’ve done, wait times for customers have been reduced.” In 2016, the average wait time at a state run MVD office was close to an hour.  In 2017, the average wait time is close to 30 minutes.

There are advantages and disadvantages to conducting transactions at either the state or private offices. It simply depends on what is important to you during these transactions.

The privately run Benson MVD office is located at 553 West 4th Street in Benson. The closest state-run office for our area is at 1360 South Stocker Ave in Tucson.

A state employee administering a driver test to a new Arizona driver.

 

 

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Trent Thomas

Trent enjoys writing about what effects our local community. He has served in the U.S. Army, worked as a business manager and even been an airline pilot. He and his family have lived in Vail since 2007.