Nevada’s Department of Motor Vehicles remains closed after a major cyberattack crippled state government systems, leaving thousands of residents unable to complete routine transactions.
The cyberattack, first reported in mid-July, triggered what officials have called a “statewide network outage” that continues to disrupt multiple state agencies. While investigators have not disclosed who was behind the attack or how it unfolded, they have stressed that there is no evidence that personal data such as Social Security numbers or driver’s license records have been compromised.
The DMV has been among the hardest-hit agencies. All field offices, including AAA branches and county partnerships that normally process DMV transactions, are shuttered until further notice. Online services through MyDMV are also offline, leaving residents with no way to renew vehicle registrations, update licenses, or complete other standard filings.
In a statement on its website, the DMV said: “We are currently experiencing issues with our website, including MyDMV. Our IT team is working diligently to resolve the matter as quickly as possible. All offices remain closed until further notice due to the statewide network outage.” The agency has urged Nevadans to check its official social media pages for updates.
To ease the burden on customers, DMV Director Tonya Laney announced that all late fees and penalties tied to the closure will be waived. “We don’t want our customers to worry about being punished for something outside their control,” Laney said, noting that wait times will likely increase once services resume.
The shutdown comes on top of previously scheduled limitations at the Carson City office, where in-person written testing had already been suspended through late September. Those with appointments have been told they may be issued paper tests instead.
State leaders have acknowledged that the disruption is far from over. The Department of Administration recently said Nevada is still “digging out from under” the cyberattack, underscoring the scale of the recovery effort. Technicians continue to work around the clock, but no timeline has been provided for when DMV systems will be fully restored.
For now, residents are left waiting. And as one of the state’s most heavily used public services, the DMV outage serves as a stark reminder of how disruptive cyber threats can be when they strike at the heart of government operations.
