News Summary
The Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles has announced its full reopening after a significant outage caused by a ransomware cyberattack. Following the closure that affected in-person services, the DMV is now serving both appointments and walk-in customers. Many residents faced delays and frustrations during the outage, which began when services were suspended. The DMV is working to restore all services and has waived late fees incurred during this period, although new applications for Real IDs remain on hold.
Las Vegas, NV — Nevada DMV Fully Reopens Following Cyberattack-Induced Outage
As of Friday, September 5, 2025, the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) announced the full reopening of all its offices across the state after a significant network outage caused by a ransomware cyberattack. The DMV is now focused on serving both appointments and walk-in customers who require assistance with driver’s licenses and identification cards.
The DMV’s reopening comes after a closure that began on August 25, 2025, when in-person services were suspended due to the cyberattack. Customers have experienced delays, including those at the Flamingo DMV location, where many expressed frustration over the wait for services to resume. Some individuals even encountered setbacks in critical processes, like starting new jobs due to missing identification documents.
Among those impacted, 15-year-old Marcus King successfully obtained his driving permit during the DMV’s reopening, feeling a sense of excitement and freedom now that he can drive. Meanwhile, Valentino Madrigal raised concerns over the implications of the outage on his employment situation, highlighting how the lack of identification affected his onboarding process.
Governor Joe Lombardo noted that the state has been “well ahead” in recovery efforts following the cyberattack, indicating that DMV services gradually resumed, beginning with driving tests last week and expanding to more functions earlier this week. Despite the challenges faced, essential social and healthcare services, such as Medicaid and public employee benefits, were not impacted by the cyberattack.
The DMV also informed the public that any appointment cancellations between August 25 and August 30 will be accepted as walk-ins until September 16, 2025. All late fees incurred during the outage will be waived as part of the state’s recovery plan. However, new applications for Real IDs are still on hold, although renewals for ID cards, driver’s licenses, and duplicates are currently available.
During the outage, several DMV services were accessible online, including registration renewal, original registration, personalized plate ordering, insurance updates, and printing of driver history. However, many customers expressed dissatisfaction with the DMV’s lack of a backup plan during the critical outage period, reporting significant inconveniences and the need to cancel important transactions due to the downtime.
In light of the ongoing effects of the cyberattack, DMV officials have confirmed that recovery efforts are still in progress, although they could not provide specific information regarding the investigation. Beyond the DMV, other state services have also faced challenges, such as disruptions in child support payments, hiring processes for the Clark County School District, and delays in fingerprint submissions for prospective new employees.
The Nevada DMV continues to urge patience among customers as it works diligently to restore all services and rectify issues stemming from the cyberattack.
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Additional Resources
- News 3 LV
- Wikipedia: Cyberattack
- Fox 5 Vegas
- Google Search: Nevada DMV services 2025
- KTNV
- Google Scholar: Ransomware impact on government services
- 2 News
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Cybersecurity
- The Nevada Independent
- Google News: Nevada DMV cyberattack
Author: STAFF HERE LAS VEGAS WRITER
LAS VEGAS STAFF WRITER The LAS VEGAS STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERELasVegas.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Las Vegas, Clark County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Electric Daisy Carnival, World Series of Poker, and Consumer Electronics Show. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and Three Square Food Bank, plus leading businesses in hospitality and entertainment that power the local economy such as MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment, and Las Vegas Sands. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Nevada's dynamic landscape.
