DMV director warns of staffing shortfalls, aging IT and pushes $100M modernization push
May 06, 2025 | 2025 Legislative Meetings, South Carolina
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Kevin Shweto, executive director of the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, told the House Education and Public Works Committee that the agency faces staffing and IT challenges as the state’s population has grown.
Shweto said the DMV’s core system, known internally as Phoenix, “existed before the turn of the century” and that a full modernization would cost roughly $100 million. “When we get to mobile driver's licenses on your phone, I can create a wallet to go ahead and do all that stuff,” he said, describing centralized issuance and future mobile IDs as potential outcomes of modernization.
Why it matters: The DMV issues identification and processes transactions that other agencies, law enforcement and the public rely on. Shweto told the committee that system outages affect many downstream services and that only about 60 percent of state residents currently hold a Real ID, which will be required for federal facilities and to board domestic flights.
Key details
- Staffing and turnover: Shweto said the DMV has 1,500 employees, with about 800 earning $22,000 before a prior increase; he reported a roughly 33 percent annual turnover (about 500 employees) and said many positions require specialized training across many subject areas.
- IT and modernization: The director said Phoenix is COBOL‑era legacy software and that modernization has been a multiyear request; he repeated a commonly cited modernization estimate: “Cost a hundred million dollars.” He said prior attempts by other states to replace similar systems showed risks and urged careful vendor selection.
- Real ID and customer impact: Shweto emphasized Real ID uptake (about 60% of residents enrolled) and warned of growing waits during a push to encourage enrollment before federal enforcement dates. He urged constituents to bring required documents (birth certificate, two forms of ID, Social Security number) and noted complexities for name changes.
- Centralized issuance and security: The DMV plans to centralize card issuance this fall to add security features, the director said; he predicted that properly implemented mobile IDs with biometric checks could reduce fraud but require modernization.
Committee exchange and outstanding questions
Representatives raised highway safety concerns and DUI enforcement in a separate exchange with the director; committee members also asked about expanding DMV responsibilities (titling/boating) and discussed workforce recruitment and salary competitiveness. The director said he will continue outreach to members and said staff would follow up on specific operational questions.
No votes were taken. The director requested legislative support for modernization funding and for continued attention to employee compensation and retention.
Shweto said the DMV’s core system, known internally as Phoenix, “existed before the turn of the century” and that a full modernization would cost roughly $100 million. “When we get to mobile driver's licenses on your phone, I can create a wallet to go ahead and do all that stuff,” he said, describing centralized issuance and future mobile IDs as potential outcomes of modernization.
Why it matters: The DMV issues identification and processes transactions that other agencies, law enforcement and the public rely on. Shweto told the committee that system outages affect many downstream services and that only about 60 percent of state residents currently hold a Real ID, which will be required for federal facilities and to board domestic flights.
Key details
- Staffing and turnover: Shweto said the DMV has 1,500 employees, with about 800 earning $22,000 before a prior increase; he reported a roughly 33 percent annual turnover (about 500 employees) and said many positions require specialized training across many subject areas.
- IT and modernization: The director said Phoenix is COBOL‑era legacy software and that modernization has been a multiyear request; he repeated a commonly cited modernization estimate: “Cost a hundred million dollars.” He said prior attempts by other states to replace similar systems showed risks and urged careful vendor selection.
- Real ID and customer impact: Shweto emphasized Real ID uptake (about 60% of residents enrolled) and warned of growing waits during a push to encourage enrollment before federal enforcement dates. He urged constituents to bring required documents (birth certificate, two forms of ID, Social Security number) and noted complexities for name changes.
- Centralized issuance and security: The DMV plans to centralize card issuance this fall to add security features, the director said; he predicted that properly implemented mobile IDs with biometric checks could reduce fraud but require modernization.
Committee exchange and outstanding questions
Representatives raised highway safety concerns and DUI enforcement in a separate exchange with the director; committee members also asked about expanding DMV responsibilities (titling/boating) and discussed workforce recruitment and salary competitiveness. The director said he will continue outreach to members and said staff would follow up on specific operational questions.
No votes were taken. The director requested legislative support for modernization funding and for continued attention to employee compensation and retention.
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