BOSTON—The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles is renewing and expanding its partnership with AAA so drivers can conduct business at some of the auto club's branches.
The union will allow license and automobile registration renewals at three branches -- including on Saturdays, when the RMV is closed.
Registrar Rachel Kaprelian scheduled a news conference Thursday to announce that a yearlong pilot program is being followed by a more permanent arrangement. Starting immediately, AAA members will be able to do RMV business at the club branch in Worcester.
On July 14, they also can do so in Plymouth, and on July 21, service begins at the AAA branch in Framingham. The program will run under a three-year contract put out for bid in May.
"I think it's natural, in that we both have the same customer base, which is drivers," Kaprelian said. "This model is used in other states and is working very well. We feel confident it will be embraced by the public."
AAA has 2.3 million members in Massachusetts. It already offers similar services to its customers in Rhode Island and Connecticut. In Rhode Island, AAA handles roughly 40 percent of license renewals, which helps shorten lines at RMV branches.
"It's a win-win," said Lloyd Albert, spokesman for AAA Southern New England. "The Registry wins, the motorist wins and AAA is happy to welcome members through their doors to offer one more service for their dues."
Massachusetts conducted a yearlong test of its own system at branches in West Newton and Worcester, but it expired amid union concerns about layoffs and legislative opposition. Critics contended the state was trying to privatize public work.
Many of those concerns were alleviated, though, when the RMV announced it was hiring 43 new telephone and counter workers for its branches. They will be at work by September.
