Cordova’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is slowing making a return from its longstanding closure, announcing last week the department will once again be offering road tests.
“Make sure you’ve read the Alaska Driver Manual and used that permit to get a lot of practice,” the announcement said. “Failing a road test is no fun, but having unsafe streets is even less fun.”
This is the first time the Cordova DMV has been able to conduct road tests since the department shut down three years ago. A longstanding single-employee operation, the city was forced to close the DMV in June 2023 after the office ran into tech and web issues, and then remained closed after the only employee resigned.
Since then, the city has had a tough time hiring a replacement for the DMV, even resorting to asking the state DMV to come to Cordova to conduct a mobile clinic to provide REAL ID/driver’s licenses, road tests, learner’s permits, and out-of-state license transfers.
The city hired Spencer Johnson as the new DMV clerk in November 2025. Upon starting the new position, Johnson was required to undergo trainings to expand DMV services, road tests being one of them.
The DMV is open 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., and 2:30-4 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, as well as 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., and 2:30-5 p.m. on Wednesdays.
To schedule an appointment, call 907-424-6125 or email [email protected].
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