MNLARS MESS: Troubled Vehicle Registration System Goes Back Under Microscope

January 4, 2018

Site Staff,

ST. PAUL, Minn. (KMSP) – Minnesota lawmakers are getting an update on efforts to fix the troubled MNLARS vehicle registration system, scarred by a failed rollout and a backlog of title transfers. Now, many are hoping a change in leadership could make a difference.

The state spent 10 years and $90 million planning for the transition to MNLARS, and lawmakers are clearly getting fed up with how long, and how much money it’s taking, to fix the system that’s used to keeps tabs on more than 7 million vehicles.

MNLARS has been plagued with technical problems since it was rolled out last summer. Glitches have prevented many DMV workers from processing vehicle titles or renewing license tabs.

During a hearing back in November, the state’s IT officials promised to fix the problems, but lawmakers are running out of patience. Thursday morning, a Senate Transportation Committee listened to an update on efforts to get MNLARS working properly.

At Thursday’s hearing, Department of Public Safety Commissioner Mona Dohman said that Driver and Vehicle Services is reducing the number of backlogged vehicle title transfers each day but, “there are 23,000 titles that cannot be transferred at this time because of system processes.”

But committee chair Sen. Scott Newman (R-Hutchinson) said he has no faith that a state government agency can get MNLARS on track.

“I just don’t have any faith that at this stage after 10 years and 90 to $100 million that either MNIT or DPS has the innate ability to get this job done,” Sen. Newman said.

Lawmakers are also hearing from car dealers, vehicle owners and DMV employees about their frustrations.

“This is a core function of government that is not working and not getting better fast enough,” said Scott Lambert of the Minnesota Automobile Dealers Association. “We are now in our slow period, if we cannot get caught up now, we won’t get caught up until Christmas.”

Sen. Dan Hall (R-Burnsville) said Thursday’s update didn’t instill confidence in MNLARS.

“Solutions are what we needed,” Sen Hall said. “I didn’t hear any today.”

Meanwhile, the state’s IT department in charge of fixing MNLARS is in the middle of a leadership change. Commissioner Tom Baden announced his retirement last week, citing health reasons. Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton will choose Baden’s replacement and lawmakers hope the new leader of Minnesota IT Services will quickly get the system running smoothly.