Research Studies & Reports

DMV’s Research & Development Branch has been conducting research and producing studies and reports since the 1950s. Research & Development reports help DMV to measure the impact of new laws on making drivers safer. We also identify areas where we can improve our processes, explore new approaches to solving existing problems, and branch out into new opportunities to serve you better. 

Request printed copies of studies and reports by mail at:

Department of Motor Vehicles
Research and Development Branch
2415 1st Ave. Mail Station: F-126
Sacramento, CA 95818
(916) 914-8125

Please include the report number, the number of copies requested, and your name, address, and phone number.

393 Results

Report ID Date Published Title Section Links
5 1960/ 08

Departmental Functions Relating to Vehicle Use and Ownership, 1915-1959

By: Research & Development

To undertake a survey of Department of Motor Vehicles’ functions relating to the use and ownership of vehicles, in response to a request of the California State Assembly’s Assembly Interim Committee on Transportation and Commerce. This report comes under the designation of Phase I, the "fact-gathering" stage of the study.

VII
53a 1976/ 06

1976 Language Survey – Follow-up to 1975 Field Office Survey

By: Research Staff

To conduct another survey like the 1975 language survey (report no. 53) to determine the number of non-English-speaking persons attempting to utilize services provided at DMV facilities. This survey to be conducted at selected offices to enable management to put customer communication needs into a better perspective.

VII
6 1960/ 08

A Study of Parking DMV Headquarters Area 1963-1970-1980

By: Research & Development

To study and report on the parking and traffic schemes of the Department of Motor Vehicles Headquarters Building in Sacramento, in response to the City of Sacramento Inter-Governmental Committee (Councilman Philip Mering, chairman).

VII
7 1960/ 10

A Study of Mechanization of Operations – Drivers License Information Request Services

By: Research & Development

To study, at the request of Mr. Fred P. Williams, Chief, Division of Drivers Licenses, the systems applicable to the mechanization of the sorting and billing operations in the Department of Motor Vehicle’s Information Request Unit.

VII
92 1984/ 08

California Driver Survey: The Habits and Opinions of Drivers on Selected Traffic Safety Related Issues

By: Karen Frinke & Michael Ratz

To collect information on driving exposure, socioeconomic factors, and attitudes about driving for a random sample of motorists.

VII
IM3 1981/ 06

Multiple Sales Use Tax Survey

By: David W. Carpenter

To determine loss in use tax resulting from unreported vehicle transfers.

VII
NRN090 1978/ 08

Error Rate Study, Division of Drivers’ Licenses

By: Maureen Miller

To identify errors in information contained in the drivers' license file; to describe their nature, number and sources.

VII
NRN091 1984/ 07

A Study of Alternative Strategies for Assessing Fees on Commercially Registered Vehicles

By: California Department of Motor Vehicles

This study was initiated by the Division of Registration and Investigative Services. The scope of the study was subsequently broadened to meet the requirements of Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 11 of the 1983 legislative session. The final report for this study was submitted in July 1984. The objectives of this study were to: 1. develop a schedule for assessing weight fees on commercially registered power vehicles (6,500 or more pounds unladen) and trailers, based on declared laden or gross weight (GVW) of individual power vehicles and trailers (this schedule would replace the current unladen weight fee table; registration and vehicle license fees would continue to be collected); 2. develop a fee-assessment system for commercially registered power vehicles (6,500 or more pounds unladen) and trailers, based on the declared combined gross weight (CGW) of power vehicles (CGW would be declared for only power units and would include the total weight of the power unit, all trailing vehicles, if any, and all loads) and charging only a standard fee on each trailer (the CGW fee assessed on power vehicles and the trailer fee would replace the registration, vehicle license, and unladen weight fees currently collected on power vehicles and trailers); and 3. estimate the total 1985 revenue loss under a CGW fee schedule that would allow fees remaining on deleted interstate power vehicles to be credited toward fees due on their power vehicle replacements, and produce an adjusted CGW fee schedule that would recoup this revenue loss.

VII
NRN092 1986/ 03

Effective- Time Charts

By: Jensen Kuan

To graphically present trends in effective-time management in each DMV field office, each field office grade level, and statewide, in order to assess effectiveness of departmental operations in serving the motoring public.

VII
NRN096 1986/ 07

Conceptual Plan for an Integrated Management Information System

By: Gary Arstein-Kerslake & Raymond Peck

(1) To demonstrate the utility of, and need for, an integrated management information system, (2) to implement a rudimentary system as a demonstration of the feasibility of developing a full-fledged management information system, and (3) to chart a course for the future development of a management information system.

VII