Tax Collector prepares for closing of state driver license offices | Business

Pinellas County, Florida -- Pinellas County Tax Collector Diane Nelson announced Wednesday that tax collector offices are preparing for an increase in customers from the upcoming closure of two state driver license offices, making the tax collector the sole driver license provider in Pinellas County.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles has announced its St. Petersburg office in the AAA building will close April 25. The remaining DHSMV office, located in Pinellas Park, is scheduled to close June 29, as a result of legislation passed in 2010 that requires tax collectors to assume all driver license services from the state.

“My offices have been issuing driver licenses since 2001, and we are in a good position to handle the extra customers once the state offices close,” Nelson said in a release. “I am confident we will continue to provide outstanding customer service to our Pinellas County citizens.”

Customer data from DHSMV indicates that when the offices close, the tax collector’s office will serve nearly 60,000 additional driver license customers a year. The tax collector currently processes more than 100,000 driver license transactions annually.

Driver license customers are encouraged to visit the tax collector’s website, taxcollect.com, as many transactions today can be done online. The website also provides tips and information on which documents are needed to get a Florida driver license. Customers who need to visit an office are encouraged to make an appointment in advance by calling 727-464-7777.

For more information on driver licenses or other Pinellas County Tax Collector services, please visit taxcollect.com or call 727-464-7777 to speak to a customer service representative.