The Town of Sidney is asking residents to seek their vehicle insurance at private businesses to help reduce waits at the local Driver Services location.
Like many businesses and organizations in the region, Sidney’s Driver Services branch, located at 9884 Third St., has been experiencing staff shortages. This has resulted in reduced hours of operation and longer wait times.
“We are doing all we can to return to regular operating hours this fall. We appreciate the patience people have shown, and we are doing our best to provide information and updates to those waiting in line or planning a visit,” said Andrew Hicik, Sidney’s acting CAO, in a statement.
While not a core municipal service – as it falls under the province’s jurisdiction and responsibility, the town has been providing services from the branch for years as a convenience for local residents and to help reduce the need to travel to offices in Saanich and Victoria, both of which can experience long wait times at peak periods.
The Sidney branch has been becoming increasingly popular over the years with residents of the Saanich Peninsula and surrounding Gulf Island communities. This growing demand has compounded the impacts of the staffing shortage, Hicik noted.
“While the cost of providing Driver Services is offset in part by offering Autoplan insurance services as well, we are currently asking that people seeking insurance renewals visit one of three private businesses in Sidney that offer this service. This will help reduce our wait times.”
For more information, and a schedule of current hours, go to sidney.ca/Services/Driver_Services.htm.
Municipal hall hours have not been affected by staffing shortages.
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