"DMV" has two primary meanings related to U.S. states:
- Department of Motor Vehicles : In many states, "DMV" stands for the Department or Division of Motor Vehicles, a state-level government agency responsible for vehicle registration and driver licensing. However, not all states use the acronym "DMV"; some use other names like MVA (Maryland), RMV (Massachusetts), BMV (Indiana, Ohio), etc. The DMV or its equivalent exists in nearly every state to regulate driving and vehicle registration
- Washington Metropolitan Area : Locally, especially in the region around Washington, D.C., "DMV" refers to the metropolitan area encompassing the District of Columbia (D), Maryland (M), and Virginia (V). This usage is common among residents and in culture, especially around the D.C. metro area, including counties like Montgomery and Prince George's in Maryland and Fairfax and Arlington in Virginia. The term has become a popular nickname for the greater Washington metropolitan region
Summary of DMV meanings by states:
- DMV as Department of Motor Vehicles : Used in many states for the agency handling motor vehicle and driver services.
- DMV as a regional nickname : Refers specifically to the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area covering parts of D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.
Thus, "DMV" can mean either the motor vehicle agency in a state or the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia metro area, depending on context.
