FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  October 19, 2005
NEWS FROM: Director's Office     05-012

Governor’s Rebate Hotline Still Answering the Call

With over a week since the first checks from Governor Kenny Guinn’s $300 million tax rebate began arriving, officials say almost $181 million of the $276 million worth of checks mailed is already in the pockets of Nevadans.

“To date we’ve answered over 25,000 hotline calls,” DMV Director Ginny Lewis said. “We’re dealing with nearly 5,000 emails right now and our website has been hit over 300,000 times.” Calls answered by hotline workers have dropped though, Lewis said, from a high of over 3,000 the Monday after checks began to arrive to just over 2,000 calls yesterday.

Lewis says the bulk of the phone calls are from people who did not have a current address on file with the DMV and their checks were mailed to their old addresses. She said there’s still time to get that check by filing a correct address with the department and there’s no need to phone the rebate hotline.

“You don’t have to call the hotline to change your address,” Lewis said. “The easiest way to change your address is to download the form off our website and either mail or fax it to us. The calls are evidence of how important these checks are to Nevadans, and have proven to be a good opportunity for people to update their information with us.”

Lewis offered these tips to check on your rebate and keep phone calls shorter:

• Have your license plate number or vehicle identification number ready. Also have your name as it appears on your vehicle registration available. Seniors over 65 with no vehicle should provide their identification card number.

• Visit www.dmvnv.com/rebate first if possible. Verify whether a check has been issued and, if not, whether your vehicle was eligible for a rebate.

• Download, complete and fax or mail a Change of Address application if a check has been issued and you believe the DMV may have an incorrect address. Some things to look for:

  • Does your vehicle registration slip list your correct address?

  • Do you receive your vehicle renewal notices each year? 

  • Does your driver’s license have your correct address? 

  • Have you moved in recent years? If so, did you change your address with the DMV? A postal forwarding order does not update your DMV records.

• Call only if you have an issue other than an address change or if you don’t have Internet access. Have your license plate number and last name ready.

• The hotline numbers: Las Vegas - 702-486-2339; Reno - 775-684-4948; rural areas - 800-951-1874. The rebate website can be reached at www.dmvnv.com. Click on the icon to the right that says “tax rebate.”

Lewis said it is important to resolve any issues with your rebate checks in a timely manner. The rebate program will end in early April, six months after the first checks were issued.

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