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Current Events > Is the DMV really that bad?

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cjsdowg
06/20/24 10:35:22 PM
#1:


Like it is a running joke since forever that that DMV is just horrible. But is it really. Besides that fact that most people don't have to go there that much. The times I do remember going there were not that bad. It wasn't snap and you are serviced but it is not this big horrible thing. (at atleast at the ones I been too)

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FL81
06/20/24 10:36:17 PM
#2:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYLxrNjLNFg

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Baron_Ox
06/20/24 10:36:41 PM
#3:


it could depend on where you live, time of the week, whether you made an appointment or not, and so on, from my experience.

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YellowSUV
06/20/24 10:37:02 PM
#4:


I've never had a bad experience at the DMV.

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tripleh213
06/20/24 10:37:23 PM
#5:


Takes at least an hour everytime

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itachi15243
06/20/24 10:37:34 PM
#6:


I've been in line there for like 45 minutes at the worst.

I live in a smaller town though.

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Kai_Laguna
06/20/24 10:38:29 PM
#7:


It's always been packed with 2+hour waits whenever I go.
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StephenYap3
06/20/24 10:41:12 PM
#8:


Baron_Ox posted...
it could depend on where you live, time of the week, whether you made an appointment or not, and so on, from my experience.
This.

It could be worse, though...

https://youtu.be/ONFj7AYgbko?si=_dQQSIe-47APxwOY

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NoxObscuras
06/20/24 10:49:42 PM
#9:


In a big city, it absolutely is. I live in Los Angeles, and the wait can be 3+ hours if you go at peak hours. Thankfully now I can just take care of all of my DMV needs online. At least until the next time I'm required to go in and retake the written exam for my license renewal.

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Time
06/20/24 10:50:27 PM
#10:


This varies wildly depending on your local dmv

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party_animal07
06/20/24 10:52:25 PM
#11:


I've never had much problem going there, but I'd imagine it's much worse living in a major city.

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mercurydude
06/20/24 10:55:44 PM
#12:


It used to be hell on my social anxiety, but they've fixed a lot of problems with technology and now the one here is no longer crowded. Having an appointment gets you in and out fast, and the past few times, it seems like I've only spent about ten minutes in there. The staff are also a lot friendlier than they used to be.

Feels weird to pretty much gush about the DMV, but it went from being a living nightmare to no big deal at all.

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Luigi_and_Tails
06/20/24 11:08:28 PM
#13:


This reminded me of a question I wanted to ask you Americans here, is everything car-related done at the DMV? As in, you have to go there?

I only ask out of curiosity as I've heard this said loads of times but I never really understood what it meant.

I'm from the UK but, to use some examples, can you do any of this stuff online/via post, or is it genuinely all "I'm in the DVLA, see you next month" type stuff?

  • Tax your car
  • Change your numberplates
  • Update/renew your driving licence
  • Update car ownership on the V5 (think your equivalent is a pink slip)
  • Register as disabled
Not trying to troll, I'm genuinely wondering what a trip to the DMV means. All of the stuff I've mentioned above doesn't need an appointment here in the UK, so, L&T innocently asks, what do you need to go to the DMV for?

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Crayon_Lover
06/20/24 11:11:58 PM
#14:


I went to the BMV (in Ohio we call it bureau of motor vehicles) on Monday afternoon. Renewed my license and registered my new car in under 10 minutes, it was wonderful.

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FL81
06/20/24 11:14:49 PM
#15:


Luigi_and_Tails posted...
This reminded me of a question I wanted to ask you Americans here, is everything car-related done at the DMV? As in, you have to go there?

I only ask out of curiosity as I've heard this said loads of times but I never really understood what it meant.

I'm from the UK but, to use some examples, can you do any of this stuff online/via post, or is it genuinely all "I'm in the DVLA, see you next month" type stuff?

* Tax your car
* Change your numberplates
* Update/renew your driving licence
* Update car ownership on the V5 (think your equivalent is a pink slip)
* Register as disabled
Not trying to troll, I'm genuinely wondering what a trip to the DMV means. All of the stuff I've mentioned above doesn't need an appointment here in the UK, so, L&T innocently asks, what do you need to go to the DMV for?
A lot of these things can be serviced at third party locations

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cjsdowg
06/20/24 11:16:24 PM
#16:


  1. Tax your car: You can typically handle car taxes online now, or you can visit the tax office in person.
  2. Change your license plates: This can vary. Sometimes you dont need to go to the DMV, like when transferring tags to a new car. However, it depends on the specific situation.
  3. Update/renew your driving license: In my state, you can renew your drivers license online once, but the next renewal must be done in person. This process can vary by state.
  4. Update car ownership on the V5 (equivalent to a pink slip): This process usually requires a visit to the DMV to ensure all paperwork is correctly handled.
  5. Register as disabled: Unfortunately, you do need to visit the DMV to register as disabled. Despite hearing otherwise, I found that an in-person visit was necessary. Since was disabled I had to go in twice.



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Luigi_and_Tails
06/20/24 11:37:15 PM
#17:


Thanks folks, appreciate your thoughts.

I don't know what transferring tags means, I assume this means private numberplates? In the UK we can do this online, just put the car back onto it's original plate, transfer the V5 (pink slip), then reapply for a new V5 once you have the repalcement car in your possession.

That said, I'm surprised to hear you need to go to the DMV just to update registered keeper details. Maybe it's a way how ownership is handled in UK vs US - here, the "registered keeper" of the vehicle is only responsible for registration and tax. The "owner" is not necessarily who's on the V5, and they are responsible for everything else.

Hope your disability isn't too bad - I also have a blue badge but it's manageable. I only use my badge when I'm in pain and/or can't walk easily, otherwise I'll leave it in my glove box and park normally.

Are your blue badges linked to the driver, or to the car? Here in the UK our badges are linked to the driver, so I can use my blue badge (when necessary) in any vehicle I'm in, whether or not it belongs to me. For example when a friend took me to a hospital appt, he could use my blue badge whilst I was with him.

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CADE_FOSTER
06/20/24 11:58:25 PM
#18:


had to renew a dl had to go in person cuz Abbott hates voters took about 3 and a half hours mind numbingly boring and loud
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PballDepot
06/21/24 12:12:24 AM
#19:


It used to be horrible, but now they let me wait in my car or wherever and text me when it's almost my turn so it's not as bad.

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kingdrake2
06/21/24 12:16:11 AM
#20:


last time i had to go to the DMV which was for a identification renewal. it was a 3 month waitlist because of the pandemic. wasn't so bad of a wait though the appointment time was crap because of the wildfire smoke prevented me from going to my appointment on time (had to reschedule).

the next time i'll have to go take the bus up there (my uncle was a huge help in helping me, provided i offered some gas money and a stop at a fast food place for helping me out).

it's not so bad, just the location is crap (think it's a mile walk from the transit station if don't catch the city bus).

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Mad-Dogg
06/21/24 12:23:37 AM
#21:


Definitely feel like it was more a 90s/early 2000s thing.

I'm not sure when, but my local DMV expanded in size and added an entire new section to the building to the point where at least around 30 people can be seen at once. (I live in a more rural town. Decently populated, but never at that point where there is like 100s of people trying to be to the DMV).

The times I needed to swing by there yearly to renew my permit in the past (I was sitting on that permit for years, lol) I was in and out, did the vision test and a new picture taken for the permit all done in like 15 minutes.

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cjsdowg
06/21/24 12:39:09 AM
#22:


Luigi_and_Tails posted...
Hope your disability isn't too bad - I also have a blue badge but it's manageable. I only use my badge when I'm in pain and/or can't walk easily, otherwise I'll leave it in my glove box and park normally.

Are your blue badges linked to the driver, or to the car? Here in the UK our badges are linked to the driver, so I can use my blue badge (when necessary) in any vehicle I'm in, whether or not it belongs to me. For example when a friend took me to a hospital appt, he could use my blue badge whilst I was with him.

Thank you it flares up and down. Like sometimes I can almost not walk at all. While in day I could go on a 10K run. Right now it getting a little bad.

The badges can be tied to both. For example there are some with the bagded tied to their plates, however most just have a little hanging thing that they put on their car. So you can take it with you if you have different car.


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Luigi_and_Tails
06/21/24 12:50:39 AM
#23:


cjsdowg posted...
Thank you it flares up and down. Like sometimes I can almost not walk at all. While in day I could go on a 10K run. Right now it getting a little bad.

The badges can be tied to both. For example there are some with the bagded tied to their plates, however most just have a little hanging thing that they put on their car. So you can take it with you if you have different car.
I get you pal. 100%. Same with me. Before my last flare-up I was throwing myself off boats, swimming around, having the time of my life. Then when it kicked in, I had to ask my sister to visit so she could help me park my car. Whilst disabilities are debilitating (no shit, Sherlock), it kicks you in the chops when you realise you need help just to do basic housework.

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archizzy
06/21/24 12:53:44 AM
#24:


I live in a low population area of the Midwest. I can walk into my local DMV and walk right up to the window every time. In and out in a few minutes.

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Krojen
06/21/24 12:54:51 AM
#25:


My exp. Appointment only.

You take a letter number combo that isnt in any order, then sit in a massive warehouse lookin place with about a thousand seats.

Over the next 2 hours you listen for your number. Its very difficult to hear so you gotta be dedicated during the 2 hour wait.

Then youre seen by someone and whatever youre there for will be $40 more than advertised.

Its terrible.

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#26
Post #26 was unavailable or deleted.
SAlYAN
06/21/24 12:59:32 AM
#27:


Of the three states I've been to one in:

Ohio - usually in and out. Short lines, maybe an hour wait, once.

Georgia (Atlanta area) - awful. Multiple hour waits, at 1:30 on a random Tuesday. God help you if you try on a weekend.

Nevada (Reno) - a fucking nightmare. Need to go online to schedule an appointment two weeks out just to get in the door. Once you're in the door at your appointment time, you're waiting for 4-8 hours for your number to actually be called. The building has like 20 booths, and 3 of them are ever open at a time. One location for hundreds of miles around, so have fun.

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FinalBraveNUT
06/21/24 1:01:36 AM
#28:


Hate dmv

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vycebrand2
06/21/24 1:04:21 AM
#29:


Living in a small town was great. It was in the clerks office. So you could pay property tax, tags, licenses all in one place. Never more than 7 in the line and considering how many windows there were that line went pretty quick. It also being a small town you get to know everyone. Most are nice people. In fact the one who did the licenses was a regular customer. I had to renew and did the vision test. Sadly I was 20/70 in one eye. That was a hassle but she was very kind. Came back week later after getting glasses and I was good to go. Sometimes its a better life.

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Gritty
06/21/24 1:05:39 AM
#30:


Yes
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Revelation34
06/21/24 2:24:56 AM
#31:


[LFAQs-redacted-quote]


Those kind of people are the worst kind of people.

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Ratchetrockon
06/21/24 2:42:02 AM
#32:


they are ok

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Enclave
06/21/24 3:04:18 AM
#33:


It depends a LOT on where you live.

For example, if you live in a primarily low income minority neighbourhood in a State that's under strong Republican control? Odds are high your DMV experience is absolutely atrocious.

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pegusus123456
06/21/24 6:45:30 AM
#34:


I actually have to go to the DMV at some point, so I took a look at the appointments.

Their map view of DMV offices immediately grayed out the nearest twenty-five or so, all of them completely unavailable. The nearest one with an opening is an hour's drive and the earliest one you can get is in September.

Apparently NC's DMVs are bad even for DMVs though, I see people complaining about the state government not doing anything to fix them any time the Republicans want to pass some stupid culture war bullshit

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DKBananaSlamma
06/21/24 7:13:47 AM
#35:


If you go on a workday outside rush hour it's........fine. But the weekend? God help you

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dummy420
06/21/24 7:14:55 AM
#36:


I am normally in and out of there in around 30 minutes when I need something. Often times quicker. I am sure major cities suck though because I doubt they are staffed well enough in a busy area.

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mustachedmystic
06/21/24 7:17:48 AM
#37:


I had to register my car a few months ago, and the place was crowded, and one of the employees suddenly yelled out loud that anyone without a seat would have to wait outside, and of course doing it with an attitude, saying she would throw out anyone standing.

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PoopPotato
06/21/24 7:44:30 AM
#38:


I've never had a terrible experience with them.
The ones that are contracted out seem to be the better ones. Log in online, they'll send you a text when you're about ready along with a reminder of what documents to bring.
No waiting necessary.

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Jiek_Fafn
06/21/24 8:20:17 AM
#39:


It's actually not too bad here. They built a bunch of smaller ones that don't have every service (mostly no driving testing) like 20 years ago. When I was going there at 16 it was still the horrible wait times because there were do few.

Also, it's the future. Waiting while you play on your phone is nbd

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TyVulpine
06/21/24 8:25:20 AM
#40:


Thankfully, I don't have to go to the main DMV, there's a branch at the police precinct less than 10 minutes from my home that I can go to, which very few people seem to use/know about, so even though I've only been to that branch a few times, I'm in and out in less than five minutes. (Only gone to renew my tags or gone with family for one reason or another)

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jdb78
06/21/24 8:29:15 AM
#41:


Dude... I had to do something in the website last week. They literally put me in an online waiting room and said not to refresh the page or I'd lose my place!
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MacadamianNut3
06/21/24 8:44:00 AM
#42:


Only good DMV experiences I've had were in Georgia surprisingly. They may be slow sometimes but at least they're nice about it and act like they kinda care

I visualized myself swinging at people multiple times at the various Maryland DMVs I've visited

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Kaldrenthebold
06/21/24 8:44:13 AM
#43:


In NJ they fixed the dmv and you need appointments now which helps tremendously

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RetuenOfDevsman
06/21/24 8:55:44 AM
#44:


A man named Larry Langford died in prison in 2019, a disgustingly unjust end to one of the greatest con men of the century.

He had formerly been the mayor of Birmingham, AL, and in that position embezzled so much money from Jefferson County's $4 billion sewer renovation project that the entire county declared bankruptcy in 2011 and got put on a plan to pay it back literally never. And still has the old sewers.

In the wake of Langford's scheme, the county's funds were sad beyond what you would have imagined possible. Among other things, they closed every DMV in the county except for the one in the Birmingham courthouse. Overnight, an eight-lane DMV that previously supported 200k people came to support more than 600k. The line outside, an hour before opening on a weekday, already reached halfway across the block-sized adjoining park.

All this to say, it depends on where you live.

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Revelation34
06/21/24 12:12:38 PM
#45:


mustachedmystic posted...
I had to register my car a few months ago, and the place was crowded, and one of the employees suddenly yelled out loud that anyone without a seat would have to wait outside, and of course doing it with an attitude, saying she would throw out anyone standing.


Just somebody on a power trip.

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Solid_Sonic
06/21/24 12:15:37 PM
#46:


Where I live they combined the DMV with the tax collector so their waiting rooms are full of people for one or the other.

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Nemu
06/21/24 12:17:31 PM
#47:


I don't think I've ever had any issues with it other than both closest locations being about 45 minutes from where I am after they closed the convenient one in a local mall for no reason. Though with the online renewal and COVID, I really haven't had to go more than a single time in the last ten years.
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Westernwolf4
06/21/24 12:24:37 PM
#48:


I grew up in New Mexico, then when I got married I moved to another state. I went to get my drivers license renewed.

You know where this is going. I stood in line for two hours to have the woman behind the counter insist that they dont renew licenses from foreign countries. I politely asked her to look again: she did but didnt get it. She wouldnt take my word for it that New Mexico is different from Mexico. I finally got her to call her manager. The manager apologized to me profusely, and by the time it was all done I had been there for three hours. For something that can be done online in five minutes today.

I know this sounds like a retelling of the old Simpsons joke, but this actually happened to me at a DMV. Again: this was 25 years ago, and the internet makes a lot of this easier. But every experience I have had at the DMV has been awful. That is just the most memorable one.

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bigtiggie23
06/21/24 12:28:55 PM
#49:


SAlYAN posted...
Of the three states I've been to one in:

Nevada (Reno) - a fucking nightmare. Need to go online to schedule an appointment two weeks out just to get in the door. Once you're in the door at your appointment time, you're waiting for 4-8 hours for your number to actually be called. The building has like 20 booths, and 3 of them are ever open at a time. One location for hundreds of miles around, so have fun.
Can agree with this one. I live in the area, and after shutting our local DMV down Reno is one of the closest ones and it sucks. Technically the Carson City one is closer but it isn't much better.

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