So I was dreading today, right? I knew I had to get a new state issued ID before Sunday came (when I’m going to Chicago). For the whole week I was getting info on the place hearing things like “It’s going to take hours, man” and “It’s a really WONDERFUL time you’ll have (said sarcastically, of course)”.
No less than about 7 people told me stories of the place and told me I’d have anywhere from a hour to 8 hour wait.
So with great terror, I boarded the Valley bus and took it to the DMV. I made sure to checked the time as I hopped off and it was 10:40A.M. on the dot.
I was walking out with my new I.D. at 10:55.
My number was called about TWO minutes after getting it. I had to finish filling out the reissue form in front of the clerk, who promptly took it, did some clicky clacking on her computer, handed me a form and told me to give it to the photocubicle.
Thinking “Ahhh the PHOTO…NOW the waiting comes.”
But as I stepped up to the counter, the girl addressed me by name and, instead of me putting the form into the box, took it from me herself…then told me to back up and smile.
After being blinded by the light (and revved up like a deuce…another runner in the night), she told me “two minutes!” in an exceptionally cheery voice.
I had just sat down when she called me back up and delivered onto me my new ID.
So yeah. That was my wonderful day at the DMV. It really DOES happen! :eek:
Think I should sell my story to Ripley’s Believe it Or Not? (or was I just grossly mis-lead by all of my friends in the first place?)
I love going to the DMV in my town. When I went to get my license renewed a few years ago, I went about half an hour after they opened, thinking it would be less busy. Well, there were 5 people working and only 2 customers. I was in and out in less than 3 minutes. I even had time to have 3 pictures taken and then I got to pick the one I liked. I’ve gone a few other times since then, to keep other people company. I’ve noticed that they are always like that. I’ve never spent more than 10 minutes in there.
Same experience here in NJ. It’s a world of difference from what it used to be. From what I’ve read, the person responsible for much of the current efficiency and improved service is the current MVC Chief Administrator Sharon Harrington, who implemented a lot of common sense changes.
Couple of years ago, I had to take a car for annual inspection. Anticipating the usual hours-long wait that I recalled from my youth, I brought along a mug of cofee, a snack, the newspaper, and a book to read. I was out of the line and on my way home before my coffee had cooled down enough to drink.
I have an Inspection station 5 minutes from where I live (Secaucus), I have 2 cars and it never took me longer than 15 minutes to get either inspected in the last few years. I never even touched the bagels I brought.
I have to renew my drivers liscense this April, and I never had a photo liscense before. I checked out the website for the DMV and it says I need 6 points worth of stuff like my social security card and birth certificate and bills for electric and gas and the phone; possibly a passport which I don’t have. I’m saving this thread to pit next April if necessary.
I faced the 6 points of ID last year. The problem I encountered was that my old license had just my first and last name, but other stuff – passport, FAA pilot’s license, etc. – included my middle name. So to confirm that, I needed to bring my birth certificate. Of course, *that * had my birth name, not the married name I’ve used for 40 years, so I had to bring my marriage license, too.
Beware anti-Pitting the DMV. I dared speak well of them in a thread a few months ago, then promptly had the shittiest 2 days at the DMV because they didn’t like my Colorado-issued marriage certificate.
My first trip to the Pennsylvania DMV was a stereotypical DMV experience, as were my previous dealings with the New Jersey DMV. I arrived at the office, took a number, and sat. Then I saw a sign saying they didn’t take cash (which the NJ DMV did) and I would have to pay by check. I left, got on a bus, went home, got my checkbook, got on another bus, came back–and my number still hadn’t been called. Nor was it for another hour and a half.
(The only interesting part of the experience was seeing what other people were producing for ID. It’s not every day I get to see Guatemalan or Chinese passports.)
Since then I’ve renewed my PA license twice, and both times I was in and out of the office in 10 minutes. In my license photo I still have my coat on, because I didn’t stay long enough to get warm and take it off.
The first time I got a Maryland driver’s license, it took me 8 hours. You think it’s a problem not having your middle name on some of your ID? Try having a marriage certificate written entirely in Japanese.
My most recent experience, after having lived in another state for several years, was that it took less than 15 minutes. They pulled up my old information on the computer, changed the address, retook my photo, and a couple minutes later I was done. But at the same time, it took my husband four hours to get one of our cars registered, so clearly the time varies by type of transaction, too.
I always take a book and my knitting, however. You just never know.
When my beloved Bluesman and I got our Florida licenses, it was the DMV visit of story and song, 4 hours spent surrounded by extras for Jerry Springer. But then, when Blueskid#1 got his license, we were in and out in 10 minutes, and had service with a smile. So Mama Tiger is right, you really never do know.
PA has made just about everything available online. The only reason I go to the DMV is that they can’t take your picture online (yet). I just renewed my license a couple of days ago while I was eating lunch at work. When the camera card comes in, I’ll walk in, have my pic taken, and be home in no time.
Car registrations and everything else I do completely online.