Do you make an appointment when you go to the DMV?
By firecracker
@sacmom (14192)
United States
October 20, 2009 6:17pm CST
Or do you just go there and hope that you won't have to wait around forever for your turn? 
Before acquiring my car yesterday I checked my local DMV to see how long the wait time is with and without an appointment. It showed something like 5 minutes with an appointment and an hour without. I didn't want to have to wait around that long, but figured I would have to as I have to get my car registered in my name within 10 days of purchase. Out of curiosity I went ahead and tried to make an appointment and the earliest date given was November 2nd (next month). That wouldn't work, as it needs to be registered by the 30th of this month.
However, I tried again today in hopes that I could get something sooner. I'm guessing someone canceled their appointment because I was given a date of October 21st (which is tomorrow)! 
I just hope that my husband can get off of work early enough so that I can go. Otherwise I'll have to cancel my appointment.
Though if I don't happen to make my appointment I might still luck out and not have to wait it out (it happens sometimes at the DMV 
). And heck, sometimes the wait is longer with an appointment than it is without! LOL My husband saw it happen to someone once. And here I thought something like that only happened on TV! LOL
So, what do you do when you have to go to the DMV? Do you make an appointment or not? Please share your thoughts.
Before acquiring my car yesterday I checked my local DMV to see how long the wait time is with and without an appointment. It showed something like 5 minutes with an appointment and an hour without. I didn't want to have to wait around that long, but figured I would have to as I have to get my car registered in my name within 10 days of purchase. Out of curiosity I went ahead and tried to make an appointment and the earliest date given was November 2nd (next month). That wouldn't work, as it needs to be registered by the 30th of this month.
However, I tried again today in hopes that I could get something sooner. I'm guessing someone canceled their appointment because I was given a date of October 21st (which is tomorrow)! I just hope that my husband can get off of work early enough so that I can go. Otherwise I'll have to cancel my appointment.
Though if I don't happen to make my appointment I might still luck out and not have to wait it out (it happens sometimes at the DMV ). And heck, sometimes the wait is longer with an appointment than it is without! LOL My husband saw it happen to someone once. And here I thought something like that only happened on TV! LOL
So, what do you do when you have to go to the DMV? Do you make an appointment or not? Please share your thoughts.9 people like this
23 responses
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
21 Oct 09
Hi Jill. As SomeCowgirl pointed out, I live in a small town too. However, the DMV that I normally go to is closer to my house. The downfall to that is that they are almost always crowded!
My husband works during that time, so going there first thing in the morning wouldn't be possible.
I don't think so SomeCowgirl. At least not the ones here in the city anyway (including the one that I go to). They are always fully staffed by what I've seen. Of course, that was before the recession hit, so it'll be interesting to see how many employees are there when I go there later on today...
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
21 Oct 09
I live in a small town as well, not sure about the appointments either... Sacmom says she does as well... I wonder girls, have you ever gone and they've had a sign saying their closing early because of short staff? We have two that are there regularly, so I really feel for the one left to be there by themselves. I've been to my local one a few times, and one time it was the lady instructor, the next it was the man.
1 person likes this
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
21 Oct 09
I just wing it and bring along a good book and go for it. Only once I had to wait for a long time and that was because I waited until the end of the month to go in. If you go in the middle of the month there is almost never a long line. Also never ever go during lunch hour. Of course I can say all this because I work 2nd shift. If I worked first shift, I would tell my boss that I had to go to the DMV at say 10AM and didn't know how long it would take.
2 people like this
@moonchild1au (6240)
• Australia
25 Oct 09
I used to work for Queensland Transport which is the DMV in Queensland, Australia...None of our offices have the appointment scheme - only for those wanting to take a written test who either need an interpreter as they can't speak english or for those who can't read....here, it's just a matter of turning up, taking a number & waiting. I think they should introduce the appointment scheme here.
2 people like this
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
26 Oct 09
I think that they should too. It might help things go a lot faster and cut down on the long lines.
Happy mylotting!
@moonchild1au (6240)
• Australia
26 Oct 09
Tell me about it...I used to work at a few of the biggest & busiest offices on the south side of Briabane & on a Friday afternoon, it was nothing to have about 100+ people wating for their number to be called with at least a 90 min wait!!
1 person likes this
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
23 Oct 09
I didn't even know that was possible. I figured it always had to be done through the DMV.
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
20 Oct 09
My husband and I live in a small county, even with only one person (there's usually two) on duty that day, we were able to be seen in ten minutes time. I'm working on getting my permit, I need to study, but we went to get my Id changed so that I can go back up there and get my permit, Just got married.
I once had a friend that went to another county, this was when I lived in a bigger county, she went to a smaller county to get her driver's license, and she didn't have to wait anytime... They had four people there I believe.
2 people like this
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
21 Oct 09
I do too. The only problem with that is that I'm on the other end of the county so it'd take me twice as long to get there than it would for the one that I normally go to. I did check the wait time there though, and it wasn't long at all. I've only I lived closer to it, I would go to that one instead! LOL
Happy mylotting!
1 person likes this
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
21 Oct 09
Ah, I see what you mean. Thanks for the congratulations though I feel ashamed that you think their in order... well you know what I mean. The truth is I should have gotten my license long before but was too lazy / well upset at the government system to bother too much about it.
1 person likes this
@maezee (41997)
• United States
21 Oct 09
If you can make an appointment, you might as well. DMVs are a MESS! Every time I have to go..I also have to clear about 4-5 hours in my schedule due to the commute and the wait (the wait mostly lol). I never make appointments though because I never knew that you could actually make an appointment! Crazy.
2 people like this
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
23 Oct 09
I couldn't imagine being at the DMV that long nowadays. I'm pretty sure it was that way when I was growing up. Or maybe it just seemed that way. LOL
You should check out your local DMV online, if you haven't done so already. You never know it might save you a lot of time and hassle in the future.
Happy mylotting!
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
20 Oct 09
I don't know if our DMV even makes appointments. I have never had to wait more than 30 or 40 mins. In fact we were there today and we were finished in about 30 minutes. We were turning in some tags for a car my granddaughter is selling. They give out numbers for different needs. They have gotten the wait down from what it use to be.
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
21 Oct 09
Hi deebomb. I think it just depends on where you go. Some DMV's get more crowded than others...including the one that I'm going to. A it is it the closest one to my home, I go there, whenever I have to go to the DMV. Fortunately it's not that often! I don't like going there at all! 
LOL
Happy mylotting!
LOL
Happy mylotting!
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
10 Nov 09
For this case, the wait is definitely worth it. no?
I am still waiting for the day when I can go the the DMV equivalent to get my car registered. That is, when I can afford to own one!
I wouldn't mind one bit even if I have to wait a little longer to get my car!
Heh heh...
Yep, it's definitely worth it. Though I didn't have to wait long, after all. @ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
12 Nov 09
I heard of a lot of stories about the horrible waiting times at government agencies. Glad that you manage to zip thru yours to get your transaction quick!
For a steal like yours, I wouldn't be able to wait that long to get back into the car just to drive it around! 
1 person likes this
@kun2349 (23381)
• Singapore
21 Oct 09
Well i guess luck plays a part in it.. hehe ^_^ With appointment, it does not mean that we need not be waiting as long, because alot depends on the ones before us.. IF there's a few of them, who likes to delay their time or be late, they can be slotted in anytime, as long as the department likes it.. haha =D
BUt for those without appointment, there's no priviledge there, and no matter how long the wait is gonna be, there will be no cutting of queue.. hehe
1 person likes this
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
23 Oct 09
That true. They can be slotted in anytime.
That reminds me of the time I went to register a car a few years ago. I hadn't bothered to make an appointment, but because I had everything in order one of the employees had given me someone else's time slot. I had gotten in and out of there quickly because of it too. LOL
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
21 Oct 09
That's a great idea! I've never lived anywhere that allowed you to make an appointment at the DMV. It certainly would prevent long lines and impatience. It's a good thing you called, better than waiting for hours!
2 people like this
@syankee525 (6261)
• United States
21 Oct 09
where i live at we dont but when i do need to go i try to get up an hour before they open. because of the lines
2 people like this
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
22 Oct 09
The lines can be bad. Fortunately the lines themselves weren't bad when I went yesterday, though it was still crowded as all get out! Good thing I had an appointment or who knows how long I would have had to wait!
@pamalyons (27)
• United States
21 Oct 09
Here in Alabama we don't make appointments to visit the DMV. What I do is try to be the first one at the door before they open. That usually gets me in and gets me out quickly.
Pama
@tatazbrush (126)
• Indonesia
21 Oct 09
yes i always call DMV agent firs, make sure it nit close =)
2 people like this
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
22 Oct 09
Really depends on why I am going to the DMV. If it's to pay for license plate renewal stickers, we aren't able to make an appointment. We have to wait forever in line. Nice that you can make an appointment in your area. I do make an appointment when my car has to be inspected but that's with either a dealer or some place like Firestone. Only get it inspected every other year since I can pay for the stickers on my plates for 2 years.
1 person likes this
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
24 Oct 09
You mean to say that you go to the DMV to renew your stickers? 
I do my best to avoid doing that. I'd rather pay it by mail or online if I can.
I do my best to avoid doing that. I'd rather pay it by mail or online if I can. 
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
25 Oct 09
At ours, you take a number and you wait. There are no appointments. It's usually not too bad unless it's lunch time or they are short staffed. The best time to go is early morning when they open. Now that I live further away from the rat race the local RTA (Road Traffic Authority) is smaller but also not as busy.
@moonchild1au (6240)
• Australia
25 Oct 09
Hey, fellow Aussie, I think they are all like that here in Australia, I used to work for Queensland Transport which is QLD's version of the RTA...I have heard that VicRoads is the same lol.
2 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
21 Oct 09
No we don't make any appointments with the DMV. Didn't know you could! lol Maybe it's different here in NC or even VA when we lived there as well as TX and AR. LOL Yeah, with hubby being in the army, retired two years ago, we lived a number of places but we never made an appointment to DMV. We went in and waited in the long lines. YUCK! 
1 person likes this
@walijo2008 (4644)
• United States
23 Oct 09
I don't think I've ever had to go to the DMV for anything, when we register a car we just go the local Tag Agency, we only go to the DMV if we're trying to acquire a driver's license or some kind of State ID. At the Tag Agency they don't make appointments, you just go in, and sometimes you have to wait and sometimes you don't, just depends on how busy they are.
1 person likes this
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
25 Oct 09
No fair!
Can you tell that I don't like going to the DMV? LOL
Happy mylotting!
Can you tell that I don't like going to the DMV? LOL
Happy mylotting!
@hellcowboy (7374)
• United States
21 Oct 09
This is a good discussion and I am sure there are a lot of people who have to deal with the DMV whether they want to or not,since they are the ones who give out licenses and stuff like that,and it can be quite a hassle to have to sit and wait a long time just to get something done,and around here there are not a lot of people so you do not have to usually wait a long time,even though I do not like going to the DMV to do anything and I am not looking forward to having to go in the next few months,because my license is about expire in february and I am going to have to go and get it renewed,which is always fun lol and it always costs money,have a great day,good luck with your life,and all of your mylotting goals,and Happy Posting.
1 person likes this
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
21 Oct 09
Can't you just renew it online or by mail? If I could, I would just do one of those. But as I'm registering my vehicle for the first time I'm required to go down there. And the sooner I can get it done the better. That way I can get it out of the way!
Happy mylotting!
And the sooner I can get it done the better. That way I can get it out of the way!
Happy mylotting!1 person likes this
@hellcowboy (7374)
• United States
21 Oct 09
I think you can renew it online or by mail,but I think it takes twice as long to receive then if you go to the DMV itself,and yeah I know how you feel the sooner you get there and get it done,sooner you can leave and go on with your life,and accomplish things you want to do lol,have a great day,good luck with your life,and all of your mylotting goals, and Happy Posting.
1 person likes this
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
21 Oct 09
I try to do an appointment but it's mostly first come first serve here. There is alwasy a wait! I hate going and haven't had to go in a very long time but it's especially hard now. They also seem to be always understaffed for the crowd they have to handle.
1 person likes this
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
24 Oct 09
I feel the same way. I hate going too. Especially when I have to wait there for what feels like forever! At least that wasn't the case this time around. I was in and out of there in about 10 minutes!
Happy mylotting!
Happy mylotting!