Technical Todays trip to the DMV

If you are anything like me you would rather have a root canal that go to the DMV because no matter what paper work you have it's never what they want to see.

Today was no different with the exception of me try to transfer the registration of my 1957 Shasta camper into my name.

I walked in the door and was immediately greeted with the typical long line just to talk to the lady who is there to herd the crowd and hand you more paper work to go along with all you are told to bring.

I will shorten the story of how long it took for them to call out my assigned number, suffice to say I watched the hands of the clock sweep around 60 timed for one full revolution.

Once I get to the assigned window I was surprised to encounter a lady with a smile and apology for it taking so long,I thought to myself this is going to be a smooth transaction as I was handing her the stack of papers.

She said,I have never heard of a 1957 Shasta and I replied they have been around since the 50's and went out of business in the late 70's or early 80's but have started making them again.

She then said,it's strange I have been working here since 79 and I just have never heard of one.

She then ask me how many miles were on it,I replied,I don't have a clue and then she dropped the bomb and ask does it not have a odometer?

I started laughing and said,it's not a car it's a camper and then we both had a good laugh,in fact that might be the first time I left the DMV laughing instead of crying!HRP

 

I feel your pain! I can't tell you how many times, here in NC as well as back in Mass, that I would have preferred the root canal to dealing with the idiots that I have run into in either place. Must be some job requirement or something!

 

I stop in and if the line is long, I ask what day & time of day is usually the least line then come back

 

Tuesday IS the short line day! HRP

 

Danny.
I use a DMV that is about 20 minutes away instead of the one in my town. The staff there are friendly and always helpful, as opposed to snarly and rude. Plus there is seldom more than a half dozen people in line. My local office usually has two lines wrapped around the building and the staff acts like you are a convicted felon and they are the guards. But for most things I use AAA, a lot less heartburn.

 

Here in Jacksonville, Fl. you can actually make an appointment at the DMV. It makes for almost a pleasant experience.

 

We don't normally deal with the DMV here, we got to one of the private license offices that are fully tied in with the state or the county court house.
Had an old biddy at the court house decide she was going to give me a hard time one day and the county clerk was standing there and just told her to go get lost and she took care of me herself.
Locally the owner of the private office I go to is one of the sharpest brains on license and title issues I have ever met. He won't cheat for you but he knows the answers or knows who to call to get the right answer. Trains his clerks well too as they handle things smoothly.

 

Calif DMVs are hellish. (Lived in so many towns, cities and counties I can vouch!)
Lately, I looked it up on my PC and found a number to call for an appointment. Tried it, and was awarded a time: 2 P.M. Thursday.
There are 2 lines for car reg., the one on the right goes out the door and around the building.
The one on the left had 4 ahead of me, so I braved the dirty looks from the right, and made my way to the front.
FIVE MINUTES! ...and I was seated at the counter, 15 minutes more and I got waited on, and was out the door.
A guy in the long line asked how I went to the front. "WWW.CADMV.GOV," I told him. "Make an appointment!"
Couple other guys said something, but I responded: "Hey...That line should be on the LEFT, for all the complainers here..."
Nobody got it...

 

Why I use A.A.A. Hardly a line.

 

This must be universal.
About 25 years ago I tried to avoid the agro, so I called the local office, told them what I wanted to do and asked "Exactly what paperwork do I have to bring?" So the lady told me. And I asked again "O.K., are you sure that's everything?" I repeated the list back to her. "Nothing more?" "No sir, that's all we need."

So I showed up the next day with my folder full of documents, waited...waited...got served and guess what?

 

In Washington state we have the Department of Licensing where we go and register/add/delete/license our cars. All drivers license renewals are handled in a separate location...PLUS all drivers tests are now preformed through private (state certified) driving schools. As complicated as that sounds, I can walk in and title a car in less that 15 minutes typically. And there is a pot store next door. Woo Hoo!

 

Vermont was quick and easy. One form plus a title or bill of sale . If purchased out of state local PD had a place on the form to varify the serial number.

 

I was there a few weeks to put my OT Malibu in my name. I was there 45 minutes.. and yes my papers were in order! Last year same place, I registered my Ford with a Colorado title. 3 of them, aka the Witches of Eastwick... took the title behind closed doors and spent a 1/2 hour. Maybe they were having coffee.

 

Id say the NY DMV is about the only thing I like about the state government.Straight forward if you have things in order. Lost registrations on pre 74 are easy. Notarized bill of sale,weight slip on campers and trailers,boats. Transfer from other state on cars and trucks, notarized bill of sale,title or registration.
Besides the long wait here and there,its easy as long as you are not pulling a fast one.They can spot that a mile away and then its all on you.

 

here in pensacola i drive 25 miles north to mileno the ladies there have been there 20 + yrs and are very helpful and freindly

 

A system that's antiquated at best. A prime example of a procedure that needs to be standardized and regulated. Good service shouldn't depend on what state you live in or the mood of a clerk, who also lacks knowledge.

 

Uhhhh, the clerk came out, handed you a cold beer, a Playboy and gave you fellatio????

 

No, not that friendly.
Of course I had a missing item. Despite my protests that I had spoken to someone there and that I did indeed have everything I was told to bring, that was just too bad. So I had to leave and return again another day. Naturally, I had no faith that even this time all would be in order. Sometimes I think they just make shit up to be difficult. But they hold the power.

 

In Illinois they are closed on Mondays, not just Holidays but every Monday. Guess when I always end up going? Then when you go back and stand in the wrong line only to be told afterwards that they need something you didn't bring and when you return for the 3rd time they won't accept CA$H! How many times must you pay tax on a used car?

 

Yep. Me too!

 

Effing State of Wisconsin wouldn't take a Visa card the last time I was at the DOT. Discover or Mastercard only, reason being those two give the state a kickback and Visa won't.

 

Isn't that Molino ? How is highway 29 these days?

An ex- Pensacola resident

 

I agree - about the one and only government unit that works in NYS and the employees are usually helpful & friendly

 

I must be living large. Except for an all expenses paid, one year, vacation to South East Asia, I've lived in California for almost 70 years. I've been to the DMV more than a few times. I have never experienced any drama that wasn't, for the most part, my doing. I don't care much for the lines, but you can get appointments that cut the wait down considerably. The longest that I've ever waited, without an appointment was, maybe, an hour. I always take a crossword puzzle and a pen. The upside of the wait is, there are always plenty of people to mock. It can be a circus

 

NY DMV has come a long way. They had one office in Babylon Village, think you had to be over 80 to work there. I had problems there and bailed out before I killed someone. Then I heard of a new one in Bay Shore, like night and day, clean, bright and the people were nice. Agree that any examiner can spot a bullshit deal a mile away.

 

Danny. I hear you about the D.M.V. When I lived back in N.J. there were always long lines and the people behind the glass were always mean. I once didn't have enough $$$ to reg. a 55 buick back in N.J. so they kept the paper work. I went back the next day and they couldn't find it .It took half a day to straighten it out!!! There was also state inspection. Here in East T.N. if you are renewing your tags its just $24.00 and there is no state inspection. I think in west T.N. there is state inspection. I don't miss any of it back there. Bruce.

 

never could spell they are getting ready to repave 29 from 9 mile north to molino

 

Last time I went to the DMV I got one of their arbitrary alpha-numeric "place in line" slips. I look up and see that in my letter category, I have only one person ahead of me. Lucky me, right? NO! They called every letter in the alphabet BUT mine. One hour + wait.

 

I've been helping a young family member apply and test for his first license. First, the written test took 2 visits because said young person wasn't aware and wasn't informed that there was a time limit for each question. He skipped some tougher ones and planned to go back at the end. But guess what? Automatic fail! So it was "come back another day". (By the way, here, they're not called "learner's permit" anymore. It's an actual license with the photo and everything, comes later in the mail, but it states there must be an over 21 license holder also in the vehicle. Same as always, just the name has been changed.) At that time, we pointedly asked about the behind-the-wheel test and were told "Come early and stand in line for your turn".

So after a few weeks we're back for the big day, and guess what? No more walk-ins for road testing. You have to make an appointment on-line. And we had to return home to do that. The clerk couldn't help us do it while we were standing right there.

Our local DOT office was build a while back when the population was maybe a third or less of what it is now. So we have the same old 10 chairs in the waiting area and 50 people in line all the time. The county registration and tax office is a little better, smoother. The one wrinkle though, they add on any credit card fees to your bill even though it's against the law for all other business entities to do so. What's good for the goose is NOT good for the gander.

 

Here, two doors north of hell, the DMV is air conditioned. Most of my cars are not.
I take my book, and its forced relaxation.
When the idiot neighbor decided I didn't live up to his standards and everything should have current registration, I went to the satellite private DMV lady. In, out, 1 hour, 9 cars registered, $350.00. I was very pleased.