The California DMV...bum Bum BUM!

Some of you may recall a few months ago that Evan and I tried to go to the DMV 3 times. Each time we went, over a course of 2 weeks, the computers were down. Then, Evan had an appointment to go a 4th time, but that morning my car died and he had to come rescue me from the side of the road and he couldn't make his DMV appt. So, needless to say, the DMV was kinda on our bad side. Well, finally I had my 4th DMV appointment this past Tuesday. Maybe I should back up. Appointment you say? Yup, here in jolly California, you can get appointments to the DMV. Because there are so many damn people here, they figured out that people didn't have a day to waste at the DMV and they set up the appointment system. I give it a thumbs up! And here's my DMV (in Van Nuys) experience.



• I scheduled my DMV appointment for 8am (the time they open) on Tuesday

• I arrive at the DMV at 745am to discover a line wrapped around the building.

• Because the DMV wasn't open yet, I just figured this was the line to get in the door.

• I had suspicions that this line wasn't for appointment holders, but I wasn't about to lose my place in line to find out.

• So I wait...around 805am the line starts moving...slowly.

• At 815am I make it to the door where an employee is handing out numbers.

• I tell said employee that I have an appointment. He says, "What are you waiting in line for? Just go through those other doors."

• I think there should be a sign that explains not to wait in line if you have an appt, but nonetheless I merrily step out of line, pass all the suckers still waiting outside and head in.

• Lo and behold, there is a little sign inside that says "Appointments Only" right next to one that says "No Appointments" (with the line wrapped around the building). So I bounce right up to the Appointment counter because no one else is there.

• I explain that I'm there to transfer my out of state license. He hands me a form to fill out and attaches a number to my form.

• I turn around to discover that every chair and every bit of counter space to fill out forms is taken…or completely over crowded. Luckily I had my handy dandy planner and used it to fill out the form while kinda standing in the way of everyone else.

• I get as far as filling out my address and my number is called. Sweet! Off to the desk I go. I tell the lady I’m not done filling things out so she says just fill it out here and I’ll wait. Ok cool.

• So I fill out the form and I was writing so fast that I can’t guarantee that I didn’t accidentally check Republican in the voter registration box and I hand it in.

• She asks for my passport and CO license, I take an eye exam, pay $31 and I was sent to get my picture taken.

• I was shocked to discover that no one else was in line at the camera so I stepped right up, said cheese and that was done.

• Then, it was time to take the written test and this is where it gets difficult.

• It is now 830am. The DMV website has 5 practice tests to help you prepare for the written exam. Well, they didn’t do a damn bit of good. The test was HARD and I’ve been driving for a decade now!

• As a new CA driver, I could only miss 6 out of 30 questions and still pass. You really have to read the test carefully because the multiple choice answers are all worded to sound correct. The test takes me a good 40 minutes to complete and double check.

• So now I’m waiting in line to have the test graded. There are 2 people in front of me. 1st guy: Misses so many on the first side of the test that the guy doesn’t even grade the rest – FAIL. The girl right in front of me: Misses 8 questions – FAIL. Now it’s my turn and I’m nervous. If you fail the written test you have to come back the next day to take it again. I only miss 3!! I don’t know how that happened, but I guess I’m a lucky guesser!!

• The guy prints out my temporary license, punches a hole in my CO one and off I go! I step out of the DMV which is CRAWLING with people and still has a line wrapped around the building at 915am.


SUCCESS! Now of course I still have to go back one more time to register my car, but that’s just paperwork. What I can’t understand is why hundreds of people don’t try to get appointments! It’s not hard, just go to the website, select a date and time and that’s it. Maybe people just really like spending time at the DMV out here. I’m still kind of amazed that it only took me an hour considering all the horror stories I’ve heard. Hooray for me!