Submitted by erichinnw t3_11dea05 in washingtondc
joymarie21 t1_ja84ey2 wrote
Moving a lot of the annoying bureaucracy online has been so great. I just paid my auto registration/inspection fee/neighborhood parking pass on line and got my registration card and sticker in the mail in a few days. I remember when you had to spend at least half a day at the DMV to do anything.
I had to go there in person to the DMV a couple of years ago to update my license to a real ID and it wasn't bad at all. Waited less than an hour, all the employees were helpful and cheery. The DMV used to suck so bad.
london_toby t1_ja85qw8 wrote
My biggest surprise of moving to DC? How nice the people working at DMV are! And efficient! I went to two locations for different issues: taking driving test, getting my license, registering out of state car etc and everyone was so nice and helpful. And know what they are doing! Unlike NYC DMV …
1800TurdFerguson t1_ja88lnv wrote
That’s a relatively recent development…LOL
The DMV was terrible for quite a few years after I moved here. They lost a copy of my car title when I paid it off, which caused a months-long stand-off between the finance company and the DMV.
Snow_source t1_ja9nttx wrote
> The DMV was terrible for quite a few years after I moved here.
It highly depends on the service center.
The one off Rhode Island Ave?
They lied straight to my face about what documents they needed to register my out-of-state car. I literally pulled out the lady's business card the next visit and said "Is this you? I talked to you yesterday and this is what you told me I needed."
She suddenly remembered me and registered my car.
The one in Georgetown? I was in and out in 30 min. No issues.
1800TurdFerguson t1_ja9qw6q wrote
It was the one in Georgetown that lost my title.
I started going to the RI Ave DMV sometime after 2010, and they got significantly better as the decade wore on.
joymarie21 t1_ja8ei8y wrote
Absolutely, it was terrible. I went to renew my license once and at the time I wore contacts with one eye corrected to see distance and one less corrected for close up. I failed the eye test. I went home, got my glasses, came back, got back in line, waited hours, and passed the test. It took a ridiculous amount of time and two managers to override the failed eye test and approve my license. Sort of my fault, but a crazy amount of time and work to fix.
CandyCaneCrisp t1_ja96jrl wrote
My mom did the one contact thing and it played hell with her depth perception, which led to her being injured. Do you have the same problem?
joymarie21 t1_ja97ofw wrote
I did it for years and had no issues. I had to give up contacts though due to dry eyes.
9throwaway2 t1_ja9jdv8 wrote
I know! I showed up with my paperwork and was out with in 15 minutes. I had so much free time I ended up going to TJ max next door and wasting money on a cat tree. My cat did not like that and ripped it all up. So the efficient DMV actually cost me money.
Ok_Culture_3621 t1_ja99fed wrote
Same experience here. I managed to get one of last quick appointments when I moved here in 2020 and no one acted like they quietly debating on whether or not they could get away with killing me. Which has been more my experience in the five other states I’ve lived in.
thekalby t1_jab6cbv wrote
I felt the same way when I went and I thought it was just me? Big crowd, but I was still in and out in under 20 min and everyone I interacted with was super nice and helpful! What a difference from NJ.
Alex3M3TI8 t1_ja8vkc2 wrote
We even have a self service emissions inspection kiosk which is basically open 24-7.
https://dmv.dc.gov/page/self-service-vehicle-emissions-inspection-kiosk
No more trying to beat the line at Half Street SW.
Formergr t1_ja98ivj wrote
Wow, I had no idea!! My inspection is due end of the month and I've been trying to figure out when to shoehorn in a visit to Half Street and fight the line before then.
The info at the link isn't too explicit.
~~If I already renewed my registration (which I did, got new sticker a couple weeks ago), this included the cost of inspection, right? Even if I didn't select that anywhere on an online menu when I renewed my registration?
If so, I just roll up to that kiosk, do the thing, and they'll somehow know and send me a new sticker?~~
Sorry, hate to hit you with questions, but the link is less than forthcoming on the details...
ETA: I just looked it up on Google Maps to get the drive time, and some of the reviews included enough info to answer my questions: >The on screen prompts are easy to follow and a temporary inspection sticker will print for you while one gets sent to your address in the mail.
Alex3M3TI8 t1_ja9v17b wrote
Yup! I used it the about a month ago for registration renewal on a car with the necessary plug (whatever that thing is that they plug into, I have no idea). It looks like it is in the parking lot of a school building, which I think it is.
You drive up, and the instructions on the screen are pretty comprehensible. You run your car for a few minutes and it was pretty painless and I didn't need amazing automotive skills to understand and get it done.
The registration sticker arrived in my mailbox a little while later. Super easy and Covid-Approved!
NoNoNext t1_ja8dlzu wrote
I had to go to the DMV a few months ago, and even though I dreaded the wait times, it was actually a super quick and pleasant experience. They’ve really improved things, even my first visit in 2015 wasn’t terrible. I’m also a fan of the DIY inspection kiosks they’ve set up - I no longer have to go to Half St on the weekend and wait behind dozens of cars.
Pipes_of_Pan t1_jaae3wj wrote
Amen. The difference between sitting in a line of cars around the block for five+ hours to get inspected vs. the four minutes it takes today is almost too much to believe. The DMV and inspection station have had a remarkable improvement and deserve a ton of credit.
Praxiscat t1_jaauxs4 wrote
It was never really that bad in DC. In fact DC always had one of the more painless DMVs. At least compared to where I came from in Illinois.
joymarie21 t1_jaazasl wrote
I'm guessing you haven't been here that long. It was bad.
Praxiscat t1_jaazjs0 wrote
I have been here for 16 years. So it's been awhile. I have never experienced any problems with the DMV.
joymarie21 t1_jaazms1 wrote
I've been here 30. It was bad.
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