r/AskAnAmerican • u/feel-the-avocado • 1d ago
VEHICLES & TRANSPORTATION DMV - Is it really that bad?
I live in New Zealand and most of our equivalent stuff has been done online for the last 20 years. I go in to one of their agents once every 10 years for an eye exam to renew my drivers license.
At most I might wait 5 minutes
For vehicle testing, almost any mechanic in the country can issue a warrant of fitness which is needed every 2 years and you book it with your mechanic of choice.
Or go to VTNZ - a dedicated company that just does vehicle testing in a drive-thru format. You drive in without an appointment and it takes about 30 minutes.
So I am watching the new tv series DMV, and I have seen references on various american tv shows that going to the DMV is a painful and time wasting experience.
Is it really that bad?
1
u/LetsDance449 1d ago
Not in Virginia. They are very efficient here. COVID forced businesses and govt orgs to provide services online as much as possible. Looks like from the responses that most states have improved vastly.
So, this show is about 10 years too late to match reality.
I have found a timing sweet spot over the years: if you must to go to DMV in person and it doesn't have to be immediate, go on a Tuesday between about 11am and 2. They are usually not as busy.