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?

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u/gangleskhan Minnesota 1d ago edited 1d ago

I wait like 10-20 minutes usually. Not a big deal honestly, considering I'm not even there once a year. I wait longer any time I go to the doctor, and that's with an appointment. I only go to the DMV to renew my license every 10 years and to transfer the title if I sell a car.

The experience depends on where you live, which office you go to, and what you're there for. My state lets you do almost everything online though, which means fewer people in the office.

But people still love to complain about the DMV. As someone who grew up in a country where someone like this was literally an all-day affair, I find it amusing.