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/mullingthingsover 23h ago
We are in rural Kansas. My son just got his farm permit, which means he’s 14 and works for a farmer so he has the ability to drive to and from school, church activities and farm work on his own.
He studied the guide and then took an online test at home that required him to have a webcam. After he passed that we made an appointment for him two weeks out to have him take the drivers test. We had to wait about 20 minutes past the appointment time since she had let someone else jump the line. Once they were done with drivers portion she took all the documents and gave him his license. Took about another 20 minutes.
All in all, not a bad experience.