DMV appointments not easy to get for holidays, new year
QI have been trying to help my son get an appointment at any DMV in the Bay Area for his behind-the-wheel test when he’s home for the holidays from college from Dec. 15 through Jan. 14.
Despite checking daily for the last two weeks, the earliest appointment at a Bay Area DMV seems to be in early February. We looked at every office from Santa Rosa to Fairfield to Tracy to Hollister to Capitola. None have any appointments earlier than February.
We ended up taking an appointment in Santa Rosa for Feb. 6, but will continue to keep looking. Is this normal? Thank you for any light you can cast on this mystery. — Krishnakumar Sriramadhesikan, Sunnyvale
AAnother parent with a child eager to be independent behind the wheel is also nervous about the same thing.
QMy question is regarding the DMV and getting behind-thewheel appointments. My daughter recently turned 16 and is ready to take the driving test. Online appointments are not available for minors but instead require a phone call. After a minimum of 20 minutes on hold, I’m told there is no test availability. Wait, what? What does that mean?
It means appointments can be made up to 90 days in the future, but all time slots at DMVs within a reasonable radius are completely booked for 90 days out. But, they say, I can call again in hopes of snagging any cancellations!
Oh, and the rep can’t look for open appointment slots at multiple sites all at once, but instead can only check each DMV location as the customer requests that it be checked. Redwood City? No? Daly City? No dice? Sunnyvale? Oh, no.
After a few rounds of this, I was able to get an appointment 90 days out — in San Jose. We live in San Mateo and she’s never driven in San Jose. My daughter’s friend ended up going to Bakersfield to take her test.
I’m fine with waiting 90 days but the lack of transparency and archaic system of having to call repeatedly is a huge waste of time. All told, I wasted probably four to five hours on hold to get a less than ideal outcome. Why is this is so convoluted? — Ruth Kunney, San Mateo
AA couple of issues. The DMV says you are mistaken about limitations on who can schedule an appointment online.
Anyone can schedule an appointment for a driving test using its online services. For those using the DMV call center to make an appointment, the system it uses does not have a feature that allows employees to search multiple offices simultaneously for the first available appointment. However, when using the online tool to select your preferred appointment location/office, the next available appointments at the two nearest offices will also be listed.
The main lesson: Plan far ahead.