Nine-hour DMV wait leaves woman on ‘verge of tears’
Real ID demand means increased staffing is in the works.
QIsn’t there be a better way to renew your license and get a REAL ID from the DMV without waiting for hours even with an appointment? — Eve White, San Jose
AThe wait should change. The DMV hired 330 new employees in January before Real ID began and will add up to 715 more over the next year or so. Starting in July, 43 offices will be open on the first and third Saturday of each month from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Now to a woman who left the DMV on “the verge of tears.”
QI feel scarred and robbed of an entire day by having to wait at the Los Gatos DMV for nine hours and still having to go back the next day to complete a halfhour transaction.
I tried getting an appointment, but the earliest to be had was July 5. I needed my license renewed before the end of June. What else could I do but show up for the non-appointment line at 8 a.m. behind 55 others? It took us two hours to get to the front door.
Nobody mentioned that we might as well just leave for six hours, then come back and wait for our number to be called. There was only one bathroom (single stall room) working. Food and drink are not allowed inside the building. We all thought we would be out by noon. Ha!
By 4:15 p.m., the DMV had called up only 33 of the original 56 people in line. Of the 20 windows at the Los Gatos office, less then half were manned. There were signs that written tests would not be allowed after 4:30 p.m. I was supposed to take a written test.
At 5 p.m. a lady called out that the front doors would be closed and locked. There would be no in-and-out privileges. If you left, you left with nothing. There was no other explanation. My number was finally called at 5:20 p.m. My signature was wobbly because I hadn’t eaten all day. I was steamed after nineplus hours of butt-numbing waiting.
They told me that I would have to come back to take the written test later because it was now after 4:30, making it sound like I hadn’t arrived in time. It was their fault that I didn’t make it to the counter by 4:30, not mine.
I have not exaggerated anything in this miserable saga. Gary, what do we do? I never want to go through such an abysmal waste of time ever again, or have anyone else have to. — Betty Horner
AI understand. Average waits are five hours.
Here’s what I recommend. Go to REALID. dmv.ca which has a fact sheet and a list of documents you will need. Then make a appointment at dmv.ca.gov or call 800777-0133.
You can do so 90 days before you need it.