Very nice representatives and well organized even with pandemic. It only took me 30 minutes to get a drivers license.

We're getting a new registration changing registration from Virginia to california but the people inside told us that we don't need to line anymore just go to the window 16 no need to line but once we're in window 16 the guy on the front tell us we need to line we waited on the vehicle inspection line and we line again this people is uneducated rude people close or change your stuff that is more organize read more

I came to the DMV to get a drivers license and the new real ID. I made an appointment weeks out, I went inside before my appointment, got in the appt line and got my paperwork. I spend a little under 2 hours. It was super packed so your best bet is to make an appointment and stay calm while you're there. Be nice to the workers and they'll be nice back Update: I did my behind-the-wheel test in the morning, it's best if you make an appointment! It's worth waiting for the day to come then waiting in line. Make an appointment and everything goes by so much smoother, and make it in the morning because chances are they won't be rude. Be polite and you will get politeness back. read more

Super busy place and they don't have the machine that allows you to get your registration yourself. They get 3 stars because parking is okay and although the guy at the entrance counter was a prick, the lady that called out my number was really nice and helpful. read more

Worst dmv i have ever been to. Always, everything takes way too long. Avoid this one if you

This place is terrible, their employees are unclear on where you need to check in. And if you ask questions even if polite they are extremely rude to you. They treat their customer like shit, even though without them they wouldn't have a paycheck. If I could give them zero stars I would. I have AAA just so I can avoid this place, to bad AAA doesn't do license. I pride myself on good customer service and this place has none. read more

After waiting over six months for a notice that my plates were ready, I never got one, so I called and waited over an hour on hold before they finally told me they were there! Then waited two and a half hours at the dmv (on Normal St.) beginning with a line that wrapped around the building, but had to finally leave, without hearing my number, because I had to go to work. Never got my task done there. Over 6 windows with no clerks! What the hell?! Do they do this on purpose? You would think in this day and age they'd have much better service. The Clairemont dmv is better, I think, and AAA has a lot of dmv services there, too. Do not go to this dmv if you don't have to! Terrible service! read more

DMV - Where are all the clerks? Over six unattended windows for at least a half hour with a room full of unhappy people waiting and waiting! - Departments of Motor Vehicles Near Me - San Diego, California

Eh. The appt system was great. Love having no wait! They saw us right on time and we were in and out fast. But don't show up early thinking you will be seen early. You won't! They tell you to come back. My daughter did not pass the behind the wheel test here. I don't recommend this location for the behind the wheel test if you don't know area super well. Road paintings faded/hard to see. Especially in rain! Lots of pedestrians and bike riders. The guy my daughter got was cranky and hates his job... (I would too!). I had read to ask any questions before the test and she simply asked if would be docked points for driving below speed limit due to poor weather conditions. He told her she isn't allowed to ask that. He failed her for not looking over right shoulder before turning right in the right lane. And also because she went into bike lane some to make turn. However my daughter said he told her to turn too late because he was looking down at his clipboard. I wasn't there but that's what she said! read more

This is worst example of customer service I have been WAITING 3hrs from the time I arrived at 10:10 just to renew license picture and fingerprint only, no test. Not enough seats people sitting on the floor only to be told they can't sit on the floor. Having appt would not have made a difference they were calling 11:00a appts at 12:30. They don't give a DAMN because they know your trapped gotta get it done. read more

What?! 4 stars for the DMV? Farley are you CRAZY? Not really, no. But let my experience do the talking. First of all that whole appointments made ahead of time thing is a crock of shit. With the California Government resorting to furloughs and closing down the DMV's, all of them, the first and third Friday of every month, it has made people make more appointments online or over the phone. The problem with that is that there is now a 30+ day waiting period. So unless you KNOW you will be hitting up the DMV over a month from now, then don't even bother. My license just expired a few days ago on my Birthday so I had to go in. Made it to the DMV around 8:20am, 20 minutes after opening and there was already a line of about 50-60 people. Fuck. Cell phone texting how do I love thee? Next I get in and get my number and head to sit down. Now HERE is where my experience turned around. First of all there was plenty of seating, and I was able to fill out my change of address and read like half the manual waiting for my turn. Which was about another 20 minutes I guess. The gal I got, Vickie, was super nice, very easy to talk to and got me moving over to the photo guy quickly. Things backed up a little with the photo guy, but even he was in good spirits and he had an old lady who could barely stand cut in front of me. Being a gentleman I did not mind, in fact I appreciated that he had done this nice thing for her. Took my test and dropped it back off with Vickie who had me graded and had my temp license in hand in another 10 minutes. All in all I was at the DMV for just about an hour and thirty minutes this morning. But it was these nice people who made it not a complete waste of my time, and I even flirted with a few of the ladies in my area. Hey, get in where you can fit in son. read more

My DMV experience with this DMV as compared to other DMV locations in all of SoCal is pretty good when you can be clear as to what you need done and follow the flow of the take a ticket system they have going on. The people here were much more friendlier than any other DMV in SoCal I've been to (inlcuding SaMo which says a lot for this DMV). +1 for friendliness +1 for a great website with tons of pre-in person resources +1 for always getting out of there within 30 minutes due to quickness of CS Reps when I get my turn (usually takes 5 minutes for me at the registration line, maybe 15 or so at the driver's line depending on what I need to do) +1 for easy acccesibility to freeways and transit and for easy parking when you get there +1 for keeping pamplets, reading materials always in stock - great for making self service much easier Now for the negs: -1 for the terrible seating (these DMVs, not just this one, but all of them for that matter have the same decor from probably since the 80s - so where is our vehicle taxes going exactly? LOL) Final verdict: 4 stars for this particular location. After reading previous reviews...it is clear I must mention the tricks of the trade to getting in and out of the DMV quickly (well at least any DMV in Southern California). 1. Go online first and see what you need. Plenty of answers are on their main website that are very no brainer. 2. Make a reservation - plan ahead at least a month - folks - this where user error comes into play and how the lines go down the block. The Saturday hours are also listed by location on the website as well as the clock (if they have it set up again) for how long the wait in line is online. 3. Be clear as to what you need done. If you need multiple things done, make sure to have all your documents prepared and filled out in advance. Or at least grab them when you get there while waiting in the first line to fill out and show the first rep what you have in case you are missing something. Either you are there for registration purposes (renewing, getting stickers, applying your vehicle for new reg, whatever) or for driving (license renewals, taking tests, etc). Going online is the best way to determine what you will need. 4. Make sure you bring the documents needed to show proof such as insurance, id, social, whatever. Again, check online to see what you need for each task. 5. When you make a reservation make sure you do it around a time when many others may not be going to the DMV. I.e. User error = reserving appointments around lunchtime midday or on Saturdays after the first hour of the DMV being open, or after 4pm on weekdays. Also arrive 15 minutes earlier to accomodate the first line (this is the entrance line to determine which department to send you to), if you have an appointment go directly to the front to let them know you have an appointment reserved, they will give your ticket number (one of the Fs or Gs if I remember correctly, they could have switched the system around since the last time). Last time I made a reservation I set it for 2pm on a Tuesday, sure I had to take off from work, but it serious was only for an hour so it become my lunch break including the time it took to get to the DMV and back because I had made the appointment when the DMV wasn't packed, and I showed up 15 minutes early. I ended up getting out of the DMV 5 minutes before my actual appointment time. 6. And finally when PAY ATTENTION WHEN YOUR NUMBER IS CALLED. Bring a book or sudoku puzzle or something. But you should be able to be close enough to where the desk number is when they call your number. If you are outside on a cell phone and you miss it by the third call - SOL - you have to start over. Now with that being said, this is a government institution with TONS of patronage on a daily basis with people who hate working for the DMV because of how lousy it's set up. So there is always going to be a line, but if people are smart and plan ahead you could knock off 2 hours of wait time yourself. If you can do it online - do it. read more

The DMV is Sofa King We Todd Ed(say it fast). I got a letter from DMV telling me I didn't have proof of insurance on file and my registration would be suspended on my Cadillac. I've had insurance with no lapse since I bought the car, so I'm kind of irritated. So I go stand in the stupid line at the most retarded of all DMV's, (ab)Normal Street. I show them my insurance, but they tell me it's not in the computer and they can't help me. I ask them to put it in the computer, but they say they can't. I call my insurance guy and he faxes it to them. They say they still can't put it in the computer. They give me a number for the CA vehicle registration insurance verification to call and prove I have insurance. So I call the number and I'm told I have to have my ins. guy fax it to them and pay them $14 and then be punished(for their incompetence of not knowing I had insurance) by having to wait 3 days to be legal. Fuck them, I drove the whole time. So 6 months later I get a letter saying to come pick up my vanity plates. I go in to DMV and they tell me I can't have my plates because the cars reg. is still suspended. I show them my insurance and offer to pay whatever they need. Nope, I get the same number to call and deal with more retards. So I call up my insurance guy and plead with him to figure out why the DMV is so retarded. He tells me he can't figure it out. So today I call the number for the verification people again. They tell me the same thing they told me 6 months ago when I gave them my credit card then. Whatever, I give it to them again for $14 and another 3 days punishment(whatever, I've waited over 6 months, another 3 days of illegal driving won't hurt me). So hopefully next week when I go into DMV, they'll give me my stupid plates. Why do DMV employees complain about being under paid? Because all they deserve is minimum wage. They are nasty, incompetent turds(except for a small percentage of genuine, sincere people that have my sympathy for having to deal with that disgusting place). Ah, I feel better all ready. read more

I have been to this DMV locaton three times. The first time was on a Thursday afternoon and I waited in line for nearly two hours. Not wanting to experience the torture of waiting in line again, my next two visits were by way of an appointment. Let me tell ya, the appointment system will save you a lot of time and headaches. My first appointment was when I had to renew my vehicle registration; I was in and out within 15 minutes. My second appointment was for my Driver's license renewal; I wasn't finished quite as fast as I had to take a written quiz in order to receive my new license. That procedure took about an hour, not including filling out paperwork and waiting about 15 minutes for my number to be called. Standard boring stuff to expect while waiting at the DMV. I have seen some interesting people here though. During my first trip I saw one black teenage girl arguing with her mother about her baby daddy or something right outside the facility. Embarrassing but hilarious nonetheless. On that same day I also saw a couple just totally making out in the DMV line in public, in front of children. Really? Save that stuff for the bedroom! And at my latest visit there was a young rough looking hispanic women that was sitting next to me. I was minding my own business until she started to talk to me. We engaged in normal light conversation and then the topic somehow veered off into how she was shot by gang members when she was nine years old. She even showed the wound to me. And then she started to tell personal stories about her life and how bad it was until I was called to take the written test (Thank God!!!). It did make the time fly during my wait but the thought of someone revealing such personal information to a complete stranger kind of creeped me out. Well, enough of that....the employees here seem to be more upbeat and courteous in the morning rather than the afternoon when they are ready to get off work and go home. I couldn't blame them since that have to deal with all types of people for hours and hours with little or no breaks. The lines seem to be shorter early in the morning immediately after opening based upon my observations from my last two appointments. Check their hours online because they tend to be closed on some Fridays. read more

Torn between 3 and 4 stars. I know it's my responsibility as a California citizen to hate the DMV. And although I never LIKE coming here, my several visits have not been extremely unpleasant at all. First of all, if you want to do anything other than get a renewed DL/ID, you should definitely check into getting AAA. You'll never have to wait in as long a line as you do here, and AAA offices are much more pleasant. That being said, I came in here because i'm an idiot and have lost my ID several times in the past so I needed to get a new one. PRO TIP: Always try to make an appointment online. You will save so much time and stress. If you know something is coming up(registration renewal, tags, etc.) , make the appointment a month in advance because the slots fill up FAST. Although most employees don't seem ecstatic to be there, all my interactions have been fairly short and easy. Make sure you know what you're doing and what you'll need to bring before coming in as to avoid confusion or showing up and having to come back because you forgot something. As of July 1st, 2016, if you are applying for a NEW CA ID/DL (New residents only, not applicable to residents renewing ID/DL) you need to bring two forms as proof of residency or they will not take you. I was only here for about an hour at my last visit and heard at least 3 people upset that they didn't know, and didn't bring any proof of residency. Must be frustrating. New ID/DL costs $28. As I said, make sure you know what you need and what you're doing before your visit, and schedule an appointment online. Doing both of those things will save you a lot of time and headache when coming into the dreaded dmv! read more

DEFINITELY make an appointment online. I have AAA so I only have to go to the DMV for a very limited amount of items. Recently I needed to go for my Motorcycle learners permit. I was in and out in 30 minutes. That included filling out the parer work, taking the written test (2 times), taking a new picture and leaving with a smile on my face and my Motorcycle learners permit in my hand!!! read more

What happens when your wallet is stolen? You end up at the dmv for a new license. No one wants to be at the dmv I'll tell you that! There are only a few locations left in San Diego and millions of people in San Diego Which doesn't add up right? Be patient when you come here cause it will be a while. You can't have food or brings so don't think about brining a coffee to stay awake. They only take cash, Check and debit care just an FYI. I know California is hurting for money but they could at least get some bathrooms that work. Of course no one comes here cause they want to but everyone has to so I guess you can try to enjoy it? Only thing I do have to say is the lady at the front desk who was checking people in was very friendly and patient! That is a rough job and oh don't go outside cause if you miss your number you miss your place in line. read more

I have lived in a few cities around this mighty United States and no where have I experienced a worse DMV. It's like a "choose your own adventure" where you start at line 1 and they send you to line 4 then 22 then 17 then back to 4...and then you fall into a dark chasm and have to start back in line 1. A few tips if you MUST go here: 1) Make an appointment if you can! It'll be for next month but if you plan ahead you save SO much time. You get to skip line 1 (the info desk) and go straight to line 22 for check-in. 2) Check on-line before you go to make sure you have all the correct documentation for the purpose of your visit. 3) Go to your local AAA office (if you're a member) to skip the DMV altogether and get your car registration/transfer/plates/whatever there (they don't do driver's licenses there yet tho, boo). 4) Read the driver's manual before you go if you're needing a new CA DL...I (very surprisingly) had to take the test and failed the first time. Not cool. read more

If I could rate zero or negatively I would. LISA IS THE RUDEST AGENT/SERVICE PERSON I HAVE DEALT W/ IN MY LIFE! I WATCHED HER IN FRONT BE RUDE TO MULTIPLE CUSTOMERS BEFORE ME. It's not also polite to tell the next customer my information about what happened. I was polite the whole time until I walked out and asked for her name to let her know she was very rude. I don't like complaining but I will NEVER come to this DMV again. I get what I need to do as far as next steps but there's no need to be rude and shut me out before I could finish asking my question. I wasn't mad about my situation I was upset about her attitude. I can't believe how disrespectful she is and how she's allowed to have a job servicing customers with that type of non caring rude attitude. It's really ruined my day and has me shaking with anxiety, my heart is pumping and I can't stand watching people be treated that way when they were so kind and helpless and then me. I'm baffled by Lisa's lack of customer service. All she has to do is be kind, not across the line rude, it wasn't just rude it was very rude. I saw this the other day too when I was here and with many customers. Unbelievable Normal Street DMV. Come on. read more

The rudest lady, ever. A couple of days ago I visited this office to change the address in my license but I was shocked to experience such a rude attendant like the lady in window 13. She was not friendly at all and always had like sarcasm or meaning comments. I actually made the mistake of putting the wrong finger in the scanner and she almost goes ballistic about it. Even after we were almost done she still had things to say about it like, "didn't you hear when I said "thumb"? You don't decide how I pay. If I don't use cash that's my problem. She was being pushy about getting the transaction done with cash even though when my number was called she stepped out like for two minutes and then she had issues with her computer and asked for assistance like she didn't know how to use it ... So why do you rush me for in the first place? In the plus side she has good peripheral vision, she knew precisely in what part of the form I was writing without even looking at me since her desk is below the counter. And finally ... $27 just to change my address ? The guy in the appointment counter provided great and friendly service nonetheless. read more

Its the DMV, one of the most dreaded places we Californians have to visit. The walk-in wait sucks, its about 1-2 hours on most days for simple things. Best to make an appointment, unfortunately I was in a bad way and needed to get my license resolved quickly. The state worker who helped me was friendly and was patient with me because I filled out the form wrong, overall without the wait, it was a good experience. read more

I am ashamed to see how this DMV represents the state of California. First of all, line in this DMV lasts for 3-4 hours easily before you talk to a representative. Poor people who stay in this line to make things that state of California mandates from their residents. Secondly, there is mess inside of DMV. They continue to run the office all traditional way how it used to be back in 80th, old is everything, from the building to the system inside. They still use much of traditional paperwork while many foreign countries well advanced in this regard moved most of such services online. As a result, they lose documents, for example, my driver license, that has to be received month and half ago. They don't even provide email address for communication that tells about lack of care for the people. The worst of all, state of California don't care about modernizing or changing the situation in DMV structure. No wonder why people keep leaving this state. I am curious where all these going to bring us to. read more

Dude they should not advise online payment if they are not going to send you your tag on time. I have waited a month and then I called today saying hello where my tag at? and they said "oh we just sent that one today by mail".....like are you joking I need my tag to go to school and work and I have to wait even more who knows when bc the lady did not even know when it will get delivered I had to except that I was going to get a $60.00 ticket bc I knew I would get one, but really needed to go to school to take my exam and I could not take the bus bc that time I lost my card like dude. read more

OK, if you have an appointment then everything works great, and they have a great system where you go from station to station and get everything done. I was able to get an out of state vehicle registered and a new drivers license in less than an hour. Everyone was friendly at every station, and they got the job done. No problems at all. The photo station even had a super friendly employee who would even let you look at your photo and retake it if you didnt like it. Nice people from the check in (appointment one), credential station, vehicle certification station, license plate pickup station, exam station, license issuance station. The appointment line is on the LEFT inside the door. Its fast and efficient. The other line is the no appointment line. It wraps around the building. I can't comment on the experiences there, but the people who were there at 8am were in and out in no time. If you can, make an appointment. It makes a huge difference read more

Surprisingly great service! I had to come in to renew my license and it took less than 15 minutes! Appointment was at 10:40. I waited 2-3 mins in appointment line, spent another 5 mins filling out a form, checked in, and then quickly was called up, took the eye test, then photo... Voila! Walked to my car by 10:53! To get 5 stars they need to increase the parking lot size and modernize the building. Otherwise near perfect! read more

Please tell me why I am always subjected to screaming kids, smelly people, insufficient staffing, and long lines for the privilege of driving? read more

So I come here for my license, finally, after all the state budget cuts.... The lines to get in this place were horrendous, but luckily my mom and I "cut" everyone and went inside for some information on where to go. No attendants behind the desk were available to help, nor were there signs indicating where to go where for certain things. Luckily, a lady helped us out and pointed us through the maze of people all the way over to Window 1. The lady working behind the desk was very helpful, calm, and patient with me even though the driving school had failed to give me a final certificate. Luckily, she allowed them to fax it to her and still let me take my test. This was awesome. After waiting forever and ever to get the fax and sit in the line for driving tests makes your nerves jump all over. A very nice blonde lady was my test instructor was extremely friendly and made the nerve wracking situation much more calming with her jokes and cool attitude. The street routes they took you on were nice and easy to follow, and I was even greeted with a smile and good wishes from the desk employees on account of getting my license :) Not bad, not bad. Definitely an interesting mix of people as opposed to the creepy El Cajon location. I'd recommend this location over the other one any day. read more

This place has shed some light on all those bad jokes I've always heard about the DMV. I moved to CA from OK (where we use tag agencies for almost everything, and you don't have to keep registration in your vehicle) and had to visit this office to register my car, get a CA license, and then to get a CA license with a motorcycle endorsement. To keep this short I won't go into detail, but suffice it to say these employees are, for the most part, incredibly rude and abrupt. I understand it's a tough job, but we've all had tough jobs and we aren't all jerks because of it. The employees will rush you through one step of the process, not allow you to ask any questions, and then be mad at you when you've made a mistake that they catch at the next step. It's senseless. Appointments help a bit, but you're still dealing with the same people. If you have to go here, make sure you have EVERY form of ID you can possibly think of, and if you're new to the state, have your change of address form from the USPS, and get a utility in your name asap so that you have two pieces of paper establishing your address. If you can do your business online, DO!! read more

The worst DMV in SD by far. Horrible customer service. Will never go to this DMV ever again.

The humans working at the DMV are the rudest and most unhelpful people alive. Waited 2 hours and they would not give me a temporary license and even laughed when I asked. I would give -5 stars if I could. The only plus was the lady outside selling over priced popsicles. read more

Don't let the long line wrapped around the building discourage you from getting your business done at this particular DMV. The office is actually claustrophobic in its design as the cubicles are pushed up close to the entrance so the majority of the line is outside with just enough space for about 10 people to line up inside on both sides of the two lines. I fell in line while it wrapped around the building into the parking lot and it took me 42 minutes to get to the desk where they assess your situation and needs to qualify you with a number where you can start to play bingo waiting for your number to be called. At this location, the line splits into two upon entering the building which lead to two desked DMV employees ready to qualify you for a number. Their clientele are extremely nice and friendly so chitchatting and commiserating with them makes the time waiting in line more enjoyable and fly by quicker. The parking lot was shaded by the building while a cool gentle constant breeze blew by so it was comfortable being out there. It was impressive when a DMV personnel came out of the building pushing a cart of folders and forms for people in line needing them to fill out to efficiently manage the patrons' time in line. Once I was assigned number C-101, I looked up at the monitor and was happy to see C-096 already being helped at Window 23. The female employee assessing my situation was very nice and pleasant. It was apparent she loved working there and helping others through her service. Once I was given my number, I only waited another 15 minutes until my number was called to be helped at Window 26. The lady was nice and quick about helping me and I was out of there four minutes under an hour without an appointment. Good job DMV - Central at Normal Street! read more

DMV - Lady carts out forms to patrons in line to save time! A+ Service! - Departments of Motor Vehicles Near Me - San Diego, California

Make a reservation. 1.5 hours and I was out with a new registration and license (this from an out-of-stater). No jest, I had wonderful and efficient service. I didn't even request an updated title for my car, but received one in the mail a week or so after. I think they may have been impressed that I actually had all my paper-work and supporting documents prepared. From what I gathered, this did appear to be an impressive feat. read more

Except for the rare helpful employee, this location is pure trash. The lady other reviewers are calling "Lisa" is a petty antagonist who goes out of her way to harass people and rile everyone up for no reason, as if that's helping an already unpleasant experience. Ditto for the guy outside at the door (Latino, 40's, slightly pudgy). DMV lost my original appointment, I stood in line with many others for over three hours, only to finally get to a window and the system crashes two minutes into my transaction. The guy processing me was contrite, but all the other employees were stoked about the crash and immediately started packing up to go home with smiles on their faces. Came back days later w/ another appointment only to wait in a long line and deal with employees who go out of their way to antagonize their customers. No other governmental agency or private business could ever get away with this level of incompetence or disrespect towards the people they serve. We need to do something about the DMV - major reform, privatization, etc. read more

Literally make an appointment don't even attempt to go without one. Best advice I can give.

Perhaps the most efficient of the DMV offices in terms of moving the line through, and getting you back to your drunk and disorderly life. It is in your best interest to go online and make a reservation. You'll have that smug moment as you cruise past the line of sheep, on your way to getting your stuff done... more importantly than the smug nonsense, is the fact that you'll be organized and out the door quicker. read more

I think you need a negative IQ to work here. I showed up 45 minutes early to get my car registered. I was instructed to take my car around back and have it inspected then I would get my number. I have been waiting (first one in line) to get my car inspected for 30 minutes. There is one person doing inspections and driver tests. The line has 6 other people in it. Nobody inside can help us they said just be patient. I made an appointment for a reason. Once the guy came out he was incredibly rude. read more

Uhg the dmv.. Looooong lines, ghetto people, and lots and lots of waiting.. They should consider expanding the area more, it's too small of an office and it can get crowded! I don't think there is ever a "off season" or "down time" of the dmv. It's always busy! read more

Quite possibly one of the most thankless job around....thank you.

Great location and extremely quick. Kinda small building but your not in it for long. Customer service is good, the place is clean and very effecient. My nearest location is the El Cajon dmv because I live in Santee. I now will make the drive to this location because even with the 20 minute drive it is still quicker and easier. read more

The old brunette lady in the glasses checking people in is the most miserable woman I have encountered in quite some time. Thanks for taking an already frustrating experience at the DMV and making it even more unbearable. If you hate your job this much, please do us all a favor and just quit. read more

Had to get a California drivers license here. Went close to 4pm. I maybe waited 5-10 minutes to be helped. Staff was very helpful and friendly. The entire process including taking the written test was done so quick. In and out in about an hour! read more