In and out in 10 minutes!! Make sure you make an appointment to avoid long lines. Customer service is good just come in the day time is all.. read more

They Turned my brother in-law away for not having the correct birth certificate... Except the one they were asking for is the "live birth certificate" which is a non-government official document from the hospital. This was the 3rd time he had been in, and each time had gotten past with the official birth certificate and now they decided to let their ignorance waste everyone's time. read more

My license expired 3 months ago and I didn't realize it. Had to go to DMV w/o an appointment. Was a Friday at noon and I was in and out in 40 min. Fast and friendly read more

When I read the reviews of this DMV before my appointment today I was terrified. My appointment was at 10:30 am on a Wednesday and was painless! I was in and out, despite the crowds, in under an hour. This was for a vehicle registration as well as application for drivers license. The staff were all extremely polite and helpful and the lines moved quickly. I know this isn't always how a DMV experience goes, but if this establishment has been making an effort to better their customer service they have done a great job! Thank you for making this dreaded chore a breeze on my day off! read more

All the horrible stories you have heard about this office are an understatement. I would rather be trapped in a Tijuana cartel shootout then ever set foot in the Hillcrest office again. During my wait I saw several women break down in tears and run from the building crying. I brought every scrap of paper I could possibly need for a new registration from out of state and waited almost 4 hours. I was told I needed a break and light inspection because I drive a truck (Tacoma) and it's considered a commercial vehicle? After being extorted for $402 for brake lines by the inspection station I returned and waited in line for 2.5 more hours. I was ready to chalk everything up to California's population and bureaucracy and not hold the staff personally responsible. I handed my safety inspection certificate to the old woman with glasses at window 26 and said "here's my safety inspection certificate." She snapped "I don't need you to identify paperwork for me!" Then she berated me for also bringing my proof of insurance. "If you don't know what paperwork you need then I sure as hell don't know what paperwork you need." She does work there. It is by definition her job to know what paperwork I need. But she was correct as she could not identify my out of state tile and registration that had already been stapled to my temporary CA registration by her co-workers on my last visit. My help was required to identify the documents. I tried to enter a Zen state and imagine the living hell her life must be working 40 hours a week at the DMV until the day the good lord sees fit to end her miserable existence. I also imagined her dying alone and nobody attending the funeral and that made me feel much better. In summation my advise is to keep your residency in whatever state you came from. Anything to avoid the 9th circle of hell that is the Hillcrest DMV. read more

Went in today to transfer a title for a car arrived at 3:20 and was done by 4:18 and I had no appointment! I come to the normal street DMV instead of Clairemont DMV because they are way faster I highly recommend this DMV for all your needs just be prepared and bring everything you need as far as documents go and you have no problem even without an appointment like I did:) read more

You're wasting your time if you don't make an apointment! The walk up line is consistently long but I made an apointment and was in and out within 30 minutes. No one likes the dmv but my most recent visit was pretty hassle free. The lady taking my picture was a bit grumpy and there was a creepy dude hitting on the lady helping me with my car registration but i can look past that. So yeah, 3 stars. Not too shaby read more

This was the worst customer service experience I have had, in my life, anywhere (and I'm 74). The clerk was rude, insulting and demeaning. This was NOT a complicated transaction, and her behavior was absolutely horrendous. This is what comes if no competition, and no accountability. read more

No one every likes going to the DMV but I've experienced worse. I just went in to renew DL. I had an appt for later that day (high recommend getting an appt) but thought I would just go early and get it over with. I arrivied 40 mins before they opened (720a) and there was already a line that was starting to wrap around the building. The only thing that made it worse was that it was hot as hell already (obviously not DMV fault). When I did get in the AC was on and I wasn't so grumpy anymore. I waited for about 20mins before my number was called. Once I did get called everything went smoothly. The person helping seemed like she still needed to wake up but other than that she was pleasant. I was pleased the entire process inside didn't take more than 30 mins. read more

Ran very smooth for a day with no appointment. I was in and out within an hour. Absolutely a shocker!

Very rude and nasty employees. They act like everyone one is bothering them yet they seem to forget we are employing them. if these employees hate the job so much they are not in the military so leave and get another job. Maybe the person in charge sets the tone I don't know but if this was a private sector they would be out of business. read more

Definitely the worst place I have ever been. Arriving at the behind the wheel test the women with the short hair was jealous of my red mustang and already gave me that face when she entered the car. She just looked for a reason to let me fail. I warn you, don't go this place. They are everything but competent and fair read more

Worst place ever. Crowded. Not enough seats to sit down. Baby crying. There was an old man watching YouTube video with speakers on sitting in the front row. Hard to hear the numbers called. Don't come here. read more

We just had the nicest experience at any DMV. Christine at Window 1 was the sweetest most helpful employee. Thank you!!!

Service is HORRIBLE so rude and like the others post dont show up without an appoinment you will be waiting for hours. Hate coming here.

Everything was good until I was called up and then I had all my paper work ready to go. When I presented my papers also with my paper that shown that I had passed my smog the rude lady snapped at me saying I don't have all the right papers which I knew was incorrect seeing I've been going back and forth to the dmv for the last month. All she had to do was take her time to look at the papers and actually see everything was in order just had to put down I passed my smog and send me my stickers but no she just was incredibly rude and just rushing me to leave... I will never go back to this stupid dmv I've never had this much trouble with any other dmv in san diego.. read more

It is too bad that going to the DMV has to be such a horrible experience for many people. I have been to this location in Hillcrest several times and most times I have had an average experience. Today was the worst. There is a woman by the name of Lisa who obviously HATES her job and takes pleasure out of being mean and condescending. I have seen her several times before when I have made trips to the DMV but never have had the pleasure of ending up at her booth. I have seen her be mean to other people but today it was my turn. I had an appointment and had several things that I had to take care of. When I asked a few questions because I was obviously confused and not sure of something, it was as she did not care and she continued to shove a bunch of documents in front of me and would not listen to me until I filled them out. To make a long story short, I did fill them out and when I was done went back to her, handed her the documents and I also asked her as politely as I could, "why are you being so mean and condescending? There is no reason for this." She eventually toned down a little however, this is just not acceptable. She obviously hates her job. With this being said, it is also obvious that it must be impossible for someone to be fired from a government job because if not, Lisa would have been fired a long time ago. This one star is solely directed to this one person as the next person that ended up helping me out was amazing. I do hope that one day Lisa will have to go to some kind of training where she is taught how to treat people with respect and dignity. read more

My daughter made an appointment online 2 weeks before and our experience was still an absolute horror show. This DMV has to be one of the worst run in the system. The flow and processes don't make any sense and the employees act like people understand what they are supposed to do. We arrived at 2:30 for a 3:10p appointment. The place was a sh*t show. It was 20 minutes just to get to the information person to tell us where to go and apply for the drivers license permit. When we went to the written exam area they sent us to a computer terminal and acted like we automatically knew what to do. After filling out an application on the terminal, we went into another line with a confirmation so some nuggethead could put a sticker on our form. Then we had to wait for that sticker number to be called but they have no place to wait and not enough chairs for everyone. So people are standing in front of customer windows and piled onto each other near and by all the entrances. They need to just blow this place up and start over again. Worst experience ever! read more

What?! I do not conceive how this crappy place got more than one star...! (which is already too much, If I could give it negative 5 I would). Crappy place, rude and ignorant and stuck-up agents who think they are "somebody" just because they work at the DMV and can tell you what to do; impossible lines (I came there at 10am and left at 3pm... with no appointment, since... well- "next appointment" is about a month ahead... ); the lines are long and not moving and be prepared to stay hours in the sun, on your feet. Rude, ignorant agents, did I say that already (it deserves more mentioning), crappy place; hate the DMV!! (and to think that these rude snobby people -- I pay their salaries!...) read more

Unless you have lots of time on your hands you'll have to take a day off of work to make it through this DMV. I know, DMV's are usually long waits in a stinky line and so boring that trying to count how many people are in the building actually brings you joy. So in the words of Jim Carey in Liar Liar, "I've had better". read more

Fastest DMV in SD by far. I've been going to this one ever since I moved to the area. I used to go to the one's down south in Chula Vista and Del Sol and they were horrible!! Just recently registered my car, renewed my license, had to take their lil eye test, get a new pic, and I was out in like an hour and 20 mins from start to finish. Not bad! My new license came in a week exactly too. read more

Terrible experience so far. I am trying to register my vehicle, which was previously in Texas. The first time, I waited 4 hours and when I got to the counter, they charged me for registration then couldn't give it to me because I didn't have the title. So I got the title and came back the next day. After another 4 hour wait, I was again denied registration for my vehicle because I needed proof that it wasn't titled in Texas. I was told that I will have to call the Texas DMV and get the "vehicle transaction history". Really? They have no way to check that on their own. F*&$ing unbelievable. I will now need to go back a 3rd time, wasting a total of at least 15 hours of my time just to get a vehicle that I own registered. Colossal inefficiency and waste of time. read more

Horrible. After waiting for an hour, I get to the lady who looks at my paperwork for 15 seconds and says I am missing something. I ask her what it was and she says she does not know. I ask her where I could find the form to fill out and she refused to show me saying it was on the website. After trying to get help from her, she told me I could speak to her supervisor at another window. I go to that window and waited 15 minutes. At that point I was over it and left in tears. If I could give 0 stars, I would. Go to the DMV in Clairemont. Shorter lines and much more helpful. read more

Had to renew my license and made an appointment in advanced on a Wednesday right before lunch time. I was in and out within 20 mins. HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION: Make that appointment! read more

Exactly what you'd expect out of a DMV. As a native Californian switching my license plates from out of state, I had to go to the DMV no less than three times before that seemingly simple task was accomplished. Make an appointment. Good luck finding the appointment window. It's a complete shitshow and the employees range from rather helpful to beyond disgruntled. I gave it two stars because there is a nice masochistic, absurdist quality to the DMV experience that just cannot be found anywhere else. And whatever you do DON'T call the 1-800 number. It will seriously make you pop a blood vessel. read more

Got an appointment to hopefully speed things up. Apparently, so did half of San Diego. Go early or find another location

Somehow I had a GREAT experience at the DMV, odd I know. I was only there to get a quick vehicle inspection (so no appointment needed). The gentlemen that inspected my vehicle was courteous, pleasant, and amiable; something that I never get at the DMV. I wish I had gotten his name, but he was wonderful. read more

IF u do get there about 4:30 ish.... as long as u are inside they will take care of u.... pretty weird way but it gets back at the system..

Worst experience i ever had. Took my brother for his driving test. Unfriendly stuff. People that do behind the whel driving test need some serious training on customer service. People that work inside are also very rude. They all need to get fired. Older fat lady that did his driving test was a total bitch to us. After he was done she wouldn't even tell him anything, she just walked out of the car and slamed the door. The facility is awful. Women's bathroom doesnt have a lock and everything is broken inside. It's very dirty. Everyone in there is so missereble. read more

Make an appt! I waited an hour I ultimate be given the wrong document to rent a car even though the rep said It was plus we paid $5. What a crap hole. But, the representatives who work here must have a hard time bc I saw people yelling at them for stuff that wasn't their fault! read more

I can't believe it's not butter! I've been to at least a dozen different DMVs. I had many bad experiences with almost all of them, including this Clairemont location. However, I was so impressed with the kindest from an employee name Olga. I was lucky to get her on both my visits. Both times, she really went out her way to help me. I almost cried and thought it was some kind of hidden camera show. I wish all Post Office and DMV employees were more like OLGA! read more

I've been return customer here for passed few years... I knock out a star because of the long lines.

The dmv is the dmv.theres acouple of ppl that are genuinely nice here but they're so drained from having all these different ppl coming in and giving them grief that they don't deserve then that'll turn anyone in this world rude.came here to renew registration and it was about a 2 hour wait.just make sure you make an effort to have an appointment and you'll be fine read more

Friendly, fast and reliable service. Better than all the DMVs I have been in the Inland Empire.

The California Department Of Motor Vehicles Downtown San Diego On Normal Street. Came Here This Morning For A H-6 Report. There was a long line befpre opening and stood in that line for 45 minutes without an appointmemt for two minutes of service. The staff was ok but the efficiency could have been better.Next time Ill Try The DMV in Clairmont. read more

I've been buying pos cars lately so going to the DMV is getting less hectic than it used to be. Anyways it's a good bet to go here on a Wednesday. From my experience it's considerably less busy. The employees are pretty friendly and helpful with exception of a few. read more

Would have to say that this would be the fastest waiting line for the DMV. It's already expected that the line will be long but out of all the offices, this one's the best. The people were very helpful and I thought the process was organized. read more

If the wait time is more than an hour maybe you should hire more people!! I hate Dmv!! I wish I don't need to come here ever!!! you guys suck!! read more

Serving over a thousand folks from all around the county, with an appointment and the right paperwork, I was in and out in fifteen minutes. Appointment times are scheduled about four weeks out. Bonus: staff are way patient. read more

Horrible dmv to go to. Systems are down and taking forever to get help. Getting my verification done on my truck took more than an hour to do outside. Employees chit chatting with each other not attending to customers. The management should be changed in this location read more