I had a great experience with the DMV today. It was fast, not super busy and the staff were kind and accommodating. Blake is the best! Thank you! read more

waited for 5 hours just to take the permit test, then waited another 2 hours just to take the drivers test, during the drivers test the lady who was reviewing me. she had tattoos on her arms and kind of big. and a haircut and looks like a dude (not saying that's a bad thing just saying so you don't have to deal with her BS) was screaming at me during the test, threw personal insults at me and tried her best to get under my skin. then failed me for breaking too hard during the quick stop test, never stepping foot into patron again go anywhere else! read more

On July 21, 2026, at around 4:00 PM, the employee working at the front desk was extremely unprofessional and unhelpful. She provided no information at all and simply told me to stand and wait while continuing to help other people who arrived after me. After waiting for several minutes, I politely asked what I was waiting for and what the next step was. Instead of explaining the process, she became angry, started raising her voice, waving her hands, and speaking to me in a very rude and disrespectful manner. She repeatedly told me to "just wait" without giving any explanation. I had already waited my turn and was simply trying to get the information I came for. Employees who cannot communicate professionally or treat customers with basic respect should not be working in public-facing positions. This was one of the worst customer service experiences I have had at a government office. read more

Went to the Tunnel Rd DMV today. Yes, it was towards closing time, and they had the "full" sign up. However, I just had quick question whose answer would have helped me tremendously. Likely would have only taken 30 seconds of someone's time, and I was basically shewed away ("Ma'am, I have a lot of work to do.") No even asking what it was I needed or being politely asked to wait or redirecting me to someone else... Just shewed away. Can we please add some professionalism and politeness? Those things are still important. I understand they've had a long day, but we had as well and in that moment, just needed a little support. Unfortunately, that was the wrong place to get it. read more

I realized that my ID expired on my birthday a few weeks past as I tried to go to the dispensary in Cherokee and was denied access. Working in Asheville and needed to renew in person ASAP. No appointments available for months so decided to do walk-in service. After 6 long and cold hours I got to the counter. The staff were friendly and even provided water as we waited in line. Got my new ID a week earlier than stated. read more

I had a great experience at the DMV in Asheville NC today. The staff were very friendly and helpful.

The lines can get long, but if you get there early in the morning, they're a little better. The last couple of times I've been in there I changed titles from out of state to North Carolina . the workers can't help the amount of paperwork that the state is set up. I really think they're doing a good job. read more

I was at the DMV on Patton Ave yesterday for my Real ID,, Wanted to give a shout out to the employees that made our 5 hour wait ( and we expected that) painless,,Every employee from the lady who worked the outside line to help everyone understand the process, to all the folks behind the counters once we entered the building,,,,very professional, kind, and helpful. Thank you for making the process work efficiently, and thank you for all you do! Donna Woods read more

It would be incredibly helpful to have a sign saying to get a number before waiting outside if we have no appointment. The desk was unoccupied and another patron told me to get a number. Stood at unoccupied desk for near 10 minutes to be helped by a snarky guy who acted as if he was put out helping me. Maybe cause by that time there were at least a dozen others behind me. 2 hours without an appointment seemed reasonable & the woman who helped us with everything was friendly personable and very helpful. read more

Right now, end of October 2024, they are seriously understaffed because of the closure after hurricane Helene's devastation - 12 work bays and 5 open and working. Fortunately who was there worked a little late, though and most of them were kind and upbeat. read more

For those of you who are in the Western part of North Carolina, I can recount our recent experience at the Marshall and Burnsville DMV offices. We did not attempt the Asheville DMV even though we live in Asheville. My son needed to take the road test in order to get his driver's license. As everyone who has been dealing with DMV lately has discovered, it's impossible to get an appointment unless you snag one at Midnight-7:00am for 90 days out. So we were prepared to wait in line for most of the day to get a walk in appointment. We arrived at the Marshall DMV office at 6:30 with camp chairs in hand and there were already at least 20 people in line. The problem was, there was a clear start to the line but then as the line got longer, there were fewer places to stand/sit so people were sort of 'zig zagged' around the parking area. When the very nice DMV worker opened the doors at 8:00, it was evident that there was no order to who was going to get the first 25 tickets for walk-ins. It seems to me, that there would be a very fair way to determine who was waiting first, second etc... by having numbered spots on the sidewalk to sit/stand on so it is very clear. Certainly someone could come up with some sort of fair system. Anyways, after waiting for 1 1/2 hours, we discovered that Marshall DMV does not do road tests. We weren't the only ones in line that were needing a road test so clearly the DMV website needs to do a better job plus we couldn't talk to anyone when we attempted to call the office several times. Again, there was only 1 person manning the whole office which seems absolutely ridiculous. Whoever is in charge of running the DMV, seriously needs to look at adding staff. The woman in Marshall was very nice and calm but it's unfair that she is expected to deal with this madness all by herself. To continue my story.... So now it's 8:00 and my son is completely distraught and I try several times to call the Burnsville DMV but no answer (of course, because there is only 1 person manning that office!). I drive 40 minutes to Burnsville and we discover that they are no longer taking walk-ins for the day. However, at 1:00 (after the man's lunch break), they do take walks ins for the road test. So, I set up my camp chair in front of the DMV building (luckily it was a beautiful day) and sat there for 4 hours. At 1:00, we were the first ones to get our walk in ticket for the afternoon! If you are taking the road test, make sure that you have a physical copy of proof of insurance. My son's name was not on the insurance card so we had to run to the library down the street and print off the insurance Declarations Page that had his name on it. You will also need to bring in the car's registration. At 2:30, it was my son's turn and the DMV man, who was extremely professional and calm and efficient and the only person manning the office, left the DMV with my son to do the road test with him. At 3:00, we walked out with a license! It was an all day affair and there is definitely A LOT that needs to be improved with the DMV system. It's absolutely ridiculous that these offices only have 1 employee. Kudos to both of the ones we met, because they were both extremely professional and seemed extremely calm. They would both get a 5 star rating. On the positive side to this whole experience (besides my son getting his license) is that I met A LOT of very nice people throughout the day. Of course everyone was a bit frustrated by this whole DMV mess but people were kind and civil and friendly. It gives me hope that there is more good in the world than evil. Sorry for the long post, but bottom line, Marshall office does NOT do road tests and if you are going to be a walk in appointment, get there early and bring your lawn chair, book, and snacks! One last thing, no public bathrooms at the Burnsville DMV (not sure about Marshall). read more

Keep in mind: I made an appointment so this is based on having an appt. My appointment was at 10:00. I arrived at 9:45. I was taken care of immediately and by the time i sat down I was being called to the counter. Very quick service. There was a little hiccup in the system (on my end) but it was resolved very quickly. I was in and out in less than 30 minutes. Book your appointment about 3 to 4 months in advance if possible. read more

4 and 5 hour wait! Pretty sure the cost of living in Asheville that the county could do better. I suppose you need to take a day vacation to renew your drivers license read more

I Had a appointment today at 8:00 i had a very good experience the 2 people who helped me were very kind!

Terrible service! If you close at 5, you take customers until 5. I work Mon-Fri 8-5pm. I walked in at 4:47pm bc I was able to leave work earlier. I was told when I walked in no more customers. Very disappointing. I wish I could 0 star. read more

Sure the process of changing my license to nc did take 2 hours but they were short staffed and taking Covid protocols. You sign up for an appointment online (I recommend the 7:30 am one) and then when you show up, your name is crossed off the list and your documents are checked. While they were clearly short staffed, they were kind and organized. After that, you wait in a chair outside then check in again indoors and wait to be called. Seriously was a 2 hour process but I had a book (it says no phones but everyone was on theirs). Staff were clear and helpful and they had to deal with some real jerks. read more

For only a 2-day lapse in auto insurance (my letter got temporarily misplaced) that costs less than $500, i'm charged a fine of $100 ($50 each vehicle) -- that equates to usury. The NC DMV should be entirely eliminated -- it is nothing more than a USELESS financial burden upon everyone! Further, every STATE mandating insurance on vehicles is committing extortion. If the insurance market was allowed to be FREE -- meaning, if Capitalism was NOT prohibited in Neo-Amerika -- insurance companies would actually COMPETE for everyone's business, lowering the costs for everyone. So much for so called "freedom"! read more

Even though it is listed at opening at 7am it actually opens at 8am. There was a line of people here at 6:30am expecting a 7am arrival. Tried to make an appointment online but their portal was broken. The employee here called for "people with appointments" first and I truly have no idea how anyone achieved making an appointment. One of the most disorganized DMVs I've seen. read more

I gave it one star because when you call, no one ever picks up the phone and when you finally do get through it's all automated, which means you never get through. The online service has no chat service to it, which would make it work 100% better poor design. read more

I have never felt so disrespected In my life. If you come here don't expect nice, kind, organized service. I came here for a simple ID, went to stand in line at 6:30am and at 3pm have yet to actually be serviced. They are so unorganized that they allowed several people that have been waiting only two hours to go ahead of people that have been waiting OVER 6 hours. Even when standing for over 6 hours the lady that serviced me was extremely rude and seemed like she hated her job. She acted annoyed to even be servicing me. I will never be coming back to this DMV and I advise you go elsewhere unless you want to come at 4am. I would also like to say that everyone in that line with me deserves an apology from the staff, everyone was so upset of the unreasonable wait and crappy service. read more

Gahhhh, this place! It's rough. The way that DMV's are run is a bummer but the fact that the employees who work here are so unfriendly and rude is the real problem. After waiting in line for an hour plus, having an unhappy employee "take care of you" does not make life any better.... read more

I did have a hiccup for the first couple of hours and i was in the worst mood, I was sent to Chris and I can say he ultimately made my day. He was so sweet and I can tell he really cared about his job and was trying but due to understaffing some things were left out of his control. I enjoyed talking to him throughout and I never had a picture that looked so good because he managed to put a smile on my face right before. read more

I had given up on making appointments because of 2 to 3 months out and appointment cancelled because of late afternoon and being turned away b/c not enough staff. So tried again and got there several hours before they closed at 5pm and told upon arrival afternoon times they can't do walk ins. So my sister has tried to renew online but unsuccessful so her drivers license has expired 4 months now. They did not seem too busy at the time either, and also making you stand outside in the cold with all the seats empty inside. This is so outrageous and I am upset that my 73 old sister is having to go through this. read more

Made an appointment twice like I was supposed to. Both times I was turned away because they couldn't honor my appointment time. Was told that they would contact me to help me make another appointment and that I shouldn't try to schedule one in the afternoon. Why are they scheduling appointments in the afternoon if they aren't going to honor them? No one contacted me last time and I'm sure no one will this time either. read more

Of course its the dmv and of course you are going to have to wait in line. They are short staffed just like every other industry right now; patience is such an admirable quality and this is the perfect place to practice it. The appointments online were booked through the next couple months, so I went before they even opened and by 1pm I was free and had my NC driver's license. Bring a chair, bring a book, and be nice. Everyone who works here is so pleasant and are truly making the best of a tough situation. read more

For DMVs this one isn't so bad. There can be a long wait sometimes but they check all your documents at the door to make sure you don't wait for no reason. There are lots of booths active at one time, seating inside and air conditioning. Make sure to check online before you go for what you will need to prove identity or residency. Also there are specific offices you can go to at different locations for license plate needs so that you don't need to come here. Afternoons seem busier, plan ahead and bring a book or a game to play while you wait. Also you can make an appointment online to help with the waiting time. Also they have free wi-fi read more

when you have an appointment, this place is fast. The agent we got was so kind and helpful. so happy with our experience. thank you to the nicest agent in tge history of dmv's. read more

Canceled my fiancé's appointment because he had digital paperwork and they couldn't print it in the 15-minute window fast enough. There was no line at the time. I was on time but waited an hour and a half after my appointment time. Disorganized, but what do you expect? It's the DMV! read more

I moved here from out of state, and I must say this is the friendliness DMV I have every been to...From the guy who helped get my paperwork together at the door, to the guy who put all my paperwork in the computer and gave me my vision test. I was in and out of there quickly and everyone was so nice and helpful. Job well done! read more

This place is a joke. A JOKE! I rushed my kids there to get their restricted permits immediately after school only to walk into a waiting area full of people and a line to the door. THERE WERE 2 PEOPLE WORKING. At 4:05pm (they close at 5), after already waiting in line for 20 minutes, one if the employees proceeds to tell everyone in line that there's no way they'll be seen today because there's ONLY 2 employees. There's 12 kiosks. USE THEM. And it sure doesn't make things any better when you walk out the door and there's 3 employees standing in the parking lot doing nothing other than talking to each other, and multiple employees milling around behind the counters doing NOTHING, and ignoring the mass of people waiting to be seen. If I could give this place negative stars I would. How much money did this place waste, building those 12 kiosks that are sitting there gathering dust?? This is unacceptable. read more

Absolutely the worst experience today at the Asheville DMV. The dismissive and condescending woman out front talked to my mom like she was a child. I had to insist she not be turned away, as she'd made the appointment weeks ago. read more

Giving one star to a dmv isn't all too surprising but my reason for it is... we have a pandemic and the hefty blonde lady outside was shouting at everyone to stand in a single file line. I was standing in a line for over three hours in blistering heat trying to avoid the two old people standing right next to me chatting and smoking. Second hand smoke and no social distancing efforts whatsoever. So much for six feet. I had two inches and was yelled at multiple times by this woman who also wore her mask below her chin shouting orders at us inches away from our faces. Absolutely a disgrace. read more

I have nothing but good things to say about the people working here! I arrived Saturday morning at 9:15 and was in and out in 30 minutes! Everyone was kind and friendly and patient...and Roger was great!! Don't believe the bad hype...this location was painless! read more

I had a pleasant appointment today with Mr. Fay. He was very helpful. The whole staff at this DMV were very helpful and friendly even during all of this mask wearing COVID. I had to drive over and hour to this location for my appointment because no other DMV offices were open near my home town. read more

Worse DMV I've ever been to. Went on a Saturday 45 mins before they opened, the lady who was checking documents before letting people in was sooo freakin rude. The employees here really need to lighten up their attitude or they're going to get some attitude right back. Wouldn't wish this place on anyone. Do yourself a solid, and go to any other dmv around or outside Asheville, but not this one. read more

Would not wish this place on my worst enemy. 1. the ladies that are working the front desk need some serious TLC or something, because they can't help but talking down to everyone that walks in there, regardless of what the situation is. One lady came in that spoke english, but it was obviously her second language and seemed as if she was new to the state altogether, as she had just bought a car here, and the lady behind the counter spoke LOUDER when trying to get her message across to the woman--like there's a language barrier, not a hearing impairment?? So rude I couldn't believe it was even happening (I will say the man that helped us at the front desk was nice and seemed to remain nice to everyone that came in). 2. it's 2019, you'd think they would be able to update the way they run things at this point. I moved here from ATLANTA, a much larger city and the NC DMV doesn't even begin to compete. Some advice: buy an electric kiosk, have people check in there, when they check in they can check off/verify they have the needed documents to get what they came in for, go ahead and have them fill out their name, address, birth date, race, eye color, etc. at said kiosk to save time once they're actually seen by a person--kiosk then prints off ticket number. This would save SO. MUCH. TIME. in the long run, and allows for them to have more hands behind desks helping get customers out of there faster (a new license in NC is $40, no reason they shouldn't be able to purchase updated technology that matches the era we're in). 3. lastly, they don't call you in the order you come in, they call you back based off what your need is. This is ridiculous and only further frustrates people already waiting for hours (waited three hours just to get a license, also got there early in the morning so that's definitely not the solution to the problem--we tried getting there an hour before they opened the Saturday before this, and the line was WRAPPED around the building, AN HOUR BEFORE OPENING). Might as well throw in a 4. once I was finally helped, it was like that DMV sloth scene in Zootopia.. the lady literally typed with ONE finger at a time! And literally checked her phone TWICE in the middle of helping me?? All in all, truly a nightmare. read more

I have been here 3 different times over the past month attempting to get a name change done and transfer a license from another State. Each visit, I have been told I didn't have the correct documents. Each visit, I have been told to meet totally different standards. Each visit I brought EXACTLY what was on the DMV's website ( 1st attempt - Drivers License, a certified copy of court papers, birth certificate, SS card, and completed affidavit, proof of residence ). They wouldn't change my name, but I did get a NC license. The second attempt for name change - all the above plus an additional document that I was told was missing at my first visit and is NOT listed as required. Turned away again at front desk. This time I was told my court papers (which were accepted by Federal Govt, bank, etc. etc.....literally everywhere else I've need to do a name change) weren't "acceptable" because it was a certified copy and not the original. Third try today after confirming via phone with DMV that I did indeed have all the correct documentation from day one and making an appointment to be sure I would only have to be in public very briefly during the stay at home orders for Covid-19. And got there only to be told that my Court Order was not "acceptable" because the out of State County Court it came from didn't use a "raised seal". Btw, NC website and DMV phone rep stated that the ink stamp my document has on it, is legally acceptable in NC. At this point, I completely lost it on the lady working the check-in desk. Luckily a Supervisor arrived within about 1/2 an hour reviewed my documents and approved my name change. All the actual agents I dealt with at each visit were very nice and efficient; the manager on duty was helpful too as well, BUT that woman who works the check-in desk is an absolute nightmare. And sadly, one has to get past her even to see anyone else at this location. IMHO, she should be fired immediately. She gave me false information on two occasions prior and then today again tried to deny me not just my legal right to obtain photo-id under my proper name but also my legal responsibility to adhere to the laws of the State ( name change on id within 60 days). My gut feeling on her motivation for all hassle this was a religious opposition.... my court papers she didn't want to accept were Court certified divorce papers. I'd give a higher rating if just based on the service desk agents and manager. And I'd give negative stars if based on the "gatekeeper". read more

This place is kinda unprofessional I went in to take the driving portion of the test and they wouldn't let me do it even though I had all the car information but not one person told me I needed a insurance even though I don't have a car no one explains what is needed and even when I called to ask questions the people on the phone where pretty rude so nah they are not getting a good review from me read more

One of the worst experiences of my life. I came in on Tuesday at 4 o'clock and waited in at 5 o'clock they said sorry were closing we're not gonna see anybody else you're out a luck. Then I came back two days later and they said they wouldn't except the paperwork that I had. It was the exact same paperwork that I had on Tuesday two days before and for some reason they change much their mind and said they wouldn't except this paperwork this time. Seems like they got a bunch of morons working here read more

I had an extremely pleasant experience here, despite all the bad reviews. I'm sure that midday the lines get quite backed up, which adds to many peoples frustration. However I got here at 6:45am and was able to get in and out in under 30 mins. The best course of action is to arrive early, as with all DMV locations. Your lack of planning is not the fault of the staff, who work hard and are very polite! read more