what is the least busy dmv in san diego

by Mr. Jonatan Effertz Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

Which CA DMV has the shortest wait time?

AlturasThe shortest waits can be found in Alturas, near the Modoc National Forest in Northern California. With or without an appointment, most people waited only two minutes to be served.

What day is the least busy at the DMV?

The middle of the week is the perfect time to knock out any items that you may need to complete at the DMV. Mondays tend to attract those who want to get in early and get it over with, while Fridays are usually reserved for those who take the days off or are heading to the DMV on their way back from work.

What is the best day to go to the DMV in California?

Also, don't go the day after a holiday or the first day of the month. The best day of the week is usually Wednesday. But field offices don't open on Wednesdays until 9 a.m., one hour later than usual.

How long is the wait at CA DMV?

A typical wait time is 2-3 hours minimum at most California DMVs. We strongly recommend making an appointment to save hours of waiting.

What is best time to go to DMV?

Go When The Time is Right Alternatively, the best times to go to the DMV are during the week, mid to late afternoon, when most people are working. Going in the middle of the month can also save you some time, as many drivers flood the DMV at the beginning and end of the month to get their license renewed.

What is the busiest time at DMV?

Strategies for Avoiding Crowds at the DMV Because everywhere is busier on weekends. The middle of the week: Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. Don't go right before or right after a holiday. Because people try to do errands (like renewing their license) right before leaving town for a holiday or right when they get home.

Can I go to DMV without appointment California?

For faster service, please make an appointment before you visit a DMV field office. Most vehicle registration items may be processed through the mail or online and do not require in-person visits to a DMV field office.

Why is the DMV so slow?

The DMV's small budget allows just enough money to hire the minimum number of clerks. This means that if an employee takes vacation or calls in sick, the DMV ends up severely understaffed without a replacement. This results in even slower service.

What do I need for a real ID?

REAL ID ChecklistStep 1 of 6: Proof of Identity, Date of Birth and U.S. Citizenship or Lawful Status. ... Step 2 of 6: Check Your Name. ... Step 3 of 6: Proof of Your Full Social Security Number (SSN) ... Step 4 of 6: Provide Proof of Residency. ... Step 5 of 6: Written Signature. ... Step 6 of 6: Get Your Documents.

Does CA DMV take walk ins right now?

Currently, only four offices accept walk-ins as well as appointments; the rest are by appointment only. You can make an appointment online or by calling the DMV at 1-800-777-0133. Fill out and submit a Driver License or Identification Card Application form (DL 44).

How long does it take to get a real ID in California 2022?

You will receive your new ID card via mail within 3-4 weeks. If you have not received your new ID card after 60 days, call us at 1-800-777-0133 to check the status.

Can I get my California ID the same day?

Same-Day Driver's Licenses in California If you have already have a driver's license from another state, you should be able to get your California license in one day. As long as you have your old license with you, you should be able to complete the following in one visit to the DMV: Present all identification.

Can I go to DMV without appointment in Virginia?

(WDBJ) - The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles announced Monday it is expanding access to its centers by offering appointments and walk-ins at all 75 of its service centers Monday through Friday starting March 2. The department says centers will be open on Saturdays for walk-ins.

Can I go to the DMV without an appointment NC?

If you have a simple DMV issue, license renewal, duplicate license, you can go to the walk-in office. There is no testing there. The Greensboro walk-in office is open 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. weekdays, at the Depot, 236 East Washington Street.

Can I go to the Illinois DMV without an appointment?

"Appointments will be required for customers applying for or renewing REAL IDs, standard driver's licenses and ID cards, and for behind-the-wheel road tests at these facilities," White's office said.

Can you go to NY DMV without appointment?

Before you make a reservation, make sure you have what you need to visit the DMV. If you don't have the required documents, we may not be able to assist you with your transaction. When the reservation system shows no reservations, all the available slots are full. You may need a reservation to visit the DMV.

Payments Accepted

DMV field offices accept Cash, Check, Credit Card, Debit Card, Digital Wallet, and Money order.

Autoz31

DMV Partner info-icon Notification icon info-icon Businesses authorized by the DMV to handle certain registration services, often with much shorter wait times (if any!). Additional fees may be applied by this partner.

AAA San Diego Branch

Speedy Auto Repair & Smog

Uptown Auto Registration And Smog Check

Ralphs in San Diego (G. St)

DMV Kiosk info-icon Notification icon info-icon Kiosks are self-serve stations where you can complete certain registration services and request driver or vehicle records. The range of services varies by kiosk location.

S And S Registration Service

Businesses authorized by the DMV to handle certain registration services, often with much shorter wait times (if any!). Additional fees may be applied by this partner.

What does DMV mean in California?

The perennial need for personal transportation means the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is also very often a presence in the lives of Californians. (And if you don’t know where your closest office is, don’t worry— we’ve got you covered .)

How long is the DMV wait time in San Jose?

The city of just over 1 million has three Departments of Motor Vehicles, but an average appointment-free wait time of three hours, eleven minutes.

How many people live in California?

Residents of the Golden State are in many ways tethered to their automobiles. California’s urban planning leaves few other choices for its 39.5 million citizens to get around. And in most cases, a ride must be secured to commute along the state’s tangled freeways.

Can you blow through the DMV line faster than the wind?

The city may share its name with the infamous gusts that rush through California, but its DMV patrons can blow through the line even faster than the wind.

Is San Francisco a major traffic problem?

The skyrocketing popularity of San Francisco has led to major traffic issues in the city over the years—and those problems have overflowed into the DMV.

Is the DMV wait longer in Angelinos?

Still, Angelinos can take solace in the fact that the DMV wait is probably no longer than the amount of time it takes to drive a few blocks across the metropolis.

Nearby Offices

This office accepts credit/debit card and digital wallet payments. Customers will be charged a 2.3 percent service fee when using this payment option.

Today's Wait Times

This office accepts credit/debit card and digital wallet payments. Customers will be charged a 2.3 percent service fee when using this payment option.

When is the DMV open?

During the lunch hour, starting at noon and lasting usually until about 2 p.m. On the first and last day of the week that the DMV office is open; Monday and Friday for most offices. During the first or last week of the month.

How often does the DMV update?

Nevada, for instance, updates wait times for six DMV offices every 90 seconds.

Do you have to appear in person at the DMV?

Still, there are certain situations in which you must appear in person. Fortunately, with a little advanced planning on your behalf, you can minimize the time involved by visiting when DMV offices are at their slowest.

Does the DMV do dental visits?

If you're like most, you place a visit to your Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office on par with dental visits and colostomy examinations. Yet, it's one of life's realities that must be done. To ease the inconvenience, many DMV locations now offer online services for everything from duplicate driver licenses to vehicle registration renewals.

The worst of the worst?

First, we looked at all the DMV locations in California (over 150) that had over 75 reviews and started from there. Below is what we came up with, ordered by the number of reviews, since all below had 2.5 stars. Lastly, as you’ll start to notice, the easiest way to avoid most of this drama is to make an appointment ahead of time….

Number 10: Carmichael DMV with 61 reviews

Here were some of the most scathing reviews of this DMV in Sacramento County, via Yelp. The common theme we start to see, some employees are less helpful than others…

Number 9: Hawthorne DMV with 91 reviews

Three of the particularly painful reviews, via the Hawthorne DMV Yelp page, for this LA area location.

Number 8: Chula Vista DMV with 94 reviews

Imagine being yelled at the entire time you’re taking your driving test and having the tester blaming your parents. This is our top on from Chula Vista DMV review page from only a couple weeks ago:

Number 7: Montebello DMV with 109 reviews

Besides complaints over slowness and employees, here’s another review of a very stressful behind-the-road driving test in this LA county location.

Number 6: Van Nuys DMV with 135 reviews

Another LA area DMV, it’s “always very crowded” and one review even gave the customer service “0/5 stars”.

Number 5: Poway DMV with 166 reviews

This DMV in San Diego county comes in at number 5 from it’s Yelp reviews. This review captures some of the sentiment many others had: