Department of Public Safety

Why is it so impossible to get in contact with a representative to ask some real quick questions. Do y’all only got one telephone? If there were negative star rating I would give you the highest possible.

Suuuuuuuucccchhhhh aaaaaaaa. Wwwooooooinderfullllll dddpppppsssssss

I was dreading a trip to the DPS and put it off as long as I could. My birthday came and went and my license was expired so I finally had no choice but to go. I arrived thirty minutes before they opened just to be on the safe side! I was still fifth in line but I met a nice talkative lady and the time flew by.
Once inside I quickly got a number and was called into to renew my license. The whole process couldn’t have taken more than 15 minutes. I imagine the line gets pretty crazy later in the day but I couldn’t be happier about the experience I had.
The only bad thing is how everything is auto mated and take a number driver. I could see you being here for a very long time if you make any mistakes on any forms or go to the restroom and don’t hear your number called.
I must say this DPS experience is leaps and bounds over my last and I feel good saying it was an A-​OK experience! Just get there 30 minutes before they open and I think you experience can be just as great!

Absolutely amazed with this place, it clean neat, and organized. I waited for a total of about 30 minutes. Not sure how long this place has been here but I’m glad it is. The last time I had wait in line at a DPS or took me 4 hours!

We came here expecting a horrible experience which might be pretty typical with a place like the dmv. Having to go is almost like getting teeth pulled… But I must say that they have come a long way since the 90’s. We had to come twice to convert a Nevada driver’s license into a Texas one. As soon as you walk in, you take a number after inputting information into a computer menu which was straightforward. There are two computers for convenience. Both times, the wait time was very reasonable in comparison to past dmv experiences (about 20 – 30 minutes at most.) I still remember the hellish past experiences at other locations which could easily be for hours. They have quite a few stations to speed things up.
The first visit, the lady at information was very thorough in explaining everything we needed for our transaction and she even gave us printed documents that were useful while simultaneously working through an onslaught of people who never learned to wait in lines correctly. Texas has stringent requirements in obtaining your license including having to provide multiple documents proving identification and residency. When we came back the second time, the servicer offered us both straightforward, professional, and pleasant customer service.
I don’t ever think I could honestly say that the dmv is an amazing experience for both customer and employee, but I can say that this is one of my better experiences. The staff here made a good effort to be friendly and we came in with realistic expectations. Not bad and thanks again :)

Got there at 1030am was out the door by 1045. Very fast and the best DPS establishment yet. Went there for a d r renewal and the service was great.

Went in and made a friend with the young lady who took care of me,
Lots of parking
looks like every other one.
We decided to meet up and go dancing and leave our I do not want to do anything Husbands at home. wow we talked and talked it was not busy for a Monday.
Make sure to get your ticket ‚
Lost mine could of done it online but did not know the AUDIT number on the side.
so made three copies.

My trip to get a Texas driver’s license became a Kafka-​esque debacle that wasted my whole morning.
The online brochure outlining what you need to get a driver’s license isn’t very clear:
You really need a lot of documents to prove your identity, SSN, proof of insurance and receipt for registration, and finally your out-​of-​state license. Not all of these items are mentioned in the brochure. So before you can get a ticket there’s a touch-​screen that asks what documents you’ve got. It goes through a list of documents one at a time and if gets to one you don’t have, you get a screen that says, «We’re sorry, we can’t help you today.»
Now here’s the problem: THE TOUCH-​SCREEN WON’T TELL YOU WHAT OTHER DOCUMENTS YOU NEED! So if you brought your ID, it might say it can’t help you because you don’t have your social security card. So you come back with your social security card and ONLY THEN will it tell you you need a receipt of your vehicle registration. It’s like the system was designed so people would have to keep going home for more documents. This is especially frustrating because it could be fixed REALLY EASILY.
When I finally got my ticket (which wasn’t on the first try) I waited for over an hour. From what I could tell your ticket has nothing to do with when your called. They don’t go in order. Some people waited five minutes and some waited over an hour. I don’t see why people don’t just use the kiosk to get 4 or 5 tickets and just see which number comes up first. There’s nothing stopping you from doing that!
I expected to wait, but what pissed me off was a sign that said «Thanks to our new system, Texans will never have to wait in line!» That’s a really infuriating sign when you’ve been waiting an hour. What were they thinking putting that sign up? Does the Austin jail have a sign that says, «You’re not confined to a cell right now!»? Now the Kafka-​esque nightmare was becoming Orwellian.
I finally got called and sat down at a desk. The woman behind the desk started to talk to me, but then got on the phone and talked for two minutes with someone about when her lunch break was and how long it would be. Then she talked with two other women at two other desks (who were also supposed to be helping people) about their lunch plans. Apparently, the manager was not letting them take a full hour for lunch — which I think was done to improve customer service. Only customer service isn’t improved if you have three clerks bantering for five minutes at a time about their lunches while they’re supposed to be helping people!!! The lunch restrictions for clerks were just like the touch-​screen. It was supposed to make things better but instead made it worse.
I won’t even get into how violated I felt having to have all ten fingers scanned with a laser so that Big Brother can track me. They should really open a bar right next to the DMV. Anyone who spends more than half and hour in there deserves a stiff drink.

The Public Safety officer was really a nice person, absolutely nice people then south location by the I35, really helped me out for the out state DL, even though they was so busy and i forget couple of my documents in my car, i have to run back and forth couple of times, he actually waited for me. thanks for being nice.

I don’t know that I’m technically a «fan» of any DMV, but 4 stars seems relatively fair in this case. Especially given the fact that I went in at 10am on a Monday and barely had time to fill out my new renewal info page before I was called over.
The lady who helped me was totally pleasant and everything was clean. And while some of the reviews on here had me thinking they only took check or cash, they’re actually fine with a credit card, too. Probably just won’t take a debit card, but I didn’t ask to confirm.
I look like a washed out mummy in my photo, but meh. Ain’t a photography review.
No parking trouble and just look for the Payless Shoe Store if you’re having trouble finding the place. They’re right on the other side of that building.

So I was immediately greeted at the doorby an employee of the office telling me to throw away my brand new drink. F room their my experience only went downhill. The staff was miserable, and the look lobby was extremely overcrowded. Use a different office if possible

So I walked in with no expectations. Starting at 5 stars. Looking to get a driving record for an interview I had just received a call for ten minutes prior.
Helpful touch screen kiosk. I didn’t see my query on the screen so I took a number and sat down. As I was sitting there I noticed it was very bland, the tile floors make it seem like a holding cell more than a waiting area.
Lose 1 star. Poor décor.
My number is i034 we’re on i097, I hope it doesn’t go past 100. It didn’t. But at 320 on a Tuesday it still took me 48 minutes before I was called. Lose 1 star. Poor time management.
I walked to the information desk to ask about driving records. «Sir we only have internet and mail, snail mail available.» Those were my only options while Standing in the ACTUAL DPS? Really? Okay so I asked to man where I could go to get a record for an interview I had today. «Well why did you wait until the last day to get one?» I explained the situation at hand and about the phone call and he responded «So you waited until the last minute to try and get one? «Lose 1.5 stars. Poor customer service.
I wanted to pull this short, rude, Hispanic child across the desk and explain to him that that attitude was NOT acceptable for being at the Information Desk. But instead I had a few choice words with the little rude man and left, unsatisfied, annoyed, and unwilling to Ever return. It’s .6 miles from me and I’d rather drive to north Austin. Sad really.
Don’t come here. It’s hit or miss. Never consistent. And when it’s missing it’s really missing the mark.

I just received my Texas state ID today! Yay!
I went in at 4:15 PM and checked in on the touch screen kiosk. I was pretty nervous considering all the rumors I heard about how hard it is to get a state ID in Texas. The voting drama etc. So I brought my passport, birth certificate, bank statement and every piece of mail, document etc. known to man that I had proving that I have been living in Texas for the past three months.
I probably waited no longer than 15 minutes when I was called over to a desk, and was asked to have a seat. The woman was pleasant, had tons of cute pink bedazzled items on her desk and quickly got to the point. She was even kind enough to tell me to retake my photo because my hair was doing something crazy in the first photo. I didn’t even know! She was just nice enough to notice and care.
I paid my $ 16, had my temporary ID paper and was on the road back home at 4:50 PM.
Maybe its because I grew up in NYC, and spent some time in California… but this was a seriously pleasant experience for me in comparison to what I am used to. There is no sitting at a desk with a one on one attendant after waiting in a big clean waiting room with a TV for your ticket to be called kind of experience in any other place that I have ever lived. So I am pretty convinced that Texans are just spoiled. That is the only way I can imagine someone writing a bad review about this place.
Oh and you can smile in your photo. I was worried that you could not do that here, but you can. :-D
I wish they had weekend hours, and that my face didn’t look so chubby in my photo. But otherwise, great experience!

Advantages of this location:
1) Acres of parking
2) Waiting room the size of a small house
3) No extra charge for that soul-​sucking portion of your life wasted here
4) Touchscreen that determines the purpose of your visit so you don’t have to interact with staff
5) Better facilities than previous locations
6) Immaculate restrooms
Disadvantages of this location:
1) Mostly dull, lifeless, and humorless staff that only serves to reinforce the stereotype of «state employee»
2) Large screen TV that entertains by announcing numbers other than the ones currently being called
3) Complete randomness of number assignment; even if your number is next, it can still be a half-​hour
4) Enormous information desk whose seeming sole purpose is to support a sign that reads «Don’t stand here to fill out forms»
5) Two much smaller desks with four chairs total to fill out forms
6) Pen? What pen? Teller!!!
But the best part of my visit? Getting to shout «BINGO!» when my number was finally called after an hour of waiting. That made the information desk guy smile after all. :)

I showed up around 11am on a Thursday and the service was quick and easy. Walk in. Walk up to the automated machine to get a ticket for whatever you need to do. Fill out a form or two which the machine tells you to complete and then wait. I was in and out in less than 20 min. The facility was clean as well, which is always a nice perk.
Overall, I’d definitely recommend this location for all your DPS needs (although I don’t think they do driving tests here.)

This is truly, unequivocally Hell on Earth.
Texas is very, very tough on getting identification. Trust me, I had a Texas licence, moved out of State, came back with my out of State licence, and the process is still a nightmare. HAVE ALL OF YOUR UNNECESSARILY NEEDED DOCUMENTS AND THEN SOME. The states proof of residency is a nightmare, they barely accepted two pieces of mail in my name.
Also DO NOT PAY WITH A CREDIT UNION debit card. The retards who run the show, would not accept it, and I had to go to two locations to pull out cash (the ghetto ass gas station across the street had the ATM out of commission).
Back inside, you will be greeted by passive aggressive teenagers who are cold and emotionless. They direct you to some dumbass computer then grill you for documents, then tell you to sit and rot. The number system is FUBAR too. It went out of order, people who showed up later than me went before me, etc.
On top of the cold treatment, you have State Troopers armed to the teeth patrolling, and straight up calling people out and taking them into back rooms for warrants. I saw 2 PEOPLE get cuffed. It was scary as hell.
If you are unsure about traffic warrants, or ANYTHING, triple fucking check before you enter this hell zone. Also I cannot stress, bring every piece of damn document with your name on it, and bring cash, just in case their card readers are down.

Long story long. It runs fairly efficiently, considering it’s the DMV, but the old lady at the front after I electronically submitted my info., tells me I need my passport! I’m an American citizen with my prior DL & my SS card, and this old wench implies that I’m an immigrant, which yes pissed me off! Especially considering she couldn’t even speak English properly & I’m sorry to say, looked homeless! Prior to coming, I had looked on their website that said I was fine with the id & documents I had! She didn’t even listen or care! It was like conversing with a parrot, but one that wasn’t near as bright!
I had to drive my hot booty all the way home & obtain my passport to get a DL!!!
Finally I make it back. Then after a short, painless wait, I am assigned to a Hispanic girl that had the personality of a young prune, who precede to take a horrendous picture. After reading a prior positive review stating as such, I thought hey, maybe I could do a quick retake, but oh no! She was clearly miserable, even though after all the BS, I took the time to talk to her & be friendly. Her response was ‘you’re smiling & your eyes are open, it’s good”! End of story & I was dismissed! I’m sorry but what a witch!
My regrets are that I almost brought my passport but didn’t & not standing my ground! I paid for my license & it’s no trouble, considering everything is electronic now, for this girl to take a moment to satisfy me with one more click. Now I have to unfortunately live with a very unflattering photo. Boo! Oh & I wish I could have gotten her name, so I could post it, bc life isn’t that bad… especially in Austin!

Today my wife and I went to this office for the fourth time and were not able to trade our CA driver’s license for a TX one.
We were there with the following documents:
CA Driver’s Licenses
US Passports
Federal Tax Return Extension application.
Registration and insurance certificates for both of our vehicles
Utility bills for our home.
Obviously, that wasn’t enough. The persons «helping» us needed to see either our social security cards (I lost mine over 40 years ago and have never needed it) our W2’s or I’9’s. We are self employed (landlords) and don’t get these.
Tomorrow we’re going to a different office, with the same paperwork, and I bet we get our licenses.

While one can never be a fan (4 stars) or gush as good as it gets (5 stars) over the DPS (and places like them), I have to say, it did not suck.
The dreaded year where you have to go in person, take the eye test, and get a new photo for your drivers license had arrived. Procrastinating as I do, I waited too long to do this.
I arrived at 3:25ish and was out by 4:10ish. It was a take a computer generated number after you give info to the kiosk type place. This location is newer and likely cleaner and more modern than other locations. My number was called, proof of me being, well me, was provided. Eye test… check. Photo (ugh)… no, no, no, yes please. The lady was so nice, she did not just use the first photo, she retook it until I was happy with it. This is not your grandma’s DPS.
Service was fast, friendly and painless. It did not suck, so they are A-​OK in my book.
BTW — I have been told the secret to a quick experience is to get there around 3 – 3:30 ish.

I have to say — as far as government offices go, this is one of the best I’ve experienced.
The scene: 3:30pm on the last Friday of the month. My out-​of-​state driver’s license is about to expire and I’ve clearly waited until the last possible second. I’m greeted by the touch-​screen ticket machine where I answer a few questions regarding my needs, said machine spits out a ticket and I find a seat in the waiting area.
Twelve minutes go by. My number is called and I report to desk #5, where the smiling agent asks for the appropriate documents (passport, proof of social security #, birth certificate, vehicle registration, auto insurance and my unexpired ID).
«Do you want to keep your old ID? Usually, you have to surrender it but I see it expires in two days.»
«Why yes — I’m nostalgic like that… thank you!»
She then asks me to step in front of the blue wall draping and she snaps a photo. It’s certainly not the best photo I’ve ever taken, but for an identification picture, it’s good.
I then pay my fees, she bids me a good weekend and I’m all done with my business inside of 25 minutes. At the DMV. On a Friday. On the last Friday of the month!
Efficiency rocks.