PennDot Photo & Exam Center

I dreaded going and getting my new picture taken and put it off for months. Finally I went first thing on a Monday morning. When I walked in and picked a number, I was number 46 and they were on 43. I was in and out in about 10 minutes and the woman that took my photo was professional, kind and personable. This was an extremely positive experience and changed my perception of the process.

I typically go here for all of my DL services. It’s hit or miss though. I went there on a Wednesday at like 10 am to get my license renewed. I w as out of there in like 15 mins. Photo and all. Of course Sat is the worst day at any DMV. PA should really do something in general about there DMV service centers. Check/​Money orders? They should certainly fix that.

Worst service. I know they don’t feel pressure because they are necessary to keep around but they don’t do anything to help out your situation. I took an eye exam to get a transfer from my out of state license. The first part I aced. But the second was more vague and I questioned the woman examining me about the test. She said I failed and would have to go see an eye doctor. I don’t have vision problems and wasted two hours of my day. Wouldn’t even let me take the test again. Don’t come here especially if you have to take a vision test.

If PENNDot were a competitive business, it would be out of business. Unfortunately it’s frowned upon in PA to buy your drivers license from anywhere else, so you have to come and visit one of these from time to time.
Now pity me, because as a short-​term visa holder I have to come every year, rather than every 4 years. I’m not allowed to use the internet-​based system to renew. And because I don’t have a check book, I have to come in, wait in line, find out how much they decide it will cost, drive to the bank, have them create a money order, drive back, wait in line, provide a ton of information, get in a new line to get a photo, and go and drink my sorrows.
I waste 6 hours each year on this madness.
My favorite part is when my visa expires, my drivers license expires, and then whilst I await the paperwork from the department of state, PENNDot won’t renew my drivers license. What exactly am I supposed to do during this 3 week period? Hire a limo driver? Hole myself up in the basement?
In the end I don’t know why I’m bothering to write this review because the people who run this center are paid to run a process. To their credit, they don’t do such a bad job at running a farcical process. They’re not bad people.
But I do wish there was a shred of common sense to do something to make places like this more efficient.

This place is the greatest DMV on the planet and if we discover another planet we should include that one too. First things first when you come in get a front row seat because its fun to watch the expression on everyone’s face when they walk in. Everyone has a neutral sort of look and then when they see how crazy it is in here the look of defeat washes over them and it makes me smile. So about the center…, the seating is limited and I’m guessing because the chairs are so nice they couldn’t afford to buy a lot. Another feature of this place is all the florescent lighting! Who likes natural light anyway — can I get a what what??? Also you will look forward to the bathroom here; there is one for everyone to share and who doesn’t love sharing. Extra thanks to the person that managed to get urine on the seat, nice going you sir or mam (I really hope this wasn’t a mam) are an award winning human being! Onto the efficiency; it’s pretty awesome and I don’t know who figured out the metric two people can service 200 plus people per day but it works! Seriously great job on that you guys or girls nailed that!!! As for the two people behind the counter taking care of all these people you guys do a great job (this isn’t sarcasm). I’m pretty sure the only way they get through their day is being dead inside and once they are set free to go home they experience a level of joy that few of us could understand. In all sincerity I hope they at least buying them lunch everyday because I’m pretty sure work place satisfaction doesn’t keep them coming back! Oh wait… What!!! I’m getting in trouble for using my cell phone!!! No cell phone use!!! This is great — best day ever!!! Thanks DMV for reminding me I don’t need a cell phone while in paradise!!!

My experience here just blew my mind, and not in a good way. The people working here are clearly miserable in life, and frankly, I would be too if I would spend 40 hours a week in this dump.
Nonetheless… Took my knowledge test here after moving to the area from Amsterdam. The test was (obviously) pretty straight forward, but the people at the desk are just unfriendly, rude and not helpful at all in answering any of your questions.
Then… I also took my road test here. Or actually, I didn’t, because I failed parallel parking. Had an appointment for 10:30am but don’t count on taking your test on time, cause you’ll have to wait forever anyway. The guy judging my driving (or better said, parking) was such an A-​hole! Contemplating on whether I should mention his name or not… I know you do the same freakin’ thing every single day, but do you really have to be like that? Talking like a machine, having this sense of power over his face. He clearly (a little too clearly) loves to have this power because he’s clearly the type of person to be picked on at school.
Drove my car within the lines without bumping into the poles, needed 1 turn more than the max of 3 turns. And that was it. He took about 2 seconds to explain why I failed and stepped out of my car.
This same guy also failed the guy who went before me, so I guess he was into it for the day.
It just amazes me how you get treated here, and it’s something I’ve never experienced before. I know more people who have failed at this DMV, people who are all experienced drivers, so from what I hear (and experienced), they’re super strict here.
Not keen on going back here, and will try to go somewhere else in hopes of finding a friendlier environment. Wish me luck!

Drove all the way out here midday on a Saturday, well within the published business hours on PennDOT’s website, only to find the place closed. Tried in vain to find a way to call other driver’s license centers to see if I could verify that they were open before making the trip, but PennDOT does not publish contact numbers for individual centers and only a convoluted and frustrating automated phone service is a available on weekends. Apparently there’s no way to predict or verify whether a center will be open as advertised. Totally frustrating.

Arrived at noon on Saturday. Website indicated it was open until 4:15. Gate chained. Location closed. Drove 30 minutes to get here. Welcome to PA.

Waste of an afternoon. They were supposed to be open until 4:15 PM today, according to the PennDOT website. I showed up at 2 PM, to be greeted by a chained gate with a «Closed» sign on the front. The place was deserted. Not enough time to go to to the Philly DMV now, guess I know what I’m doing next weekend.

Where else can you sit for three hours to receive services… your taxes are paying for? Why, the government of course. They have you take a number like at the deli counter, and then you sit… and sit… and sit. A plethora of signs say that you can’t use electronic devices, including cell phones and ipads, while waiting, I think to intentionally cause more mental pain. This is as close as I’ve ever come to gouging my eyes out with a meat thermometer out of sheer boredom.

I avoid this place like the plague. So glad I only need to come every 4 years.
Photo center is in a separate building from everything else. A huge room with dozens of chairs lined up, usually filled with miserable, impatient and/​or totally aloof people, almost always texting or taking photos of themselves while they wait their turn.
Aside from that, you pull a number and wait for them to call it. I think I was out in about 30 minutes or so, but still, I wouldn’t be back here before I need to be!

Have come here every time I had to deal with anything license related. The employees try to stay positive and work had to keep the lines as short as they can. I’ve been to places in New Jersey, and they were hell compared to this place. So, all in all, for being a dreaded DMV, it’s never treated me wrong.