Department of Motor Vehicles

I’ve been to this DMV 3 or 4 times now, and I’ve always been very impressed. Yes, there are sometimes long waits and many people in line – there are many people who need DMV services. But I’ve always been impressed by how quickly things go – the people who work here overall are very efficient, and I don’t feel like anything’s taking longer than it needs to. And if you wait in line and need to step away (e.g. you didn’t bring the right form and need to fill out a new one, or need to get papers from your car, or need to call you insurance company to have them fax in proof of insurance), they don’t make you wait in line again — you can just go right back up to the counter when you’ve got yourself sorted.
Today (Wednesday) I showed up at 4:15pm, without an appointment, and was still out the door by just after 5, despite the fact that it seemed quite busy.

I don’t like how big look my face in the driver’s license photo, the DMV camera has too much volume

I made an appointment at this place the day before, which was a miracle because all other DMVs were booked! :) My daughter had an appointment at 11:15a, but her driver’s behind the wheel test didn’t begin until 1:00p-ish because of the lengthy line for tests. We made sure we got there early to drive around the area to get familiar with the streets. It is close to the main street with strip malls, businesses, car dealerships, etc. It can make you nervous. But the roads and signs are pretty simple and basic.
Once inside the DMV, they were definitely very busy on Fridays! The wait for non-​appointment was 1 hour and 45 minutes. Tons of people. We had an appointment so we only waited 15 min to get processed. And they took us in order of appointment, which was a plus!
Finally, my daughter was up. The test lady, who was an african american lady, was very nice. She engaged with me in a small conversation before I left the vehicle. When they came back, she credited my daughter as being a good driver and that she did a good job. She put a smiley face on her test review paperwork. She was great! (Wish I got her name)

I was very impressed with the Redwood City DMV today! I had an appointment, which made the visit faster, but I was immediately impressed with the layout and efficiency of the staff. The site was clean, organized, and welcoming. The layout was lean and had a natural flow. It was hands down my best DMV experience ever. If there is a model example for furniture set up and equipment layout and staff-​customer experience, Redwood City DMV should be it.

Had 950 appointment today and show up at 940. Waited in a short line which took 8 – 9 minutes to get to a person. Explained my issue with my wife’s car registration. Gave me a number and told me to sit down. Waited maybe 5 more minutes before I was called up to window 7. A lady with a smile asked me what I needed. After explaining my situation, she told me that a SMOG was past due and needed to be completed before I could get my sticker. She suggested I leave and get it done but come back to her and don’t wait in line again. I did (about 30 minutes later) and got my sticker. Thanks G!

It was that time again to get my licensed renewed and I decided to try the DMV Redwood City location. I got here at 7:35am today (Tuesday) and there was already 25 customers here. When it comes to service, these guys rock, they had a gentleman pass forms, clipboard, and tickets to all of us outside before they opened; plus the representatives at the counter were friendly. Overall, it took an hour an twelve minutes, which isn’t bad in my book, but keep in mind that this can vary depending on what you need to get done (license renewal, registration, taking a test, etc), so plan accordingly!

Surprised by all the one star reviews– it is the DMV not a spa. Anyhow people working there were super nice and fast. No problems. If you come prepared with all you paperwork things will go smooth and fast. I had no appointment but checked the wait time on their website in advance, and went when the wait times were short

I was in and out in 45 minutes today. I did not have an appointment and was planning on spending my day off tomorrow at the dmv in San Mateo starting at 7:30 am!
I am a believer in the law of attraction, but sometimes it’s extremely difficult to believe. Sometimes you just want something badly but you don’t truely believe it will happen. Well today when I started work at 10am I told myself that I would get to dmv and there be no line or excessive waiting. I had nothing to loose since it was on my way home anyway. I show up and the parking lot is near empty. I thought I was in the wrong place or they were closed or something.
I walked in and winded up being the 2^nd person in line. I only waited about 7 minutes, filled out my form, got right back in line, got my number, number was called 2 seconds after that, paid some fees, went to take test and take photo. DONE!!!
The first lady that helped me was super cool. She even to me that the emptiness was rare.
God is good and keep believing or start asap!
I am on cloud 9.

Had an appointment at 8:30 am. Stood in the appointment line for 2 min before they opened. Got my number, and was the 3^rd person called. Took the vision test, paid, took my picture. Out within 15 min. Make sure you make an appointment if possible. The line with out an appointment was pretty long. Staff are friendly and efficient.

I came in dreading my appointment and being pleasantly surprised. I had an appointment to change my name (ie new license and photo but no test) at 9:35 on a Friday morning. Didn’t take long to check in, and all the employees I talked to were helpful and friendly. All in I was done ~40 mins after walking in.

Terrible, terrible, terrible service. Went in for a license renewal, took 5 hours. 3 months later, still didn’t receive the license in the mail. I called the DMV, took 2 hours to transfer me to legal department, which asked me to fax in additional visa documents, and end up taking another month. I have to go back and get another temporary license in the meantime.
Grumpy woman on the phone sounded like she didn’t want to work at DMV (who can blame her?). I truly pity anyone who works at the DMV.

I purchased a new vehicle in August and applied for environmental personalized plates as soon as I received the original plates. The notice arrived in the mail in late November so I made the first available appointment at this office, since it is near my workplace. Unfortunately, I had to cancel that appointment (very easy online, by the way) and a second one I made because of illness and not being in the office. I had to cancel the third appointment because the dealer, unbeknownst to me, had attached my front license plate (required in CA) with special screws «to keep your plate from being stolen» the service advisor told me (then why was the rear plate attached with regular flat head screws?).
I made a fourth appointment, which was yesterday 1−29−16. My appointment was for 1:50 pm and I arrived about half an hour before that. The parking lot was only half full on a Friday, a great sign? I went to the first desk for appointments and was assigned a number to listen for over the loudspeaker. I had barely found a seat when that number was called.
I went to window 8, where a very lovely and friendly woman named Kiran quickly and expertly processed my request to pick up my new license plates. We chatted as she processed everything, and I hope I made her day just a little bit better with my friendly compliments.
I have heard that DMV employees are not always well treated by people coming in to their offices, and I wanted Kiran to know that I really appreciated her kind and quick service! This is a great location for that. Thanks again, Kiran, and lady who processed me initially (I didn’t get your name).

Last weekend, I lost my wallet with my license in it. I checked for the earliest available appointment at the DMV — it was a month away. Since it’s illegal to drive without a license, I had no choice but to get a replacement the next morning.
I showed up at 7:55am (5 min before opening) and there were about 50 people already in line. Once the doors opened at 8, the line moved quickly. BUT here is the trick: if you are replacing your license, the person will give you a form to fill out. FILL THIS FORM OUT AS FAST AS YOU CAN. Then run back to the desk and you’ll get your number.
Two hours and 40 minutes later, I left, license in hand. That evening, I found my wallet.
Overall, this place gets 3 stars. The people at the desks were generally competent and friendly — it’s not their fault the wait was long.
Also, the DMV is an interesting place. Like being in an airplane, you can’t help but overhear conversations and get to know your neighbors since you’re in close quarters for several hours. The most heartwarming story I heard that morning was of a man whose friend had given him his car for $ 1. He was there to change the registration.

This is the second time I use this dmv services and in both visits I have been attended fast and nicely. In the first time I had an appointment but not in the second time, so my wife and I got there at 8am to renew our DL, we waited on a long, but fast, line and was gently served. Long story short, we left the office at 10am with our temporary issued.
Differently from the DMV San Mateo where I have visited about 4 times and have always waited very long and treated rudely.

Two stars less because the lady with tattoos all over her right hands and arms that works here is prejudice. I was standing to get a temporary license from a gentleman in the licensing area she points out to the sign where people take the written test and says” you cant look at your cell phone” uhhh duhhh I’m not in the testing area, i’m at the counter getting a temporary license which does not require taking the exam. I could of started a scene but i had more important things to do but to waist my breath and my energy on this ghetto woman. You could tell she is hill billy style of person.
The phillipino gentleman that works in the licensing area was so nice. He was trying to shut hill billy up so i can take my sight test.. Anyways avoid her and hopefully she gets fired with her nasty attitude.

I have had a license since I was 16, a long time. I got to the window, and they could not issue me a license renewal because I needed to show my passport and birth certificate. Um, I have had a license for over 40 years and have never moved out of this county. Needless to say I was pissed. I had to go all the way home and get my paperwork. I was angry at the DMV for this and expressed my opinion to the woman helping me. Her neighbor said «You always have to show ID when you come to the DMV». I said, «Isn’t my driver’s license ID enough?» she said the DMV no longer accepts drivers licenses as identification. Holy crap. The irony is killing me.
I said «Shouldn’t you tell people that they need to bring that documentation when they come to renew their license?» She said «It doesn’t happen to everyone» When I asked why me, she didn’t have an answer. STUPID!

Had to come here since it’s closer to work. My coworkers said this is their favorite DMV since she’s always been in and out within 10 minutes. Wished I had the same luck.
Made appointment at 10:50am on a Friday, arrived at 10:30am and the non appointment line was out the door, while the appointment line was about 15 people long. Reached the front desk by 11am, got a number and waited about 30 minutes; killed time by walking around, updated on driving rules, saw a nasty unisex restroom…
Got in another line for the photo and waited another 15minutes because a citizen couldn’t open her eyes whenever she took a picture…
Appointment at 10:50am, came in at 10:30am, left at 11:30am. Good riddance!

I visited the DMV on a Wednesday at 11:50am (appointment time) to get my CA registration, title, plates and stickers.
1. Make an appointment!!! I can’t stress this enough. You’ll wait but not nearly as long as if you didn’t have an appointment. There was a long line out the door when I arrived and because I had an appointment I walked right in and waited in a shorter line.
2. Got called to the front desk after a 15 minute wait and told the man what I was here for. He gave me the Application for Title and Registration told me to complete it outside once I pulled my car around the building. Be sure to follow the yellow arrow as it’ll lead you to the verification location where they verify your vehicle.
3. All in all I waited outside in my car while completing paperwork for about 30 – 40 minutes for a 10 minute vehicle verification process that consisted of me popping my hood, allowing the rep to take a look at some numbers under there, he checked my VIN and a few other things then gave me a completed Verification of Vehicle form that I then had to take inside.
4. Pulled car around back to the main parking lot. Went inside walked right up to desk no wait. I totally walked past everyone (the guy told me to do this) gave her my paperwork along with title and registration and she gave me a number and told me to have a seat at 12:56pm.
5. Got called at 1:14pm. Took less than 20 minutes to complete paperwork and costs $ 125 which got me the registration, plates, stickers and my new title will come in the mail.
*bring cash or debit. No credit cards. You can also split a payment using cash and debit.
Good luck!

This is hands down the best DMV that I have been to. I have been to a lot of DMV locations in Orange County and they were never this quick, even with appointment.
I had an appointment today for 9:40AM. I arrived at 9:30AM and took care of all the necessary documents/​paperwork. I was in the appointment line by 9:35AM and got my number. By 9:42AM I was being helped. The lady helping me at the window took less than 5 minutes to process a driver’s license renewal, new motorcycle registration, and motorcycle permit test.
The longest part of my visit was waiting to take a picture. That in itself took about 5 to 10 minutes. After taking my picture, I breezed through the motorcycle permit test and driver’s license renewal test and was out of the DMV.
I see a lot of people complaining about the service they received at the DMV. If you come here and treat the workers with respect, they will go out of their way to take care of you. If you come here acting like a ratchet, the workers will put you in your place.
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT!
This will expedite the whole process so that you won’t have to sit around with all the grumpy people.

Went to the DMV is Redwood City. Be sure to go on Saturday WITH AN APPOINTMENT! Actually DO NOT go without an APPOINTMENT! Went fairly quickly with appointment and being there early!