California Department of Motor Vehicles [CA DMV]
Reviews and Complaints

This place is no different than before as far as the lines and pace. Clearly something they are doing isn’t working or they aren’t making people go to the right places. People are leaving because it’s so packed employees are slow annoyed and seem rude not very helpful at all. And people before u come leave ur children at home no one wants to hear crying kids

Jul 13 2023

i paid off car on jul13 2023 from credit union they sent to dmv jul 28 2023 my wife put change of address in post office moved to utah on jul 11 2023. Still have not recieved title is now dec 9 2023

i have chatted with agent about this on oct 24 and no answer i know they have new address in utah cause they sent reg for new tags to address in utah have chatted again with agent she again told me 3-4 wks this chat was on nov 27 2023.

My registration renewal was marked as needing a smog check this year, even though smog checks are due only every other year, and my last smog was last year. The telephone clerk I talked to claimed I needed another smog this year, because I just purchased my vehicle last year, and the smog was only good for the purchase. A smog, is a smog, is a smog. Biannual is biannual. That is their rule not mine. They don't abide by their own rules, then make up excuses when they're busted.

Late Registration: I didn't receive anything from DMV reminding me of my registration. Not a letter, email, call or vm did I receive. I just recently moved to another state and came to realize I didn't renew my registration. I've been a resident of CA for 33 years and never missed renewing my registration and now I'm being charged for late fee's. Please confirm receipt of this complaint.

DOT #2375368 I was parked at a curb behind a deisel truck, in front of this company at 17140 Kingsview Ave, Carson, CA 90746..One of their drivers came out got into their diesel truck and backed into my parked car. My car was stuck under the truck. The driver got out and apologized. He got his boss his boss apologized and said his insurance would take care of it. Then refused to give insurance information. The driver, and the owners got together in a huddle, called the police and LIED and said I ran into their truck. I was sitting still. I now have pain in my back and shoulders. There are several cameras around that will show their driver backed into my car.

On 6/15/2023 I completed my DL renewal and paid the $41.00 fee. When I did so, I made a copy of the receipt of the renewal fee. Today I received a letter from DMV saying my check was not honored and requested an additional $30.00 for the dishonored check fee. After contacting DMV, I was told that I did not fill out the form properly and did not give enough information. When I countered the lady who told me that, her name is Stephanie, I was told I had to have my bank send a letter to DMV stating why they did not honor the request. When I told her that was not going to happen, I did everything right and it was DMV's problem, she said it was above her level and had to have her Supervisor get involved. She said she needed a couple of minutes to type the email, but after 10 minutes, she still did not come back. Why she needed me to hold for her to type an internal request is beyond me. After I finally gave up and hung up, she never did contact me again.

Febuary 2, 2023 I went to the dmv to pay my tags so I went to the kiosk machine I did a transaction took my money and never gave me my tags so I ask the person at dmv they said the machine don’t work and to call the number that is on there but I did not leave without paying my tags so I wouldNT GET interest fees charge. SO I STAND IN LINE AND PAYED MY RENew REGISTRATION FEES AND WAS HANDED MY NEW TAGS AND RECEIPT THAT I PAYED MY VEHICLE REGISTRATION. So now I get a letter from dmv DEMAND FOR PAYMENT FOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION?

I just moved from Arizona and I recently got married. The dmv processes in this state are pretty intense. They wanted old marriage licenses to show my maiden name that matched my birth certificate. So not only did I have to wait hours to find out this information. I had to track down and pay for those marriage licenses. Also my husband and my name are on the loan documents for this car yet they would not allow me to add my name on the registration which I believe is a ludicrous practice. They also won’t let me do much without my husband present who works out of town. It took me a month to track down everything and get this car legally registered in this state and they have a 20 day law to register your vehicle. On top of that they are the most rude and disrespectful people I have ever seen in my life. Registering your car in this state is triple the price of Arizona. You would expect a little more courteous dispositions. Most of us have lots of questions and being new in the state having to learn the differences of laws. I felt patronized, degraded and they were so condescending. Horrible place. Arizona experience was so nice and I dread having to ever deal with this place ever again.

I moved to Oregon in August of 2023. I immediately applied for a driver's license and car registration. I got the license, but could not get the license plates because I don't have the title copy to my car. The car was originally in my father's name. When he died six years ago in February of 2017, I went to the local DMV to transfer the title of the car to my name a few months later. I am the Trustee and Executor of his estate and brought in the appropriate documents. I have the receipt, which was $15 at the time. I don't recall ever receiving a copy of the title to my car in the mail. I had many other obligations at the time, and it wasn't foremost on my mind. Now, six years later, I moved to another state which requires the title of the car to register in that state. I called the DMV (yes, I actually got through--that time) around October of 2022 and was given instructions on what to do and what forms to fill out about the request for a title and official change of address. I was mailed the forms to fill out and received them a few weeks later. I had questions about the form for the title request but was never able to get through to anyone. I tried so many times between November of 2022 to February of 2023 to no avail. The California DMV has got to be the absolute worst place for customer service. You can never get through to anybody, no matter what--not by phone or online. You are forced to wait for hours just to get transferred, only to get the same treatment all over again. I finally gave up and just mailed the forms in along with an explanation of what I was requesting. After one month, I had not received any information from them and began the useless quest to call them again. I spent up to three hours on the phone being given the run around while waiting for an actual person to talk with. I even contacted the Sacramento office and was given the same bullcrap about having to call their useless 800 number. Somehow, after several DAYS, I managed to get through to someone. She told me that my paperwork was received but would be mailed back to me because I did not enclose $25. I told her there was nothing on the paperwork they sent me that stated I needed to send money. I also told her that even after going online and filling out the necessary change of address forms I was told to fill out, I just got a DMV notice for car registration fees due in June. She told me what to do and to include this in the mail that I was being sent. A few days later, I received all the paperwork I originally sent in the first place. I enclosed a check along with another explanation of what was going on, the need for the Title to my car and the notification, once again, that I moved out of state on the car renewal registration they just sent me. This was two months ago. Now, it is June and my car registration is due to expire at the end of the month. I just received what I thought was the copy of the title I requested. Instead, it was yet another renewal registration notice for California along with a copy of my California registration. I requested a copy of the Title to my Car, not a registration copy. I am effing furious! I can't get through to anyone by phone or online. What the hell is going on at this place. I NEED THE TITLE TO MY CAR--NOW...How in the world can I get an actual person who will actually work to resolve this issue by phone immediately when the DMV does everything it can to prevent people from getting through to them? Who the hell do I call--now? Time is running out! The DMV ought to have a call back system for those people who can't get through to anyone. It's a logical choice and other large organizations utilize this method. California's DMV should do the same.

The clerk at the DMV, window #23, on June 7 at approximately 9:30 AM told my friend "don't you know how to use a computer? It's a lot faster." (when my friend asked for a written test). Then when my friend asked "how many questions on the test?", the clerk said "45 questions... you took the test before"

The clerks should learn to provide what the customer is asking, without the sarcastic commentary.

I was standing with my friend during this exchange, and I heard this firsthand. My friend granted me permission to file this complaint

I have been trying to sell my vehicle with CA Tags. The Tags have expired because I cannot get the title from the CA DMV. I have changed the address, they acknowledge that they have the correct address. Yet after 4 times they have not sent the title. Each time I speak to the CA Help over the phone they say that it should arrive. Then after 6 weeks they state that I should apply for a lost title.

Who does the CA DMV answer to? If the loss of the sale of the vehicle is causing serious distress and loss of business income, is there a peaceful and fast resolution to this kind of egregious disregard for citizen rights, incompetence, and abuse of authority?

The last four years I have carried a drivers license that was renewed with an inaccurate address (one extra digit) which of course created issues when an ID was required. I would aways have to explain the DMV made an a date key entry error. Thinking it was just a one time fluke, I just renewed my Real ID online, including a check that clearly stated my accurate address. I couldn’t believe what I read when it arrived. The address was wrong again, this time with another wrong address, and it actually was delivered to my real address which did not match the address on the mailing envelope. And you wonder why our identities are so easily stolen. This incompetence is so frustrating. So, I’ve spent the last few hours online, going through their tedious process of verification, to get my accurate address replaced with the inaccurate DMV listed on my ID. I’m not even sure they’ll get that right! 5 years, 2 renewed licenses, and still have not got it right. God awful incompetence in charge of our government documents. Please prayer for our state!

Received letter from DMV in February 2023 notifying me that they had suspended my driver's license for failure to provide proof of insurance and to pay $14.00 to reinstate my license. I have had continuous automobile coverage for more than 40 years. I wrote the DMV on February 28th, and provided proof of insurance and notified them that I had moved out of state in December 2022 and have an appointment with the North Carolina DMV to obtain NC license, registration etc. on April 18th of this year. There were no earlier appointments. I paid for vehicle registration until September of 2023.

DMV notified my new insurance provider (Progressive) that the VIN number and/or license number did not match their records. NOT TRUE. I sent Progressive a copy of my Title and a CA registration that confirmed that the information I provided was correct. Then, DMV sent me a notice of suspended license for not paying their extortion fee of $14.

This is excessively punitive and retaliatory. I worked in California and file my taxes in California (a lot of taxes!). The DMV website says drivers may provide proof of insurance "and/or" pay $14.

We have been trying since June 2021 to get our Change of Address completed for our camp trailer. We have made several phone calls to confirm we were submitting the correct forms; completed and submitted all forms four times and still, this has not been resolved. Today, 20 months later, we get a notice from the State Franchise Tax Board threatening Collection of Registration Fees and Penalties on a vehicle that hasn't been in Ca since June 2021.

We really would like to get this resolved and move on not having to deal with this issue anymore. According to talking with others who have moved away from Ca, this has been an issue for them as well.

Can anyone there help resolve this?

Thank you.

My name is Spencer Acosta CDL#A2171115.I went down a couple days before my expiration date of 7/21/2022.From the very first day I was told one thing come back and get told another.I was told the 1st visit that I had 2 no at fault accidents which made me have to test even though I was dropping all

My endorsements just applying for Class A and air brakes class c and M1.after 3 weeks of working with CHP out of Sacramento,Ca we in fact realize that it was never me that got hit I never ever worked for any company I’m Fresno..I returned to DMV I’m now

Being told I still have to test because DMV has not seen me in a long time,incorrect when adding a Class A and a M1 license in 2019 all

My testing homeland security and medical form was all done at the Merced,ca office.I was then told that Class C and M1 would be waved and to take Class A general and air brakes.The first general knowledge test I took I was told it was the wrong test.I told clerk if I took it and failed it I can live with 1 failed so far.The following week I come back and take the Air brakes and passed.zI then went to the counter as I did before the air brakes.The clerk then told me which number computer to go to.Keep in mind I was 15 ft from the counter so I put my thumb on scan to identify myself and the language screen came up I accidentally clicked a language that was close real close to english so my first thing that came to my mind was close out go back to counter and let clerk know that I had never ever answered nor did a practice question appear that I clicked on wrong language.The female clerk sits there looking at the screen by which time a male supervisor was standing next to her computer and she looks up and said you failed.Both the clerk and supervisor told me I had to call Sacramento to resolve the error.I called Sacramento Dmv office and they told

Me no the field officer e Merced,Ca has to deal with it.The next week I return did I mention my stress level was a little high I did not feel

Like I was being treated fairly and it seems the rules are being made up adjusted as the weeks go on.I had lost several job opportunities because of all of this and everytime I go to that office I feel

Like I don’t have a chance.So I went back in the following week again to ask a question of a female manager and the male supervisor was out of the office and I explained to her what had been happening.She comes back to the counter with a report that I had missed 16 question on a test that I was only at the computer for approximately 3 minutes there is no way with the slight glitch in the system as the computer shows you that you missed that answer and what the rite answer is.Thers is no way in : minutes missing 16 questions in a 50 question test not possible.Being that there was no one in line in that side and being the amount of times I have been to that office and only being at the computer for approximately 3 min I’m a firm believer that clerk and manager know what happened who did what who made the decision or the call.Just like after 20 years a surrendered license comes up in my record never was on 20 plus years.I have had identity theft against me my e mail hacked my cell phone illegal wire tap and data of myself my life shared with me previous employeer.I went and took another test and I failed that was only 2 Gail’s but the computer is saying I failed one that I never got past the language screen.This is causing a bunch of grief for my family myself and my income.Now as it stand I have to start over this is unfair,I am a untied states citizen and don’t feel I got treated fairly from the start.I hope to resolve this ASAP and from the start I should of had to pay fees do vision test and be on my way.I have friends that have a couple endorsements and they walked in paid did Visio test and they where on their way.Why is Spencer Acosta Sr being treated differently then the others.[protected] If I can not get somewhere or something resolved soon I will have to file with the courts