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

It all started in May of 2022. It's gone on for almost six months now. I had a lien on my truck and I needed it taken off. So the dmv virtual office said mail us all the original documents and we'll do it. So Iailed them my title, my registration card, my insurance card and a notarized release of lien holder from the company that held the lien. So finally they send my registration to me after almost six months. And guess what...the company is still on my registration as the lien holder and they mailed my title to that company. After six months of this and they couldn't even get it right! Here's the kicker. I can't even get them to respond and the one te they have after this they said call the company. We just sent them a new title for your vehicle. What? What? Fix your incompetent mistake! You had all the original documents and you couldn't remove a lien holder from a title and mail that title to the vehicles owner!? Now I can't get a response with a reason why they didn't do what they were supposed to do.

I went to the DMV after purchasing a vehicle in 2018 the cleark took the title and the rest of the paperwork and said the vehicle needed to be smogged. I asked for the sticker for the window due to it not getting the registration sticker I was told that the DMV doesn't do that anymore ( found out later that day it was not true) Come to also find out we purchased a lemon because it has a blown head gasket the Vehicle has been sitting since 2019 in my driveway and I'm stuck with it because I have no paperwork I've called the DMV and was told that I would receive the title once it passed smog. See where there is an issue it doesn't run so how will it pass smog? It has become a storage for all my junk because I can't get a junk slip unless I pay for registration there is a problem that I need the DMV to fix.

I paid on line for my drivers license replacement - I got the temporary license in my email & I was told the new license will b mailed to me 6-8 weeks / it has been over 3 months and I have NO drivers license in the mail - I was told to call the error process dept - they never answer the phone! Then I was told to fax the correct address to the error dept but they never except fax! No one at the dmv will help me! they just keep telling me to call and correct my address! My address is correct! Please help! [protected]@gmail.com

Why are we being scammed on registration fees? Why just because a vehicle costs more does my registration cost more. The DMV insuring these vehicles. How can the DMV justify charging $600 in registration for one vehicle and $100 for another when everything the DMV does for both is the same. The same piece of paperwork is sent out with the same sticker. Nothing is done different by the DMV so why are they being allowed to charge more?

I paid in full over a year ago $50 for the black personalized plates and talked with numerous customer service reps and the end result is the same. Nothing has arrived and im done. I NEED MY HARD EARNED $ RETURNED. I understand the pandemic, lack of staff, whatever excuse. But, following step by step DMV suggests. Now your stealing my funds. I can't sale the car, just wait? Enough, refund immediately!?!

Took my car in for a verification service. Officer checked the entire car. Last step was for him to check label inside the driver door panel. He had a metal key in his hand and spent a good amount of time in front of that door (asked me to step away). He then gave paperwork back to me and said "you're all done"
After leaving, I noticed that he had marked the paperwork as "do not process, refer to CHP" and of course had said nothing to me.
I drive back to try to clear out the issue. He looked at me with a blank face and said "go get in line, they will explain next step to you". When asked about the decal, he told me the vin was unreadable

I have a vehicle that was due for smog in 2020 and it was getting new engine at the time. I paid 2020 reg on time but because of the smog i did not receive tags

2021 smog obviously was needed so once truck was done in April, i smogged the truck and paid 2021 registration ontime $296

Never received tags ! Two months go by and in June i received a bill for the same $296 i knew it was a mistake but did not want to chance fees and NEEDED tags for efficient legal driving

So i paid again assuming this BLOATED agency would catch the mistake and make it right… NOT A CHANCE I got No Tags!

Another two months and i receive a bill for an additional $169-

Having no clue what this for and the bill was extremely vague with no explanation just the word "addition due" frustrated and fatigued from all the BS this Government of ELITISTS sheds on hard working citizens and I paid it.

AS OF NOVEMBER 17 Still NO TAGS!

I spent hours on the phone today and was finally able to get a rep on phone who determined their system did not reflect the SMOG i received in APRIL.

After some on hold time he came back on phone and said he can send my tags! GREAT! AMAZING THANK YOU LORD GOVERNMENT AGENCY! I feel blessed and thankful 🙄🙄

He could not answer anything about the additional bills and could only offer a local phone number for" special processing"

[protected]

This number rings until a message states high volume of calls try later and disconnects the line

After calling all day at least 40 times i searched for the 800 general dmv number and worked through prompts and was told i would be called back 3 hours later at 4:56pm

I received the call back and it was a nice gal named $&@)( who after I explained the situation began laughing aloud when i mention the "special processing" number

She explained what a joke it is and how she and others have even complained

Nice how these agencies are allowed to get away with this!

Roads are terrible and traffic is terrible and DMV IS WORSE!

What do we pay for in this STATE!? It is unethical and i feel against the law or certainly should be

TransparentCalifornia.com shows the waste and insane payouts that we pay and forwhat? THIS?!

Oh side note: cyclist should pay for license plate if they want their own damn infrastructure and LANES!

Approximately four months ago I had paid dmv approximately 700 for registration on a vehicle and vehicle would not pass smog and the woman at counter confiscated all my paperwork and gave me a junk slip dmv refuses to even respond to my attempts I have made two so far any and all evidence is on their computer. I have a vehicle they want another 700 for registration .. I will never pay for dmv services again and am selling my only vehicle. Because of principal they will never get a dime from me again until they refund my hard earned money. Thank you
Brandon Davis
421 French Street willows, CA 95988
Dodge Durango vin1b4hs28y4xf568548

Purchased vehicle July 8 2021
Received Title Aug, 12 2021
After sending in completed Smog, Clear Title and Payment Receipt I received letter stating error on title date, requesting statement for error.
Sept 8 2021 sent all original document to DMV Registration Div,
Sept, 22 2021 received letter that DMV mail processing could take 30-60 Days
Oct, 26 2021 received notice to mail original documents, I answered that I did with proof they acknowledge receipt of documents
November get a registration/sticker good for 29 Days?

I paid my registration by electronic check in 2020 and by the time they got around to cashing in my account was 5 dollars shy. So I dropped off the original amount $195 plus the 30$ bounce check cost at the local DmV. Months went by and I was still getting notices. So I went to the DMV I dropped of the check at and they said it wasn't there. So I made a request to Western Union to see if the money order I made to the DMV to see if it was cashed. And at that time the lady said it had not been. So I figured it got lost. I went to another DmV the next day and said the registration plus the 30$ and the got the request from Western Union and the money order was cashed. I look at my paid stub from the DMV and I realized I had two paid stubs for the same registration. So on 12/07/2020 I went to the DMV where I had paid in. Ash and showed the lady and she agreed and faced off the the two receipts paid for the same registration to the Dishonored check unit for me to get a refund.
Never got it. I went back two times since and the employees tell me they are waiting for them to return their calls. It's been a year since I paid the d.c. plus a few with a money order and close to a year since i paid again in cash.
I just want my 215$. It's not that hard to figure out. I have both recipets. And everything to back this claim to refund that is rightfully mine.
But I haven't gotten a cent.
If I didn't pay my car would be taken.
I've spent 15$ to Western Union for the copy of the cashed money order plus 3 to 4 hours at the DMV and still nothing.

I placed my car on PNO in 2015 but when I went to the DMV on yesterday, Thursday, 10/07/21 to remove it from PNO and purchase my tags, the agent said my fees were $866. I expained to her that the fees shouldn't be that much because of the PNO. She went on to tell me that she saw no records of me filing the PNO. As I was explaining to my neighbor who was currently in the office regarding her affair, a lady next to her heard me and stated that she was dealing with the same issue. I am currently unemployed with no source of income and I cannot afford to pay $866 to an agency because of a computer glitch. I'm sure if you did an investigation you would find several other complaints regarding this matter. Please help.

Thanks,
Eric Watson

To sell our California vehicle in MA we paid the remaining balance we owed to the bank. The bank released the title and the DMV was suppose to send the title to us, the owners. We waited 2 months and never received the title. We then submitted the Duplicate Title Document with a check for the fee and waited 6 weeks for the title. Yesterday we received the Duplicate Registration Card as well as a notice of unprocessed payment that states payment not needed at this time for transaction and returned the check.

I am a senior driver and I went to DMV office in Pleasanton to renew my license. Since I have reduced vision in my left eye due to retina problem (this was a mistake and mistreatment by Kaiser doctors) I was asked to provide a certificate from my eye doctor. I submitted the certificate and according to my doctor my vision is 20/20 with both eyes.
At this time DMV asked for vision service test and this is when the problem started. I have been driving for over 50 years with a good record. The DMV examiners did not pass me the test (4) times for no reason or minor reason. Following is a summary of why I did not pass the tests.

Test No. 1: I did not realize that the driveway from their parking was very narrow and the rear wheel of my car went over the curb. This was the reason to fail me.

Test no 2 : Here the examiner tested me for at least 1/2 hr and in the end told me that I did not pass because I did not look over my shoulder when I took the right turn and crossed bike lane. I said that I did but he would not listen to me.

Test no. 3 : Here I took a wide turn but quickly came back to right lane. This happened since the examiner did not tell me which lane I was supposed to be. But there was no danger since there was no car coming. However I failed the test because of this problem.

Test no. 4 : Here the examiner failed me since he thought that I was not accelerating the car smoothly. I thought that this is the most ridiculous reason to fail anybody.

At this time I was very frustrated and I filed a complaint. I was referred to Driver Safety office(DSO) in Oakland to review my case. DSO asked for my complete medical history which I submitted promptly thru my doctor.

DSO has told me that they have reviewed the forms and they want to talk to me on Aug-5 . My license has expired and DMV would not give an extension until the review is complete. So my license is suspended and I am not allowed to drive for over 1 month. I have missed doctor and dentist appointments and have problem going to Bank, Grocery store etc. I had to cancel vacation plan.

I am under severe mental stress and I don't know why this has happened. I don't have any physical or mental problem and I am not a danger to anybody.

There were other problems with DMV office dealing with this issue. I am requesting for your help to restore my driving privilege.

On 06/22/21 I am NGOC B LUU 4822 71ST Street San Diego Ca 92115 came to Normal St DMV renew Drive License and make Real ID I pay $38.00 my Drive License Y3389279 Class C but now i recieved Drive License only not Real ID Please help me how i can do Thank you so much

I am Registered Owner as of 04/21/2021 of 2015 Lexus ES350 VIN: JTHBK1GG0F2189689 with registration valid from 04/16/2021 to 04/16/2022.

I haven't received Sticker valid from 04/16/2021 to 04/16/2022 till date despite numerous phone/ email requests. I have following to submit:

1. I have purchased said 2015 Lexus ES350 on Mar 30, 2021 from Subaru, Livermore and have paid $403.25 for DMV fees towards Vehicle transfer related charges besides $143.25 for Smog/Doc.

2. As of Apr 07, 2021 Vehicle Title and Registration(partial) have been received.

I therefore, request you to expedite processing of the Registration card & Sticker valid from 04/16/2021 to 04/16/2022 urgently.

Best Regards,

Deeptanshu G

Hello, I just left the DMV in Hollister California with a problem about the service I received .
I recently bought a new car and decided to retain my personalized plates for this new vehicle, after getting it registered at AAA I decided to pay the $50.00 to get legacy plates issued online.I made all the changes online and paid the fee and waited. On April 28th I received legacy plates in the mail . The plates were not legacy plates for my original plates. The plates were personilzed legacy plates for another vehicle with my registration attached to them. I could not get a appointment set online to remedy this problem .I had to go to my local DMV and I was charged $50.00 for a new application for legacy plates which I thought was unfair and then an additional $43.00 to change my registration to my original plates. They also confiscated the new legacy plates and said I could not have them even though I had paid $50.00 for them. So heres is my complaint. For legacy plates for my car I was changed a total of $145.14 according to the charges on my card for DMV payments. This includes the original $50.00. My name is Arturo Jimenez, 1111 Jan Ave. Hollister Ca. Phone # [protected].

After an accident August 2019, at which the other driver was found at fault, my car was declared a "salvage". But after repairs were made, and arbitration with my insurance company, it was reversed & letters were sent by Mercury Insurance to DMV 3 times, May 2020, Sept 2020 and Feb 2021. I renewed my car registration in July 2020 (DMV cashed the check) but still have not yet received the renewal or the car tags, despite numerous letters and supporting documentation sent to DMV Sacramento. The latest information was mailed by certified mail addressed to "Manager" and I did get a return receipt on Feb 18, 2021, so they did indeed receive it. Also, I am not able to talk with anyone via phone since "high volume of calls, call back later". And I cannot get any help via the computer system chat line. License number 5SHD193. Vin (last 5 numbers) 11282. How can I resolve this?

I paid to renew my drivers license in october 2017, they we don't mail to p.o. box, oh we need a picture so i lost my debit and could not get in to my bank account. I lost everything I owned including my son's ashes. I called state senator office and all I had to do was pay again. I have written letters called and this is a joke, oh I have five tags for the same year same car so s.s.i. is deducting my so called over payment yet I'm innocent...
Oh I went to get a new i.d because I moved to Northern California, the employee was rude she put my old address on the new one, her response is next. I don't care who or where you work I know high people also oh they also misspelled the street address the new employee's of today are worthless