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

I was given a notice to renew my license - When I renewed my license, I also ordered a new ID card. They took my photo and told me I was done.

Six weeks later, I received my ID card but no Driver's License. I also received a notice at my work my driver's license is expired (it is required for work). When I called the DMV, I was told the clerk forgot to take a second photo although they already took one. Now my driver's license is expired.

I have now been told I need to return to the DMV to wait another 4 hours in line to get my photo THEY forgot to do in the first place.

Apparently when the DMV makes a mistake, they are not held accountable for anything and make no effort to fix their mistake. Any normal business would be able to fix the problem but apparently not with the DMV.

Now my career is in jeopardy and I have no recourse other than this complaint which will no doubt, go nowhere and do nothing, just like the DMV.

I am posting this complaint with the hopes that someone who has been through the same experience or someone with legal knowledge may be able to give me some helpful advice.

In 2006 I found out that I had been a victim of identity theft and it appeared as though several people in several different states had been using my information for opening accounts, working, claiming unemployment benefits, etc. There was also someone in California, which is my state of birth and residence, that had been issued a California driver’s license with the same driver’s license number using my information. This had been done prior to me having first applied for and received my driver’s license.

Prior to learning of the identity theft I had been unable to pull out a DMV printout because my record was frozen. The DMV branch office employee would refer me to a DMV investigator. When I would attempt to reach the investigator I was always told that they would call me back to make an appointment but no one ever called me back. At this point I didn't pursue the issue further since my license was still valid and I still received the renewal by mail. Also, it may be of interest to note that the first license that I received had incorrect identifying information on it (eye color, height, weight). After learning of the identity theft I returned to the CA DMV to sort out the previous problems since I now knew the cause. I was told that the case had been dropped and that a new case would be opened with a new investigator.

I contacted the new investigator who came and met me for the first time at my place of employment during my lunch hour. He asked me general questions about my identity. He then showed me a picture of the other person using my information who had the same driver’s license number as I did. He asked if I knew him or where he lived, of which I did not. He then requested to meet again but for me to bring him copies and originals of my driver’s license, police report, birth certificate, social security card along with a certified letter from social security saying that the number is in fact mine, tax information, and anything else that would establish my identity.

For our second meeting the investigator met with me at my place of employment again. I brought him all the documents that he requested. He looked them thoroughly to make sure that they were authentic and he took the photo copies with him. At our third meeting, again at my work, he brought photos of several different men asking if I was any of them, to which I answered no. He showed me my picture which of course I answered yes to. Then he told me that he was unable to find the man with my license, the one he showed me during our first meeting, and because of this he was going to issue me a new license. He told me that he would mail me a letter authorizing the DVM field office to issue me a new license and instructed me to surrender all copies of my previous license and ID card and to bring my birth certificate and social security card. I did all of this and was issued a new license with a new number and was told that it would be a provisional license for one year.

Shortly after receiving my new license I had more problems from the identity theft. Someone had filed for unemployment in 2003 while I was working and EDD had garnished my 2006 taxes for the overpayment of benefits. I opened a case with EDD for the fraudulent claim and during their investigation they contacted the DMV because of the multiple people on file. My claim with EDD was resolved in my favor in just under a year but as soon as it was resolved the DMV investigator called me wanting to meet.

I met with the DMV investigator at my work again just short of having had my new license for one year. He brought another investigator with him. He had asked me to bring my original driver’s license, social security card and birth certificate. I brought him copies since he had already seen the originals in the past. He then told me that he had found the man from the first photo that he ever showed me, the man who had first received my license. He told me that he confirmed that the other man was the "real" person and that he had parents and school records to confirm his identity. He took my license and kept it. He told me that if I wanted it back then I would have to take this other man to court to fight over the identity but he would not give me the persons information in order to do such.

My DMV record is currently sealed again and has been since he took my license away. I was never informed, verbally nor in writing, whether or not my license had been revoked or suspended or anything else. I contacted an attorney who told me that the problem would resolve itself and just to wait for the DMV to mail my license back. It has been almost 3 years since my license was taken by the investigator and still nothing has changed and no one has contacted me.

Is there anything that I can do in order to resolve this issue without having to go to court? I can't afford all of the legal fees and time off of work that would be required to pursue this in court.

My name is Jonathan Tong. I have been covered by Geico insurance since July 2010, yet the DMV insists that I have not proven "financial responsibility for failure to provide insurance". As of Thursday March 03, 2011, I have received five notifications in the mail of this or the subsequent penalty of suspension of my vehicle's registration.

Before any of the incidents, I had to verify my VIN number twice because since my car is an '81 Datsun, there are 5 digits less than the modern day's vehicle.
Incidents-
1. I called the number [protected] and provided my information. I was told that all was taken care of and that it was probably just a VIN number verification issue.
2. I received the notice of suspension because I had failed to provide proof. I visited the San Jose DMV on Alma, and was told that this letter had probably been mailed by mistake because it does show that I have insurance and my vehicle is not suspended. Just as a precaution I went to my Geico insurance agent's office on Curtner in San Jose, Ca and they sent another proof of insurance to the DMV that day.
3. I received the notice again needing proof of insurance information and this time I went to the DMV the following day and was told that they had no idea why this was sent to me.
4. I received the notice again. I went to the DMV, and now told me that even though I have showed the proof of insurance, they cannot change what is on the system because the teller is not authorized. Furthermore, it does not show that I do not have insurance but that my insurance information is "unknown". This according to the teller David Sanchez, is because even though I have provided insurance information many times, my insurance has not reported the vehicle to their database. I went to my Geico agent and was told that it is their policy to provide such information immediately after initially being insured. They sent yet another proof of insurance to the DMV. Mylene at Geico helped me. We tried through the internet at "www.dmv.ca.gov" and an "error" occured. We called and waited the full 35 minutes on the phone and Lisa, DMV operator 527, talked and gathered all information necessary from Mylene and I.
5. It is March 3, 2011 and I have received the notice saying my car's registration is suspended for failure to prove financial responsibility.

I moved from PA to CA in August of 2010. As soon as I found an apartment (you need a permanent address to get a license), I got my license and registered my car. After registration (including smog tests), I asked them if there was anything else I needed; if I had to turn in any paperwork. The woman said no. I asked again, asking if she was sure, and what about insurance. She said I was good. I figured, okay, I guess CA is different, and they don't need proof of insurance. My car was still insured in PA, so I thought I was good. In February of 2011, I got a letter saying that there is no proof of insurance, and my registration would be suspended at the end of the month. I called the insurance company on my end, got the necessary paperwork, and sent it to the DMV in Sacramento by mail (because you cannot send this stuff to any local DMV!). I called a week later to see if they got the letter. The woman on the phone told me no, and to call back again later. I waited another week and called. This woman tells me that the insurance company needs to send the proof electronically, so it is in their system, and that no one ANYWHERE can "key it in." ALSO, they were FOUR WEEKS behind. I called my insurance company, asking them to send the proof electronically, and they tell me that they didn't do that in PA, and my insurance had to be from California. I was very upset. The woman at the DMV should have told me all this in the first place, so I could of had this taken care of. So now, I only had two weeks to find insurance in CA, and have it electronically sent to the CA system. CA needs to get on it; they were very inefficient, and misinformed someone who was new to the state. I won't know until monday, but I may even have to pay a reinstatement fee of $14, even though the information would have came through on time. You think someone would have told me about something so important.

I transfered my dads car into my name in 9/09. The car had 13, 000 miles. I received the title and put it away without looking at the miles. I decided to sell the car which now has 17, 000 miles. I found out through carfax that the milage is 113, 000. What happened? I looked at the title and sure enough it was true. I go to AAA because I can't stand the DMV. I had to do a VIN verification which is ok right? Well, apparently it will take 2-3 months for the corrected title. I'm actually getting a good price for my car and now I'm in limbo waiting for these people to do something. They screw up and I get the shaft. Basically they are costing me money over a stupid mistake. I doubt I'll get the same price for my car in a few months. I tried calling and the people are so rude and pretty much say "oh well". We have to pay all this money for a stupid yearly sticker and this is the treatment we get. Completely unfair. I am ready to register my cars in another state where I have a residence. It's more than half the price and you can actually deal with decent people.

I don't know where to turn and nobody has written me back or I can't even get a hold of them by phone.

My husband had been arrested for mortgage fraud in Riverside County and was in jail in Banning. The Palm Springs Police had seized his bank account ($137K) and I tried to use our collateral to raise some bail but did not know how to do this. An inmate in Banning jail befriended himself with my husband. He was to be released about 2 weeks later and he promised my husband to help me bail raise money to bail him out. This person, Leon, called me after his release and even visited my husband in Banning jail. He visited me and asked what kind of collateral I had. At the time I owned a Jeep Wrangler, my husband owned a F-250 Lariat and my husband owned a house in Palm Desert with about $150K equity. Leon told me that he would be able to raise the money for bail and contacted a bail agent by name Angel in the 951 area code. I have also talked to Angel and everything was supposed to be set. On July 16, Leon came by and told me he wanted to bring my Jeep for detailing. My Jeep and my husbands F-250 had been stored at my residency because I did not have the money to register them or get insurance. Leon was aware of this. He brought back the Jeep about 2 hours later and the Jeep had a 30-day temp in the rear window with expiration 8/31/2009. Leon told me that he had a friend at the DMV in Banning and this friend would do him favors. One morning when I woke up, my husbands F-250 was missing with a trailer attached. I called the Desert Hot Springs Police department and they ran the license plate 7W83363. They informed me that I could not file a police report because some "Monique Flaherty" was the registered owner of the F-250. This Monique is Leon's wife. We had bought the F-250 at Star Ford in Glendale and still owed $2550.00 to Ford Motors.
Then in August I had a problem with a tire on the Jeep Wrangler. I drove it down to Joe's Tire Store a quarter mile form my residency. As I was making a right turn into the drive way, a lady hit me from the back. My vehicle was pushed, span around and landed on the side walk. The police came and made reports. Both vehicles were declared a total loss. When this lady's insurance company tried to issue me a check for the damages they ran a DMV print-out. I was informed that some "Monique Flaherty" was the registered owner of my Jeep and that she had taken out a loan from 1-800-Loan-Mart in Encino, CA. I have written to them but they have not responded. The registration on my Jeep is to expire on [protected].
There is definetely some fraud involved at the DMV in Banning. This DMV officer at the same time, on 7/16/2009 issued me a 30-day temporary registration expiring on 8/31/2009, and issued to Monique Flaherty a one year's registration, also transferred title the same day. The DMV in CA wants to see my pink slip but my pink slip is missing out of my file. I never signed anything or gave anybody permission to sell my or my husband's truck. This friend of Leon's must be quite a criminal. I have his signature on my temporary operating permit for the Jeep for the month of August 2009.
After being aware of the illegal transfer of our vehicles, I ran a property profile on my husbands house in Palm Desert. Believe it or not, this home is now in Leon Flaherty's name and was quit claimed to him. The deed was recorded in the County of Riverside. I saw the Quitclaim Deed and the signature on it looks perfect. I don't know how this was done.
Leon has a court case in the Superior Court of Riverside and I just wrote his DA a certified letter informing him about all these fraudulent transfers. I had called this DA before and left messages but never received a return call.
Leon had stopped answering my phone calls in about August 2009. I was aware of a court date he had in Riverside and I left a message that I would be there on this date to confront him. That night I had 2 slashed tires.
I like to file a complaint against the DMV in Banning for their negligence and their professional misconduct. I am being told that the DMV offices were privately owned but the Government is overseeing the paperwork.

Could you please advise me how to go about filing a suit or complaint? In the mean time I am technically in possession of a stolen Jeep, I can't drive it or insure it, I can't cash the check the insurance company issued me for the damages, our F-250 is not in our name anymore and Leon is driving it. The F-250 had a hitch in the bed so we could pull our 5-th wheel. Now I have to hire somebody to do this. I can't even get to work. I have contacted just about every agency I could think of and nobody is willing to help me.

Please, Please direct me in the right direction. I am just about ready to loose my mind.

I am looking forward to your response.

Sincerely

Daniella Goldstein
Tel: [protected]
mail4.[protected]@gmail.com

Have DMV print-out and original 30-day temporary operating permit as proof.

So, my husband and I married just over a year ago. After I got my name changed legally with SS, I went over the the DMV to get my new license with my married name. I thought, "What the hell, I might as well become an organ donor." So, I added that to my new license. It took forever, and a fortnight to get my card in the mail, but what was most amusing was that the name on the letter had my correct married name, but that the card still contained my maiden name and did not contain the organ donor dot.

*** Note: each time I have visited the DMV in Hanford, the same old lady at station eight has helped me. I have kept record of this.

So, I went back a third time to the DMV in Hanford, and visited lady eight to have my ID corrected. Initially she was trying to get me to pay twenty bucks for a new license. I became irate, but I kept my cool. I spoke to the person in charge and explained that this is not my fault, I have all of the proper paperwork (which incuded the original letter that had my married name and the card that contained my maiden name), and therefore, I should not be charged for a new ID since it was not at all my fault, but the DMV's error. They complied. Oh, and here's the cherry-on-top, she denied servicing me the prior times I was there.

So, I leave happily knowing that they would not possibly screw up again. So, I wait two weeks and finally receive my new License. (Unfortunately, now I have moved due to a military DTY, and I no longer reside in the state of CA, but wish to keep my residency there, because shortly, we will be back in CA.) At this point, I open up the envelope with my new ID and low and behold the donor dot is there, the letter has the correct name on it, but the license still has my former (maiden) name on it! How incompetent do you have to be to mess up something like this?! This is a common event for almost every woman!

Now, here I am, 3500 miles away from this lady at station eight wishing I could walk up to her and say, "remember me? you claimed so boldly before that you did not service my needs, but here, I know for a fact that it was you initially, and it was again you who screwed up a second time!"

I would attach photos for the rest of you to enjoy, but this is sort of personal information that I am not so willingly going to display.

I hope you enjoyed my rantings, and please learn from this:

If ever you have to visit the Hanford, CA DMV, do not, I repeat, DO NOT visit the lady at station eight!

I failed my first behind-the-wheel driving test. They told me since I'm a minor I will have to wait 2 weeks before I can try again. So the guy looked up available appoints starting from 2 weeks from that date. He says that day 2 weeks from that date was available and proceeded to make the appointment. 2 weeks later it turns out that incompetent alsefj booked the appointment 4 weeks from that date! I go to the DMV to complain and they just shuffle me from one person to anther. Each person told me the same useless things and said it in a way as if I'm some ###ed kid who doesn't understand english...which is so ironic considering they're the ones who are so dumb they couldn't even get into college and get a better job than the dmv, they all tried blaming me for it saying that I must have missed heard (only thing is that both me and my dad heard him say the appointment was in 2weeks, and nothing was ever said about it being 4, which sounds nothing like 2, or a month away!), and I never heard any kind of apology at all not even any kind of sympathy just arrogant duchebag attitudes! They mess up and I'm the one who is blamed and punished for it wow

I submitted payment for a parking ticket before it's due date and because it was not received by Parking Enforcement until after the due date (forget the postmark date) I was accessed an additional $82.00 on top of the original $48.00. I called and complained as I am on UIB and I received a call back from a supervisor with a message on my answering machine after I waited for 3 days to hear from them. Not even a call back number! When I first called to complain about the initial citation, I was told that there was nothing that the Bureau would do about it. Now I'm being harrassed as they periodically measure the space between my car and the red curb. I know that the City needs money, but I pay more than my share to the City coffers and they are now looking for devious ways to collect more.
Valm

While waiting to get my driver's license, went to the restroom, left my purse, came back in and purse was gone.
Immediately advised a security guard, he kindly walkietalkied "theft" to the other security guard, proceeded to tell office manager about happening. I went to the front desk and uninterested receptionist said I should go to windows x or x to lost and found with the manager? I told her I lost everything in the bag even my digital camera.
After a few minutes of security guard running aimlessly, told me there was nothing. I helped and looked through garbage in the ladies restroom, where theft took place.
Not knowing what else to do I was told If I had missed my turn I would be taken care of regardless.
Hadn't I just said I HAD LOST MY PURSE WITH EVERYTHING INSIDE INCLUDING CAMERA AND CARDS?

I blatantly was told to come back another day when I had money and che would take care of me.
Amnesia in DMV? What about the theft? What is the procedure?
I left in a haze the DMV straight to my bank to cancel everything.
Went back to DMV 2 days after to get Driver's License without waiting in line.
Asked if anything had appeared ? Lady told me I could make a police report if I wanted? I asked if the DMV had documented what had happened? First ws told YES, but that she didn't see it because the manager wasn't there at that moment. Later someone else said that NO, there had been no documentation because I hadn't neither told any manager nor asked for one.
I was told to call CHP to file a police report. I asked them to call. She said I had to call, because this had happened 2 days ago, that had it been today she could call.
Somehow as a "special" favor she told and officer whom me she had on the phone on another case "by the way, there is someone here, who wants to make a police report about a stolen purse"
I finally made a police report. I was asked why had it taken 2 days to make a report.
I said no one offered to call police that day.
They told me it was always up to me to have asked them to call someone in.
I complained there is NO SECURITY CAMERA in the restroom area: police responded I should take that complaint elsewhere and asked me what I wanted to do: make a report YES or NO.
Almost with a what for attitude? I was told my face showed I wasn't sure if I really wanted to report it?
What I am not sure of is DOES ANYONE CARE THAT A PURSE CAN BE STOLEN IN FRONT OF over 40 people and NO witnesses, not even a security camera monitoring who goes in and out of restroom?
Does anyone in the DMV office know what to do when someone gets robbed within state property?
What is the procedure? Where is the appropriate professional protocol ?
If instead of a purse, had it been a child? I wonder.
No one "saw" absolutely NOTHING and will continue to see nothing.

I was issued a citation for parking in front of my business on Foothill Blvd.
I have parked my van there beginning in May of 2008 with no issues.
On March 12th of 2009 at 9:29 PM, I was issued the violation #:[protected] even though I was in compliance of the street sign.
The ticket mentions Municipal code section 80.69.1A as the reason for the violation which says that a commercial trailer/22 feet cannot be parked for a period of three hours or more.
The vehicle in question is passenger van and not a trailer!
Thanks in advance!

I Had purchased a vehicle out of state in Utah. Upon arriving at the california DMV to get it registered for California use the lady helping me stated she could do nothing until it was smogged and complied with state regulations. I said great its an 01 diesel therefore does not require a smog certificate. About an hour later they said yes you are right. Then came all the fees. Was not able to get that resolved until about five more trips back to DMV. After it all was sorted out come to find out the dealer i purchased it from out of state overpaid for sales tax as well as registration. I ended up with an eight hundred dollar credit. That was supposed to be issued by mail. I wait and wait, no check. Call as well as make a couple more trips to DMV. Now its going to be issued. Nope no check. To make a long story short I head off to the DMV today to renew the registration figuring i have this credit and they can just apply that. Nope cant do that and no answer to why just i gotta pay them more money and fill out twenty forms to get my money back for the prior mix-up. They are real quick to take our money but never want to give any back. Can i apply outrageous penaltys like they do? No cant do that. The good old state of california stealing money from hard working people by playing stupid and wrapping us up in endless paperwork!

I was a travelling nurse last year coming to Salem. I kept my CA driver's license and plates. Then I decided to stay but allowed my license to expire for some dumb reason. So, I hurried to the DMV to get things rectified, as my tags were going to expire at the end of June (08). They sent me packing because their new restrictions on what they can allow for proof of address just went into effect. I am a legitimate renter and have received mail to the address in question.They would no longer accept my rental agreement, most mail, no paycheck stubs. I had to produce some type of bill, or so I thought. So, A couple of weeks later, I finally get my truck bill statement in the mail (I pay online), as it was late in arriving, and went down the second time to get my license switched over...again denied. they wanted a utilitiy bill or credit card statement with my name and address on it. I have no credit cards anymore and all the utlities are in my roommate's name, as he was there before me. They say they are trying to eliminate identity theft. C'mon, DMV, you people are not even trying to help. I need a current ID to work! They have effectively marginalized me for one mistake and their new regulations are giving them an excuse to not help people like me. What do I do now? They want me to take my roommate with me to prove it. He won't go, but I will ask him. This is bad service.