VA DMV - do I NEED an appointment? (Real ID and license renewal)
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Anonymous
| I submitted the online forms, and have all my documents. I have time tomorrow and was just going to show up. I haven't been to the DMV in person in a while - do I NEED an appointment? Can I just show up for Real ID/renewal, even if it means waiting? |
Anonymous
| You can, but why wouldn't you get an appointment? If there's nothing available at the closest DMV look around a little. Better to spend an extra 10 minutes driving instead of waiting an hour at the DMV. |
Anonymous
| Appointment people and walk ins are queued differently so it saves you time. |
Anonymous
| I just showed up at Vienna DMV on Gallows Rd without an appointment to get my Real ID and it worked out fine. There was a line, but it didn't take long. |
Anonymous
DMV's mostly went appointment only during the 2020 lunacy and most haven't gone back to normal "first come first serve". |
Anonymous
| There's also an option to "join the queue" when you're on your way, sort of like call-ahead seating. But seriously, just make an appointment. So much easier. |
Anonymous
| I just went recently for DS's learner's permit. The appointment line didn't have to wait at all to get your number. The non-appointment line had about 10-15 people in the line. So no, you don't need an appointment you'll just wait longer. |
Anonymous
| I made an appointment but then went on the wrong day because I'm an idiot. The guy at the check-in didn't make me go back and wait in the non-appointment line (which I appreciated), and the wait once I got a number was maybe 15-20 minutes. So if I'd waited in the non-appointment line, maybe another 10-15 minutes on top of that? All in all not too bad. |
Anonymous
| Try the evening before there’s always last minute cancellation spots up for grab |
Anonymous
We always just go here. The appointments are never close and when we stop in, the line is line but the wait is never that long. |
Anonymous
| With an appointment I was done in under 20 minutes -- in line for maybe 5 minutes, then less than 5 minutes to be called, 5-10 to process. The people who were in the non-appointment line next to me when I came in hadn't even reached the check-in desk by the time I was done. I noticed b/c one guy was complaining loudly about why the appointment check-in line moved so much faster! |
Anonymous
Hope they never go back to first come first serve madness. I went to MD DMV Monday to get license and new MD tag was it was so easy. 45 min is all it took. |
Anonymous
| Nope, no appointment necessary. I went in to register a car and was in/out quickly. My DS went in to get his permit, and was in/out quickly. |
Anonymous
Yes, you can just show up. You will wait. If they have no appointments available that suggests they are busy. I did mine at the Gallows Rd location someone mentioned and the line for those without appointments was long; separate line for appointments was very quick. If there's still a location in the Fair Oaks mall, that one is typically quieter. |
Anonymous
| Hope you don’t have to take an eye tests. The DMV machines are basically unreadable. |