Why can't we have it both ways in DC (DMV appointments and Walk In)

[Anonymous]

The DC Department of Motor Vehicles (DC DMV) Service Centers and Adjudication Services will return to walk-in service beginning the week of July 19, 2021. DC DMV will honor all appointments made through Saturday, July 17, 2021, but none will be available after that date. In addition, two DC DMV locations will have special weekend hours to accommodate residents.

In-person service becomes available on a first-come, first-serve basis at Adjudication Services starting Monday, July 19, 2021, and at all DMV Service Centers starting Tuesday, July 20, 2021. Scheduling road tests for commercial and noncommercial driver licenses will remain by appointment only.

Why can't the DC DMV handle both maintaining an appointment capacity and handling a walk in with the reopening of their services? Why can't I schedule an appointment for something which I know is coming up a few weeks out and have the ability to go stand in line half of the day if something is an emergency.

I feel that DC always gets thing half right. During the pandemic, when I needed an appointment, the DMV and OCTO simply could not design an easy to use website and the services simply could not hold up to the number of people who wanted services. So we screamed to get walk up back. And now that walk up is back, the city has turned off the scheduling system? Why can't we have both? It is 2021 and programming a robust DMV scheduling interface is simply not that difficult.

[Anonymous]

It's kind of like walking and chewing gum. Impossible.

[Anonymous]

I thought you said the scheduling system didn’t work? So they’re going back to something that did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought you said the scheduling system didn’t work? So they’re going back to something that did.

Scheduling system was never optimized. That does not mean that people could not get appointments. Only that it was VERY hard to get an appointment.

You would think this would be easy. Take the capacity of a DMV office, allow 4/5 of it to be scheduled online and then have a walk up line with the remaining 20% capacity for emergencies or anybody willing to stand there all day. But if you have all of your stuff ready and an appointment, you can be in an out in 15 minutes through the appointment lines.

Don't even get me started as to why we can't do 99% of the DMV functions online. Only place in the country you have to go in person to register a vehicle.

[Anonymous]

got married in may 2020. received my social security card AND passport by july 2020. I can't believe I have to go to the DMV in person, but I've been faithfully signing on every tuesday to get an appointment and have yet to get anything. it's made the last year challenging since I am legally a different name but don't have a photo ID to go with it. relieved that they are finally opening up in person. I agree that it is SO FREAKING STUPID that they can't do both, or at least have a good online appointment system. on that note, has anybody gone since it opened up? hoping not too many people know it's open yet and I can get in and out relatively easy one day

[Anonymous]

DC isn't unique with its DMV dysfunction - this happens in a lot of other places around the country. I've been trying off and on for several months to try and get an appointment to get my kid started for his drivers' license, to no avail.

And just imagine, they want to require voter ID. Thousands of people would have a hard time voting because of dysfunctional ID issuing DMVs.

[Anonymous]

We ended up getting licenses in MD and re-registering cars using an investment property address after trying for 1.5 years to get an appointment. Not sardining in at DMV for walk-in until vaccines are available for kids and we’re past the third wave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC isn't unique with its DMV dysfunction - this happens in a lot of other places around the country. I've been trying off and on for several months to try and get an appointment to get my kid started for his drivers' license, to no avail.

And just imagine, they want to require voter ID. Thousands of people would have a hard time voting because of dysfunctional ID issuing DMVs.

Ummm...where else in the country do you have to register a used car you just purchased in person?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC isn't unique with its DMV dysfunction - this happens in a lot of other places around the country. I've been trying off and on for several months to try and get an appointment to get my kid started for his drivers' license, to no avail.

And just imagine, they want to require voter ID. Thousands of people would have a hard time voting because of dysfunctional ID issuing DMVs.

Ummm...where else in the country do you have to register a used car you just purchased in person?

You can do this online for private sale.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC isn't unique with its DMV dysfunction - this happens in a lot of other places around the country. I've been trying off and on for several months to try and get an appointment to get my kid started for his drivers' license, to no avail.

And just imagine, they want to require voter ID. Thousands of people would have a hard time voting because of dysfunctional ID issuing DMVs.

Ummm...where else in the country do you have to register a used car you just purchased in person?

You can do this online for private sale.

Bought a used car from a VA car dealer. Registration has to be done in person. It is absolutely ridiculous. I understand the emissions testing, but once you have that printout with the code, you should be able to get your registration online and then tags in the mail. You can't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC isn't unique with its DMV dysfunction - this happens in a lot of other places around the country. I've been trying off and on for several months to try and get an appointment to get my kid started for his drivers' license, to no avail.

And just imagine, they want to require voter ID. Thousands of people would have a hard time voting because of dysfunctional ID issuing DMVs.

Ummm...where else in the country do you have to register a used car you just purchased in person?

You can do this online for private sale.

Can't believe that people are arguing that this can be done online:

To legally register your new or used vehicle in the District for the first time, you must visit a DC DMV service center, with proof that:

You (or at least one person listed on the vehicle title as an owner) legally reside in the District and have a DC DMV driver or non-driver credential. Information on residency documentation and on DC DMV driver licenses and ID cards is available at the links below:
District Residency and Documentation for Vehicle Registrations
Registration Requirements for Motorcycles and Motorized Bicycles
DC DMV Driver Services/Driver Licenses
The vehicle has passed inspection. New cars will automatically get a sticker for the vehicle; used cars and commercial vehicles must be inspected. Information is available at the link below:
Vehicle Inspections
The vehicle is currently insured in the District. Information is available at the link below:
Vehicle Insurance
You hold the title and are listed on the title for the vehicle. Information is available at the link below:
Vehicle Titles
There will be title and registration fees due at the time of processing. Information on DC DMV fees is available at the link below:
DC DMV Fees

https://dmv.dc.gov/service/initial-registration-new-or-used-vehicle#:~:text=To%20legally%20register%20your%20new%20or%20used%20vehicle,at%20the%20link%20below%3A%2012%20DC%20DMV%20Fees

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC isn't unique with its DMV dysfunction - this happens in a lot of other places around the country. I've been trying off and on for several months to try and get an appointment to get my kid started for his drivers' license, to no avail.

And just imagine, they want to require voter ID. Thousands of people would have a hard time voting because of dysfunctional ID issuing DMVs.

Ummm...where else in the country do you have to register a used car you just purchased in person?

You can do this online for private sale.

Can't believe that people are arguing that this can be done online:

To legally register your new or used vehicle in the District for the first time, you must visit a DC DMV service center, with proof that:

You (or at least one person listed on the vehicle title as an owner) legally reside in the District and have a DC DMV driver or non-driver credential. Information on residency documentation and on DC DMV driver licenses and ID cards is available at the links below:
District Residency and Documentation for Vehicle Registrations
Registration Requirements for Motorcycles and Motorized Bicycles
DC DMV Driver Services/Driver Licenses
The vehicle has passed inspection. New cars will automatically get a sticker for the vehicle; used cars and commercial vehicles must be inspected. Information is available at the link below:
Vehicle Inspections
The vehicle is currently insured in the District. Information is available at the link below:
Vehicle Insurance
You hold the title and are listed on the title for the vehicle. Information is available at the link below:
Vehicle Titles
There will be title and registration fees due at the time of processing. Information on DC DMV fees is available at the link below:
DC DMV Fees

https://dmv.dc.gov/service/initial-registration-new-or-used-vehicle#:~:text=To%20legally%20register%20your%20new%20or%20used%20vehicle,at%20the%20link%20below%3A%2012%20DC%20DMV%20Fees

Private sale absolutely can be done online. I just did it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC isn't unique with its DMV dysfunction - this happens in a lot of other places around the country. I've been trying off and on for several months to try and get an appointment to get my kid started for his drivers' license, to no avail.

And just imagine, they want to require voter ID. Thousands of people would have a hard time voting because of dysfunctional ID issuing DMVs.

Ummm...where else in the country do you have to register a used car you just purchased in person?

You can do this online for private sale.

Can't believe that people are arguing that this can be done online:

To legally register your new or used vehicle in the District for the first time, you must visit a DC DMV service center, with proof that:

You (or at least one person listed on the vehicle title as an owner) legally reside in the District and have a DC DMV driver or non-driver credential. Information on residency documentation and on DC DMV driver licenses and ID cards is available at the links below:
District Residency and Documentation for Vehicle Registrations
Registration Requirements for Motorcycles and Motorized Bicycles
DC DMV Driver Services/Driver Licenses
The vehicle has passed inspection. New cars will automatically get a sticker for the vehicle; used cars and commercial vehicles must be inspected. Information is available at the link below:
Vehicle Inspections
The vehicle is currently insured in the District. Information is available at the link below:
Vehicle Insurance
You hold the title and are listed on the title for the vehicle. Information is available at the link below:
Vehicle Titles
There will be title and registration fees due at the time of processing. Information on DC DMV fees is available at the link below:
DC DMV Fees

https://dmv.dc.gov/service/initial-registration-new-or-used-vehicle#:~:text=To%20legally%20register%20your%20new%20or%20used%20vehicle,at%20the%20link%20below%3A%2012%20DC%20DMV%20Fees

Private sale absolutely can be done online. I just did it.

How did you prove title, ins. residency etc online? I called and was told i need to go in person and bring among two bills. I’ve been a resident all my life and don’t understand having to show bills (gas, electric, mortgage etc.)