[WouldLoveTo]

Originally Posted by in_newengland

When I was there a few weeks ago, it was open sort of late on Thursday 5:30, I think. I SHOULD only need to be there for about an hour. One good thing about the place is that cafeteria downstairs--it has good food, cheap. Something to look forward to after the ordeal.

Yep, it's 5:30 Thursday and 4 or 4:30 the other nights. I want to say 4 because I remember I wouldn't make it and I get out of work at 4, which is pretty early.

And from what I understand, they actually close at 5:30 now. No more "as long as you're in the door, you're good". They monitor the line downstairs and shut the door in there are too many people.

Good luck! My simple registration took THREE trips.

[nico7]

The DMV is a dinosaur... A real opportunity to save state money, modernize and improve customer service. The whole thing could be gutted and rebuilt on a model of minimal physical facilities, to run at probably 5% the cost with a vastly improved experience for state residents.

Another thing -- I can't speak specifically to the current state of CT DMV capabilities, but in MA for instance, there seems to be little information-sharing across state lines and with law enforcement agencies.

[in_newengland]

Originally Posted by WouldLoveTo

Yep, it's 5:30 Thursday and 4 or 4:30 the other nights. I want to say 4 because I remember I wouldn't make it and I get out of work at 4, which is pretty early.

And from what I understand, they actually close at 5:30 now. No more "as long as you're in the door, you're good". They monitor the line downstairs and shut the door in there are too many people.

Good luck! My simple registration took THREE trips.

Spent FOUR hours there today, mostly sitting. They said anyone who already has a number will be served. When I left at 5:30 they said they'd probably be there another hour. There was still a line.

This is my fourth trip and I'll be going back because I stupidly forgot my birth certificate. But my husband was finally able to transfer his license from MA to CT. $120 more to our state coffers!

The car was already registered (took a few tries. They actually sent us to Hartford to get a physical paper social security card when we already had letters from SS that had the numbers.)

It's not that great in MA either but at least in MA they have modernized most of the places and streamlined the process a bit. It used to be worse but quite some time ago we had a rebellion and some politician actually listened.

The building itself needs to be knocked down and they could start over with something more inviting and up to date, something with a decent ventilation system...the list goes on.

[retiree2011]

I just moved out of Ct.; went to DMV on Monday just to see what I need to get a license here and I took a number, was called to a desk in about 10 minutes. Was told I need a certified copy of my birth certificate. The DMV employee actually printed out the info sheet from vital statistics in Ct and the form I have to fill out to order my birth certificate. When I get my license, it will cost $40 and be good for 8 years.

[BPt111]

Originally Posted by retiree2011

I just moved out of Ct.; went to DMV on Monday just to see what I need to get a license here and I took a number, was called to a desk in about 10 minutes. Was told I need a certified copy of my birth certificate. The DMV employee actually printed out the info sheet from vital statistics in Ct and the form I have to fill out to order my birth certificate. When I get my license, it will cost $40 and be good for 8 years.

Florida or North Carolina

[retiree2011]

Originally Posted by BPt111

Florida or North Carolina

Actually, Delaware. I tried to edit my profile, but coukdn't. I love it here - they make everything so easy. I cancelled my plates in Ct., but was told if I want a refund on my registration I had to go to a DMV office - not worth the aggravation.

[WouldLoveTo]

Originally Posted by in_newengland

Spent FOUR hours there today, mostly sitting. They said anyone who already has a number will be served. When I left at 5:30 they said they'd probably be there another hour. There was still a line.

This is my fourth trip and I'll be going back because I stupidly forgot my birth certificate. But my husband was finally able to transfer his license from MA to CT. $120 more to our state coffers!

You had to spend 4 hours to get to the first desk to find out you forgot your birth certificate? Ouch!!

We did 2 Thursday nights and I finally got the plate one morning, getting there 15 minutes before they opened. It was surprisingly empty at that time.

What I really hate is that you get different answers from every single person in there. I tried to use a plate I still had from an older car and she told me that it wouldn't work unless it the plate was only a few years old which makes no sense. She had checked the back of mine when she said that. Then she scanned the new one. I think the real reason was because I didn't have a barcode on the old one to scan.

So I tried to save the state money by reusing a plate but their employee was too dumb or lazy to input the number.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by retiree2011

Actually, Delaware. I tried to edit my profile, but coukdn't. I love it here - they make everything so easy. I cancelled my plates in Ct., but was told if I want a refund on my registration I had to go to a DMV office - not worth the aggravation.

What was the day and time you went there? People who go mid day on a weekday do not normally have excessive problems either. It is mostly peak times like first thing in the morning, the end of the day or Saturdays that there are long waits. Likely the same there too. Jay

[retiree2011]

Originally Posted by JayCT

What was the day and time you went there? People who go mid day on a weekday do not normally have excessive problems either. It is mostly peak times like first thing in the morning, the end of the day or Saturdays that there are long waits. Likely the same there too. Jay

It was this past Tuesday, about 11am. The first desk you go to asks what you need and I said license and got a ticket with letter A followed by 235; they were helping 228 at that time. Other people had B tickets, which might be registration or plate matters. They have 20+ desks that visitors get called to when their number is reached. This was a large DMV office (by Delaware standards) since it is in the state Capitol. I was mostly impressed by the employee printing out the info I needed to get my birth certificate, and his greeting "Welcome to Delaware".

[in_newengland]

Originally Posted by WouldLoveTo

You had to spend 4 hours to get to the first desk to find out you forgot your birth certificate? Ouch!!

We did 2 Thursday nights and I finally got the plate one morning, getting there 15 minutes before they opened. It was surprisingly empty at that time.

What I really hate is that you get different answers from every single person in there. I tried to use a plate I still had from an older car and she told me that it wouldn't work unless it the plate was only a few years old which makes no sense. She had checked the back of mine when she said that. Then she scanned the new one. I think the real reason was because I didn't have a barcode on the old one to scan.

So I tried to save the state money by reusing a plate but their employee was too dumb or lazy to input the number.

No, actually it was my husband who had to wait four hours to get his license. We realized at the first window that we didn't have birth certificates with us. Fortunately for him, he's from England and is required to carry his green card at all times. They used his green card instead of a birth certificate. (I'm American so I don't have a green card.)

So we're going back on Tuesday--we usually get there about noon or 1 pm. I'll have my passport or birth certificate and I'll have to be ready to write out a check for $120 and I hope it doesn't take another four hours.

The people who welcome you and give you a number when you enter are very pleasant--the trouble starts after that.