LA Newcomer question - DMV confusion (Glendale, Davis: vehicle registration, live, drivers license)

[ElleBebe]

I'm trying to figure out the DMV situation in LA. In the past I lived in the Bay Area, where there was a DMV in the next city over that offered everything, and then in Davis, where there was a DMV in town that handled all your DMV needs (drivers license tests - both paper tests and driving tests, vehicle registration, license renewal, address change, etc).

But looking at the DMV website at the DMVs around the LA area, especially around Hollywood, it seems like not all DMVs offer the same services. I'm looking specifically at the Hollywood listings; there are two in Hollywood that I can see, at 803 Cole St that offers "Driver License and ID Card Processing" and one at 936 North Formosa Avenue (that is supposed to replace an old one at 1600 Vine St?) that covers Vehicle Registration.

So the Cole St location is a bigger DMV that offers all DMV services, correct? But at the Formosa location, isn't "Vehicle Registration" just a matter of filling out paperwork? Why wouldn't all locations offer that service? Is it just a small temporary office? Does the Cole St. not offer Vehicle Registration? And what about other LA DMV locations; are all services split up like this?

[KnoxTown]

The whole system sucks. I had to get my lisence at Cole and got registered at Formosa. It is really a big pain in the a.... Anyways, just make sure to get an early appointment

[Dark of the Moon]

Word to the wise, even though the DMV website says they administer written tests up until 4:30 -- they don't. The cut-off time is actually 4:00, as I found out to my dismay when I showed up at the Cole St. branch for my scheduled 4:15 appointment .....

[ElleBebe]

Wow... it sounds ridiculous and inconvenient. You'd think it would be easier to just make everything available at one place. Are other DMVs in LA like this, or is it just the Cole and Formosa ones?

[KnoxTown]

Originally Posted by ElleBebe

Wow... it sounds ridiculous and inconvenient. You'd think it would be easier to just make everything available at one place. Are other DMVs in LA like this, or is it just the Cole and Formosa ones?

There are several like this. The website information is completely incorrect. Just do the quickest available appointment, and suck it up. We all had to do it. Good luck

[HotFudge]

Just make an appointment at the Glendale office. They do everything there, and it's not that far. Don't go without an appointment :-)

[katenik]

no, cole street does not offer all services, just licenses and ID, like the website says. formosa is not a temporary location; it is the replacement for the old vine street (and then hollywood/western) location. hollywood is a very 'central' part of town, making the DMV there a very busy place. the services are divided between two offices to cut down on the crowds. i think the system works quite well the way it is. most people do not have to do license and registration at the same time, and all renewals can be done by mail, so the 'inconvenience' of two separate offices is something that really only affects recent arrivals. next year, you can mail your check and not have to go into any office at all.

[ElleBebe]

I don't actually have to go to the DMV now, I'm just trying to figure it all out. Much thanks for all your input!

[BRinSM]

i'm not sure if this pertains to you, but if you are AAA member, they can handle many of your DMV needs without the hassle of actually going to the DMV. I think they deal mainly with vehicle registration, but I think you can also renew your license there as well, you'll have to double check that though.

btw - 1,000th post, w00t!!!!

[ElleBebe]

Originally Posted by BRinSM

i'm not sure if this pertains to you, but if you are AAA member, they can handle many of your DMV needs without the hassle of actually going to the DMV. I think they deal mainly with vehicle registration, but I think you can also renew your license there as well, you'll have to double check that though.

btw - 1,000th post, w00t!!!!

congrats!

I heard that too, about AAA members. I'm a member, but I've never lived closer to a AAA office than a DMV and I've never dealt with the legendary horrendous lines at the DMV before either. But now we live just down the street from a AAA office, and from the sounds of it, I'll be better off just going there if I ever need to!