Department of Motor Vehicles

If you want to get «ahead of the line,» book an appointment online first. At first, I wanted to have my ID stuff done at the Westminster location off Hoover, but apparently, they didn’t have any slots available — so, onto Plan B; Costa Mesa. My appointment to apply for my CA ID was at 3:50 this afternoon, but by the time I arrived, I was about an hour early, so I thought, «Crap, I’m gonna have to wait for a whole damn hour just to get my photo taken.» But nope, this line moved pretty quick after sitting at the waiting area for about 10 minutes. I got the paperwork done, the people working snapped my photo, and I was on my merry way in about 20 minutes.
Yes, parking to get in and out is always a pain, but hey, that’s the DMV for you.

I went to the DMV to renew my driver’s license on Friday, January 15, expecting to be there for awhile — and I was. Plenty of seating, intersting people to chat with while I waited for two hours. I expected to be waiting, so I was not upset. Big office, not a lot of staff, but the mob of people waiting were being moved through rather briskly. I was pleasant to every person I delt with and they were pleasant back, one going out of her way to make sure I could take the written test before testing was discontinued for the day. My personal opinion is: The office is understaffed, the personnel overworked, using antiquated equipment — and this doesn’t surprise me, since most of the funding comes from TAXES — and we don’t like to pay taxes, so our politicians keep trying to lower them. We get what we pay for.
PS: I find, with rare exception, if you are pleasant to people, they respond well. And it feels good.

My faith is restored in the DMV! Visited the Costa Mesa office this morning to renew my license with eye and written test required. I was unable to get an appointment before my license expired so I decided to make a day of it and go in without an appointment. To my great surprise and happiness, I was in & out within an hour. The system was very well organized and everyone I dealt with were very knowledgeable and professional! I arrived shortly after they opened at 8:00am and was driving home at 9:00am. GREAT JOB Costa Mesa DMV employees!

Seriously. When people talk trash about a DMV, this is why. Rude lady at front who talks to you like you’re an idiot to only give you the wrong forms. As you reexplain yourself to get the correct form, she insists that the first form is correct. After 30 minutes of waiting, it’s awesome to find out you have the wrong form. Thanks, Robin! Glad the infant I had with me helped you understand my need to be accurate the first time.

Waited in line for about 2 hours to get served rudely by front desk senior government employee .
Why they treat you like a dog, we pay taxes to support government services but get treated like criminals. Next time will drive up north for better service

There is a desk.
There is an appointment line feeding into one side of this desk.
There is a NON-​appointment line feeding into the other side of this same desk.
THERE IS ONE PERSON WORKING AT THIS DESK.
WOW. NOT KIDDING. Terrible service. Oh, and parking is very, very, very limited. Park at McDonald’s across the street… and get an icecream afterward. You’re gonna need it.

Zero stars for this DMV, and I haven’t even gotten into the building yet.
The parking lot does not have sufficient parking space for the volume of people this DMV serves. I would suggest coming here with another driver and having your driver drop you off while you do your business here and your driver waits elsewhere. But if you must park, the best way is to keep driving around and hope that you can catch someone leaving just in time. Waiting on the side of the lot drive way is not a good strategy.
The fact that Costa Mesa and Santa Ana are the only two DMVs to serve lower Orange County is a serious problem.
MAKE APPOINTMENT if possible. I’m not sure if that’ll shorten your wait time but it’ll probably be better than waiting in a constant out-​the-​door non-​appointment line. The crowd here is very diverse, so don’t be surprised. DMVs are not known to be classy establishments.
Try to sort your vehicle problems online and AVOID a this DMV if possible.

I work close to here at South Coast Toyota and often need to go into this DMV. YES it’s Crazy Madness, just the thought of going to the DMV use to put me on the edge. DMV’s are all the same so knowing that your going to be in long lines and the boring hours it takes to get helped. Don’t wait till the last minute, make an appointment. If you do wait till the last moment BRING SOMETHING TO DO and you won’t be frustrated. Remember the staff is working under pressure and hard, I’m sure at times they would love to yell back but they don’t. Find some patients for your long DMV Visit and you’ll be a happier person because of it. Wish you luck, this DMV is actually good.
Scott Ferguson
Come enjoy the easy and refreshing experience!
(Yelp)

If this experience is representative California DMV is rather terrible, even compared with DMV in other states! I normally expect a visit to the DMV to be an unpleasant event, but here at the Costa Mesa location they manage to get almost everything wrong.
Most of the employees perfectly fit the appearance and demeanor of icy-​faced bureaucrats. I get to the front of the line with a pleasant attitude… and I am repeatedly asked questions in a half-​accusatory, half-​dismissive tone. I am just trying to get processed. The problem is compounded by a poorly laid out DMV website, so (as a new resident) I need to ask some basic questions about what to do and in what order. Turns out I am supposed to magically intuit everything from the start…
A few baskets with forms near the door are reasonably well marked. The tens of boxes containing at least 10 different booklets in multiple langauges… not marked at all. Gotta hunt and peck!
The forms I need to fill out are typical as government forms go. Sometimes it’s clear what goes where and sometimes it’s totally confusing. I already have a license from another state but apparently I need to check the box saying I am getting a license for the first time. The form assumes I magically know that means means first time getting a license *in California*… ooohhhhh! How do they not have some mechanism where I can (easily) report confusions about the forms so future versions will be better?

I made and appointment but the moment I stepped in the door it was nothing but amazing people from the information desk to my behind the wheel instructor it was amazing how friendly and I passed my Test I’m a proud official driver and I have to thank DMV I’m Costa Mesa and their wonderful people! Than you everyone I know in general DMV offices are stressful but if you come in with a good attitude people would give you their best side, remember they are tired and over worked they are doing their best.
Thank you everyone I had an amazing day! =)

«If I could give this zero stars, I would».
Okay, that was a shameless and cliché Unilocal review introduction — up there with «I really wanted to like this place…» — and I don’t blame you for wanting to punch me in the throat for writing that but truth be told if I had a zero star override, I would be using it.
I simply needed to change my address on file and have my tags and registration issued with the correct information. I was told by a friend that Costa Mesa’s DMV is nothing like the concentration camp horrors I recall from my youth and I can expect a reasonable expectation of service. I remembered being shocked at the time as I was told that because the Costa Mesa DMV has had a notorious reputation since I was originally issued my driver’s license. This has kept me going to the Laguna Niguel location since (and the secret is definitely out over there).
Well, that was the worst idea I have heard since do it yourself dentistry.
I pulled up at 7:55am, five minutes before they open the doors and the line was literally around the building. I waited for twenty minutes in the same spot of a line that just did not move. In fact, two men in front of me sat down on the sidewalk and started Candy Crushing. I would have surely been in line 3 – 4 hours hadn’t I been texted to try AAA as they offer registration service.
A short minute drive to the AAA in Irvine and twenty minutes later I walked out with tags and registration in hand.
The Costa Mesa DMV is only second to the engineer that designed reclining seats on airplanes on my list of things to hate.

California dmv I hate every inch of you, I hate you through and through. Your lines are long your service sucks & none of you’re employees give two fucks
And there is nothing I can do.

If I could give this DMV 0 stars, I would. And I don’t say that lightly — this is the first 1 star review I have ever felt compelled to write.
I arrived at 10am and waited for 4 hours until my number was called. I was there to clear a suspension on my DL caused by a fix-​it ticket, and my own personal blemish in missing my initial court date. I remedied the situation by going to court last week. Everything was settled and dismissed. Unfortunately, it had not processed thru the DMV’s system, and I was told they could not remove the suspension.
I didn’t worry quite yet because we all know computer systems sometimes have glitches. So in case something like this happened, I brought the paperwork/​receipt from the court to prove it was all taken care of.
The supervisor, a short, chubby lady with glasses approached, and was the rudest lady I have met in my life. You would think physical proof coming from a Judge would be enough to solve the problem, but alas! she wouldn’t accept my paper documents. No sympathy from her. Almost as if it made her day to say no. Maybe she thinks she has more power than a judge or perhaps she’s society’s typical power-​tripping individual who takes advantage of the little power she has in her life. Who knows. But bottom line, how is she a supervisor if she cannot actually talk to people/​explain DMV rules/​policy or whatever it was that was wrong with the paperwork.
I waited there for 4 hours to meet the most unhelpful, worthless to the system, and rudest individual in my life. Yeah okay, tell me it’s policy and your hands are tied. Tell me if you could, you would want to help me. Tell me, let’s see what we can do. TRY TO HELP. Don’t just stand there and say NO without any reason. I waited there for 4 hours, at the very least, I deserved an explanation why papers from the court were not acceptable.
Come on, Costa Mesa DMV… people like that are why you’re getting slammed. Do better.

The first experience as you pull in is terrible. The parking lot is tiny for the kind of business this place gets. It has two driveways to get in and out and it makes it difficult to circle the lot as you wait for someone to pull out. The best approach I found was to pull to the side and wait. Lucky I was early for my appointment.
I have gone here without an appointment and the line seems to move very, very slowly. You then get your number and still have to wait. Make sure to skip ahead and get your paperwork filled out before making it to the counter as they will make you step aside to finish. Fill it all out if you are not sure which form you are going to need.
I have also made an appointment which was a way better experience. I got right in but also needed to have my forms filled out first or step aside. After getting my number I had to only wait about 10 people before being called. In total I was there about 30 minutes on a Wednesday. I was also 45 minutes early for my appointment and noone complained. Its easiest to make an appointment online at their website.
There is only one person working the picture area and that one person goes back and fourth between pictures and the exam area so if your going to have your picture taken be ready to wait.
The staff seems miserable. I understand they must get some irate customers at times but I tried to be extremely nice and still got the cold shoulder. Yes the law states I must have a license to drive but I also have to PAY for it so there is nothing wrong with a little customer service, even at the DMV!!!

Worst day ever today at the DMV.
Automated number caller broke!
I’ve been here 4 hours just to get a new DL.

The only reason this horrible place gets 2 stars is because of the lady at the information counter who helped me, she was courteous and deserves 4 stars for the crap she has the deal with.
First off, there are not near enough workers. One guy who was filtering through non appointment people decided to leave his area so all is non appointments had to wait through all the walk in appt people to finish before out line even moved — 30 min or longer.
While waiting outside two guys came along and set up a «bible info» booth right outside the DMV doors. One guy went inside first (I assume to get permission). How is that legal? This is a State office!
Save the headache and make an appointment. Also if your name isn’t on the title you can’t register the vehicle, even if it’s your spouses vehicle. Would’ve appreciated that knowledge before standing in line for hours!

Woohoo!
Didn’t have an appointment
Tuesday Morning: Arrived at 7:35 am, stood in looooong line
Once inside, was greeted by extremely positive vibe guy, given number and a form
Number called before 10 am
Picture taken and out the door by 10:10
I had totally expected to be there until noon (after reading Unilocal reviews) – But I was out in 2 ½ hours!
NOTE: there are no outlets available so don’t plan on charging anything while waiting

Out of Santa Ana, Westminster, and Costa Mesa, I prefer CM out of them all. Sure the parking lot is smaller than my backyard, (no I wish =D), and it takes a little luck and patience to get a parking spot, but if you’ve done your homework and made an appointment, you shouldn’t have that bad of a time.
The times I’ve visited this location, a lot mind you; three lost wallets and license renewals since I was 17, I’ve always had pleasant experiences. This last trip, I was done in 45 minutes! I had a renewal and new photo taken. Michael was the one that helped me, very nice and speedy. Of course you can’t pick who helps you, but just saying, not everyone in the DMV is mean and grumpy.
Thumbs up from me.

Aghhhhhhhhhhhhhh! !!!. O_​_​o .
???,!!!
..

So things I learned from the DMV: get an appointment if you can, and if you can’t be prepared to wait.
When I first arrived, they had two lines, one for people who had appointments and one for those who didn’t. Since both lines looked equally long, I was surprised and thought the wait time would be similar. Little did I know that each side actually gets separate ticket numbers.
When you reach the front of the line, you get a ticket number, and on the screen the workers call out the various tickets until it gets to your position. I came right around when they opened and ended up staying for about 2 hours, which was way longer than I had anticipated. From what I could understand of how the system works, they basically go through most of the people who had appointments first, and then they go through the people who didn’t have appointments. There is some variation in it I think because I did see some people who didn’t have appointments also go, but for the most part, it looked like it was people who had reservations before those who didn’t.
I guess that’s a fair system, but overall the long lines are a bit of a pain. Also, they don’t take credit card, so have the alternatives ready.