Department of Motor Vehicles

Everyone’s dread is going to the DMV and with a reason. Although most times I want to fool myself hoping that I will have a positive experience, it seldom happens.
I show up on time for my appointment and start presenting all the paperwork needed but, of course, some is missing and some doesn’t match. Strange, given that the documents presented are listed in the DMV website. The first attendant is having none of it, so I have to pull my phone to show her as I intensify my tone. Ok, here is your ticket, go.
On the window, same thing happens. They go back to the first attendant to confirm that I have all the requirements, she struggles to remember but finally says yes. But since you had a different paper than the ideal one, it will have to go to secondary review and will take longer than normal.
Why does it have to be so painful? Deep inside we are rooting for a positive experience. But we can’t be on your side if you don’ help.

The guy sitting in front of me smells like pee. And some chicks almost had a bitch fight in the corner because one didn’t hear the other say «excuse me», and had to say it twice. Been here almost an hour… I might die here.

Very friendly guy who greets you as you enter and directs you to the correct window. We were there for a behind the wheel driving test after a nightmare experience at the Daly City DMV.
The intake clerk was a bit «officious» but still friendly. We then got in line for the driving test and the examiner came out within a couple of minutes. She was soooo nice! Completely opposite of the crab apples who work in Daly City. Off they went and maybe 15 – 20 minutes later my daughter was back with a pass. The examiner wrote «Congratulations» and drew a smiley face on the mark sheet. Surely not mandated by the DMV, but reflective of her nice personality.
Finishing up the process inside was quick and easy.
Clean bathrooms, too.
The DMV was clean, spacious, plenty of seating and most of all, friendly and helpful clerks.

Fat lady in the front wearing sunglasses sucks. Rude and no help. If DMV was an actual company they woulda fired that rude bitch by now.

I’ve been to many DMV offices in my time this is the nicest and the fastest as of yet
There’s no such thing as a perfect DMV office but I have to say this one is the closest as of yet ive heard rumors that people drive from far away to visit this office and there is a reason !

I just had a surprisingly positive experience at the Petaluma DMV! I had gotten online to make an appointment before my license expires 3 weeks from now but all of the available appointments were days later. I saw the wait at the Petaluma DMV was 17 minutes and drove over there. I was helped by a very nice intake lady who later processed my app and payment. I went to a gentleman who took my pic and processed my test. Easy Peasy! Wow. An unexpectedly fast and efficient renewal! Whew!

Today I went to turn in my smog stuff and get my stickers I had already paid all my dues at an earlier visit so you would think I would be able to show it to the woman at the first counter and be done oh no 2 hours later I was finally done. They need to fine a faster way to help people and speed up the wait. I hate going to this location.

Very rude!!! I felt sorry for the young man who was trying to help us, the photo man who work next to him yelled at him just because we ask the young man to double check the answers on the written exam for us. It is not your problem, we didn’t ask you to check for us!!!
Btw the answer is definitely incorrect for that question!

This was our best DMV experience ever. Well worth the drive although we have closer DMV offices. With four to six cars in the family at a time, our DMV relationship is constant and usually painful. We took care of four registrations and two license address changes during our half-​hour stay. Everyone we worked with was helpful and friendly.

The most organized DMV ever. Went in early and got done quickly. A+

The guy who takes photos has nothing to do but stand around. To be clear: There was no one behind or ahead of me. It was not the end of the day. Mr. «I obviously hate my job and want to spoil your day too» looked at me with a blank stare, then shot my photo before I could settle in and get ready for it. When I very gently, mentioned I hadn’t been ready yet, he said «I got you» and looked away. There would be no conversation. He had to go back to daydreaming. I went home and heard from my better half that, weeks before, he’d done the same rude thing to him. So it wasn’t personal– Mr. Photo Man is just REALLY not a dedicated employee. haha Both our photos look like we should be in jail. It’s as if the guy does it on purpose– like a power trip. Everyone else was very friendly and nice, but Mr. darkness incarnate really spoiled my day (not to mention my photo.) And I’m a chirpy person– it takes a lot.

I visited the Petaluma DMV office yesterday to renew my license. I found the staff to be most helpful and friendly. This is the best DMV around.Frank.B

I drove out of my way to avoid Santa Rosa DMV after my first experience there. I found the employees of the Petaluma DMV to be so much more responsive and friendly, while the ones at Santa Rosa couldn’t even crack a smile (except for the friendly front desk people). If you have a choice, Petaluma is a good one!

DMV Petaluma
This place is HELL on Earth! Even with an appointment, still had to wait an hour. We were «helped» by a horrible man. Not sure of his name, but he sits at a cubicle on the left hand side towards the back. He had a very bad attitude. I get it guy — you hate your job, but please do us all a favor and find another one! Life is too short to be this miserable and making others miserable in the process.

It’s so slow it’s amazing.
I can’t believe in 2014 a business could be this slow. The people are nice but it’s a line out the door. Make an appointment and you still have to wait. Too bad google or aaa doesn’t take them over and make a bundle.
I hate coming here.
It blows like old beans out if an old man.

As far as DMVs go, this one is more pleasant of an experience to visit. If you get there before they open, unlike the Novato location, someone will be outside assigning appointment types to everyone in line before you even get through the door. Their staff is pretty friendly as well, I even had a laugh or two with the woman who was helping me! Unheard of!

Nice staff, but same old DMV. Even with an appointment things move slowly. Without an appointment it would be hell!
If you live in Santa Rosa, it’s not worth a drive to Petaluma to avoid the SR DMV. They’re about the same experience.

Went to this Petaluma DMV yesterday for the first time since my driver’s test for my original license on my 16^th birthday back in the day. Made an appointment ahead of time and although the place was busy for my 11:40am appointment on a Friday I was in and out of there in about 15 minutes and the two DMV employees that I dealt with while there were extremely nice, helpful and all smiles. A pleasant experience and definitely not the typical dreaded DMV experience that you always hear.
Bottom line, make an appointment ahead of time through the DMV website and you should be able to get in and out of there in no time!

By far one of the better DMV’s I’ve been to. I showed up 15min before they were open, was 3^rd in line & was out by 8:10am. No one was rude, they smiled, joked with me, and even though I wasn’t sure what paperwork I needed they didn’t get frustrated.
I’ll go to this DMV over the one in Santa Rosa any day of the week.

Most of the staff is really friendly, and helpful. They seem to know what they’re doing, and don’t seem too miserable. However, it’s still the California DMV. Seriously, did you think they were going to get more than 2 stars?