California Department of Motor Vehicles

I came here around 8:45 got my ticket number at 9:00 and I’m still here waiting. (it’s 11) honestly it’s so boring but it’s good to have someone with you or something to do. just make sure u use the restroom because I’m pretty sure people can hear you. dank stuff doe

Tip: late vehicle registration: when they ask you «WHY» you couldn’t pay registration on time… I said «honestly?.. I couldn’t afford it at the time». they hand you an form ask you fill out information & write an statement why. Save $ 100 off my registration (including late fees) Yes!
I recommend setting appointment, wait time was good hour. The old Filipino guy was nice but the fat white lady with dirty blonde hair was upset that I was getting discount. she told me this was last time I get this, didn’t even say hello, thank you or nothing… just here! Because of her I took two stars away.

Long time San Diegans may remember the Poway DMV as a local secret. You could live right next to the Claremont location and still save time riding into Poway to avoid to throngs of mouth-​breathing customers, un-​incented «Patty and Selma» stereotype employees, unattended brats running around while their don’t-give-a-crap about-​your-​sanity-​parents did nothing, then drive home to Claremont and have netted several hours of your life.
Bob Dylan, not all change is good. The Poway DMV is like every other DMV now. Packed with customers watching a large staff of state employees who appear to be doing little work and lots of … I dunno. The only thing I can hear above a screaming brat, an elderly woman watching something on YouTube — in Tagalog — without headphones, and another headphone free phone conversation is the automatic number caller and an electric stapler.
So, I’m here four days before my renewal and corresponding birthday, hoping that while the DMV is now regressing — and I’m getting older — I’ll make it to a human before the two variables and the one constant in the equation do not expire.
tl;dr Poway no longer saves time.

Now you can get your number and look for it on the tvs at Players Sports Bar right next door.

Worst DMV office ever!!! Filipino counter guy is arrogant. Filipina that helped when we were called after 2 HOURS was also arrogant. Website information about requirements on how to get a CA ID is unclear. I asked to speak to a supervisor and she came back to tell me it will take longer to apply and it would go on secondary checks. We are US citizens and my sons docs are currently in process to be a citizen doesn’t mean you can act indifferently. Oh yes! I am a damn Filipino too! If I could give this ZERO stars I would.

This was by far my best experience I’ve ever had at the DMV. I was in and out in 30 minutes. The clerks were so nice and funny even! Given the stuff they have to deal with on a daily basis I was pleasantly surprised! I even made friends with the people in line with me… Thank you Poway DMV for being a diamond in the rough

Save yourself some time and go to a different DMV. They do not move with a purpose. Been here for 3 hours so far and they only have 3 windows open. This place is horrible and I feel like I am being punished every time I am here.

I hate the DMV, I despise everything about it… usually! I recently moved so I needed to change my address and, like most ladies, wanted to update my picture. I walked in without an appointment yesterday and was told that it was about an hour and a half wait but if I scheduled an appointment for the following day (today) my wait would be no more than 30 minutes. So I scheduled an appt for today and when I walked in I wasn’t so sure about the shorter wait, the place was packed! But I took my # and waited with the rest of the people. To my surprise my number was called after only waiting 15 minutes… I was in and out of the DMV in about 25 minutes! Making an appointment is definitely the way to go! And the people working here were very friendly (at least the ones I encountered).

Why do a majority of the people that work there have to be rude? I encountered 2 gentleman that work there who apparently think its ok to talk to people like they are children? There is no need to speak to someone in the manner they did, very condescending. The only other time I had been there I dealt with a great lady who had such a funny personality. I think I will try another DMV, this one is just horrible.

Worst DMV i’ve ever visited. Waiting time is unbelievable. Only few windows working.
To register my new car i have spent 5 hours just waiting Unbelievable. Such a waste of my time.
Save your self a time and go to a different DMV location where there is enough stuff

One word to describe it all: Horrible!
Can’t pay car renewal online. Go there and they says you have to pay online. Then they say they don’t take CC. Waited over 4hrs!!!

Nice people. Terrible lines.
Showed up here to apply for my California state driver’s license after moving from Washington state. I’m thankful that’s all I was doing, because registration & title transfers looked like an absolute nightmare. I’d say it’s a good idea to book an appointment, but most of their appointments are completely booked for weeks. You’re probably better off heading up to the San Marcos location.

This is by far the most horrible DMV department in this county. We’ve all had our DMV experiences but the DMV in Poway absolutely takes the prize for worst staff, worst locations, and worst customer service. A special needs award goes to the people at the desk who help out 1 person for every 5 they ask to come back to the desk to give them a number.
Stay away from this DMV.

After renewing my license via mail the last few years, I got the notice that I needed to renew again — but now it has to be in person. So, after seeing that this DMV location is the closest to my place, I booked an appointment online a few weeks back and came here yesterday morning.
While there was a line already outside when I got there, what isn’t clearly marked outdoors is that there’s a separate line for folks with appointments — which meant that I stood in line for about five minutes until the people with appointments actually went inside to check in. Grr…
The reason that the line for unscheduled customers is so long is that there’s one staffer at the desk for both scheduled and unscheduled visits; I’m surprised that a place like the DMV is woefully understaffed — and yet they get their jobs done (the person who renewed my license also was the one manning the ID photo booth).
I should add that the time between my appointment and leaving out the door with my new (temporary) license was 15 minutes… not too shabby!
As long as you make an appointment in advance, not too bad an experience.

I feel like I’m being punished whenever I enter the DMV and this time was particularly awful.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to make an appt since I never received my renewal letter in the mail, I had to go in ASAP so I wouldn’t get penalized with a huge fee.
It was over an hour wait just to get a number and then then 90 mins to get my number called. They only had 3 windows open and they were taking their time in between helping people.
Employees of the DMV have no incentives to work quickly and therefore won’t expedite any process.
I hopefully won’t have to return anytime soon…

Oh hell no.
I tried to make an appointment. But the first possible date was 6 weeks away and I need my license renewed for all kinds of reasons ASAP. I tried to renew online, and their system wouldn’t let me for some reason? So I steeled myself for the pain of the ridiculousness that is this organization.
I got there 1.5 hours before it opened and there was already like 25 people in line. We stood, bleary eyed, and commented on how if someone put a coffee stand/​shop in this shopping center they’d make a million bucks (Hey local investors and entrepreneurs, just sayin) We waiting, the young and old alike, in a shuffling grumpy line, all of us resolved. This was gonna be a pain. We all knew it.
They should put some benches in for the people that are elderly or have disabilities. It was downright shameful to watch grandfatherly gentlemen, veterans and some lovely older women stand for over an hour. C’mon America.
About 15 minutes before the doors open a brisk man pushed a cart down the line of already punished individuals and gave us clipboards and paperwork and answered a few questions with an already annoyed tone. He’d been working for 3 minutes and he already despised all of us. Hey buddy, we don’t want to be here bugging you either.
The line started to move super slow, you get to the door and one by one are called up to get a number. Don’t think you’re gonna get to sit as soon as they open. Waiting, mostly outside, is reality. I was called up to the front, given my number, and sat for another 25 minutes. Once I got to the window, my attendant was friendly enough, but her printing wasn’t working, and I waited some more. They made me take the test again, sigh. Waited for that. They took my picture, waited for that. Then I got a piece of paper for a temporary. My license will come in two weeks. More waiting. Plus I paid for it.
Nobody likes the DMV. Me included. PS: They won’t let you use your phone while you wait either. Sigh.

No bad experiences here well relative to other DMV experiences. It’s a DMV people… so as far as other DMV locations go, I’ve been to much worse. If you don’t make an appointment… it will take forever. But you know that already right?
I know it’s not going to change but the number calling system always baffles me. The monitors are getting kinda old and they way the call it out… it feels like a system designed to strip you of your will. I think it has the effect of enraging those waiting more than a half hour though…

Unilocalers — make it easier on yourself by making a fucking appointment! I’ve never not made an appointment and I’m always in and out of there in less than an hour.
There’s no way the DMV is getting 5 stars. This office is A-​OK — no surprises really. A take-​a-​number system and plenty of seating for the waiting. The people who work here are miserable. The fees for the things we California drivers need in order to use our vehicles are close to extortion.
Whatever. –_​–

Never received my license renewal by mail so I had to come in.
Two hour plus wait so I could give DMV $ 33.
Indifferent and condescending workers didn’t help the situation.
At least there was screaming crying kids running around for entertainment.

It’s a DMV. It doesn’t need 4 – 5 stars.
I made myself an appointment and got here early.
Theirs going to be a line either way you slice it. Bring a book, and things to keep you busy.
Their are TWO lines one for walk ups and the shorer one is for those who have made an appointment. The signs are not clear and the line is often out the door as the entrance is quite small. Don’t let it upset you!
I was assisted at window 12 a kind Asian man helped me who once knew my friend who worked at this location, Sherman Palmore. God rest his soul.
Everyone I came in contact with was more than kind and not grouchy from the long lines and the stress.
Glad I came here. Hopefully I don’t have to be back until my dmv in El Cajon is opened again. :)