A fun trip to the DMV

Recently, I received a license renewal form from the State of Connecticut (my former state of residency) and I realized that I never went to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles to make the change.  What was always a simple ‘sign the form and send it in,’ was now a ‘make a personal appearance at the DMV,’ in nearby Brewster, NY.   I had to, after all, pose for a new photo, present my Social Security Card, and sign all the necessary forms.

Just 2 days before, I had flown to Maine and there was a window of opportunity between returning home and immediately packing my bags for an expedition to Iceland.  I was informed that the computers at the DMV were down, so I escaped into nearby Katonah for a much-needed pedicure and manicure.  When I arrived at the DMV at 3:30, the lines were empty and the service was fast and friendly.  I was allowed to pay the $42.50 charge by credit card.  They seized my old CT license – for reasons, unexplained.  My new license is good for 5 years because I am from another state – another reason unexplained.  I was told that after the 5 years, when I renew, it will be good for 8 years.  Anyway, I was issued a temporary license until Albany, the capital of NY, sends me my permanent photo license in a week or two. Have you had a DMV experience lately? Let me know how it went..leave a comment!

This is the sign directing to the DMV in Brewster, NY.

very familiar signs for many, I'm sure

Welcome to the Empire State.

People standing in line.

Many, many forms

very interesting signs posted everywhere

I passed the eye test with flying colors.

Some manuals to learn.

These are offered in English and Spanish.

A severe warning

The testing area for new drivers.

Another poster

Someone brought their 'babies' to the license renewal, I say...Cute Overload!

So many people like to register as a donor.

If you don't have a pen to fill out all the forms, you can purchase one at these machines - seriously, what can you purchase for 25-cents anymore?

Here I am posing for my 'portrait.'

I am given 3 to choose from.

I chose #3.

Not such a bad ordeal!

Whoops! (Perez Hilton Style)

Haircut time for the donkeys!

Guests at my farm yesterday

Time for a trim?

Come see what I picked this weekend at my farm

Paw Paw's grandsons -- help me decide!

Comments

[Desiree']

Martha,
This is why I love your blog, you never know what you will post next! I dread going to the DMV with a passion because I know I'll be in there for atleast an hour. Luckily there's a Micheal's across the street so I always stop in there and pick up more Martha Stewart craft supplies afterwards! The scarf was a nice touch. Have a good day!

[bs]

Now that's a great post!
I always used to think of the DMV visit as a miserable experience, but I had to go last November and it was so nice! No lines and super friendly people. If anyone is in Brooklyn, NY I recommend the DMV on Atlantic Ave. The one across from Target downtown. Even the security guards were really helpful.

[Gabrielle]

Hi Martha,
I find in busy Southern California, as long as you make an appointment by phone first, a trip to the DMV is easy. Bring with you 2 young toddlers, and they are really nice to you. I'm glad you cleared up your licence biz, here you must make a change everytime you move.

****By the way, I went to Walmart and saw the new line. I almost cried right there in the craft aisle. I can't wait to make stuff with the new goodies, I love the paper and stickers. The prices are nice too.****

Happy travels to Iceland, I hope you can go to the baths and see the Volcanos.
Peace,
Gabrielle

[Margie]

Not my favorite thing to do or see. Always lines, translators, ugly decor. We had a point and shoot photo session. Take it, period. Always bad. But as bad as the last was when I had the option to renew by mail I did. Somehow that 5 years younger drivers license become not bad at all.

[Ruth Tortorici]

In Arizona my license is good until 2028! So I may not have liked my picture 7 years ago, not quite happy with it now but I am sure that when I'm 60yrs I am going to love my DMV picture of a young looking woman! And if I need a replacement, it can be requested online! Yeah for Arizona!

[Wendy]

I bet the people working at the DMV were surprised to see you. I would not have been able to do my job! I would have been too excited.

Thank you for sharing your days with us. It gives us a peak in to your every day life. I read your blog every day and enjoy it very much!

[Alisha]

Martha,

Would you believe that the state of Kansas issues a piece of paper temporary license about the size of a dinner receipt?

It is good for about 3 weeks. And I was given one of these temporaries just 2 days before I was scheduled to go out of town. Leaving through the Kansas airport was no problem. The security staff were familiar with the receipt license. But my trip back a few days later was another story!

Well, something I think people never consider... what do you do if you are out of town & have a temporary license? And I have to admit this one looked rather strange and suspicious. I quickly learned what happens. And apparently it's not a problem! It's, in fact, NOT required to present a license to get on a plane... you can present even your Sam's club card, if you like. What a learning experience.

-Ali-

[Donnis Maas]

I waited three years past the date to renew my license. I waited hours, way past my lunch hour. When I finally got to the counter, the lady asked me what took me so long to renew my license. I said "I've been in line."

[Jon]

Martha, your experience was a walk in the park compared to my DMV adventure. My license had fallen out of my checkbook during a lunch outing. After back-tracking every step and scouring the ground in search of the wayward license, I did not find it. So off to the DMV I went. It was 3:30 in the afternoon and the place was packed! I live in a college town, go figure! Take a number. . . after an hour my number was called and I finally got an opportunity to talk to a clerk, who told me I needed TWO forms of ID, and that my Social Security card alone would not be sufficient, OK. So back home to get my birth certificate AND start the process all over again. Oh, but wait, this time the clerk tells me the person who handles the lost license requests is gone for the day and I will have to return tomorrow morning. Yes, I did finally get a replacement license, and the most frustrating thing was. . .I found the lost license about two months later while vacuuming out my vehicle.
Enjoyed your posting.
Have a great weekend.
Jon
p.s. I know your B-day isn't until Aug 3, but I am curious to hear what you have planned. I am sure whatever it is, it will be tremendously exciting.

[crystalclodfelter]

they let you pick your picture! not fair- in NC we can't smile and its one and done

[Shirley]

Hi, Martha,
I had to go to the DMV two days ago to renew my license. In Georgia, we are given the opportunity to renew online. However, once you reach the magic age of 64, you must come in for a vision test. I was really dreading having to go. The last time that I went in, the DMV location was in a Kroger grocery. I had to wait in line a long time, and received a temporary card until my permanent one came in the mail. This time, I was pleasantly surprised. The DMV has new locations now. The one I chose has their own building in a shopping center. There were chairs to sit in, and many numbered windows for service. You are given a number when you enter along with a form to fill out. Your number is announced by an automated voice that tells you which window will be serving you. Your number and window is also posted electronically on a board. You take the vision test at your appointed window, and surrender your license and the form. You sit down again, and wait to be called again to go to another window to have your picture taken. You don't have a choice of pictures. You sit again, and are called up to get your actual license. It was wonderful. The whole process took about 30 minutes. I wish everything could be so simple and pleasant.

I really enjoy reading your bloggs.

[Jyesika]

Our Kansas DMV certainly doesn't let us choose the most comely photo, I've got one that makes me look like a heavy lidded zombie with sparse hair. It certainly makes me behave while driving, to better avoid mockery during a traffic stop. Thankfully I've never encountered much of a line at the DMV, although paying car tags in the great state of Kansas is an all-day affair.
Two very different worlds collide with the link from your blog to Perez Hilton, Martha! That certainly made me giggle.

[Gaye]

Just yesterday I took my 90-year-old, legally blind father to our Orem, UT DMV. Noticing that everyone was staring at us while I was leading him around to get his paper work filled out and then have his picture taken, I finally turned to the crowd and said, "Don't worry, he's not driving anymore--it's just an I.D. card." There was a collective sigh.
. . . Gaye

[Jen in CT]

I used to live in Brewster before moving to CT and have been to that very DMV on many an occasion. Glad to hear they are still friendly and efficient. (And that the 25¢ pen dispensers are still there, lol!)

[Angela Willis]

WHAT? You mean they didn't make you take the driving test? When I moved from Texas to Washington, I was made to take the driving test all over again (even though I had a perfectly valid Texas license)... can you imagine? It had been 18 years since I had taken it... what an ordeal!
Looks like it all worked out smoothly for you!

Angela

[Karen]

I still love the Brewster DMV...where I spent the morning of my 16th birthday getting my learner's permit!

You do have to be careful moving state to state, as it is illegal not to update your license right away. I've moved a few times, and was caught by surprise when I had to take the written test in California.

I've had bad experiences in CT years ago. I didn't know about the property tax on cars until after I'd bought my new one and got a surprise bill. I've had bad experiences years ago down in Fairfield County, but I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised by my last few trips to Waterbury. Everyone was so helpful, quick and pleasant.

(Hey, I don't mind people being charged for pens. We all pay for all that stuff that some think of as "free.")

[Annie]

Martha you are hysterical! Love your madness!!

[Trish]

My last picture was taken 6 years ago and it will be good, (bad is more like it), for another 6 years. While waiting to have it taken, I put a smile on my face and kept it there so I wouldn't have that surprised stupid look they always manage to capture. Well, that didn't work because he asked me to take my glasses off. While I was trying to focus, he snapped my picture. Ugh!

I'm sure your picture turned out great. I don't think I have ever seen a really back picture of you. Trish

P.S. Thanks, Donnis Maas for the laugh!

[Wendy]

Ahhh... the DMV. I've learned that DMVs in smaller cities/towns are much nicer than those in the big cities.

When my family lived in Missouri, I had to get myself a Missouri license. The DMV issued me a permit instead of a full fledged license. You can imagine my surprise when I got pulled over by the police and was informed that I have a permit instead of a license. I was a bit sad to let go of my first piece of identification where I actually looked good in the picture.

[Morgan in Kentucky]

Martha, a few years ago when I still lived in Maryland I was on my way to the MVA (their DMV) to renew my tags. It was a rainy day, and I was at a full stop just about to turn into the MVA's parking lot, turn-signal on, of course. I happened to look up in my rear-view mirror and much to my horror watched as a woman younger than myself realized, too late, that she was going much too fast, and then slammed into the back of my poor little Subaru. She was also on her way to the MVA, having recently relocated from New Jersey. Unfortunately, because I had my neck turned to look in the rearview, I ended up with some minor neck trauma (bummer) but I recovered fully. I'm glad that your trip to the DMV was much less dramatic!
BTW, I'm originally from Pound Ridge, & it's great to hear familiar towns like Katonah & Brewster out here in the Bluegrass!

[Marlene]

In Brooklyn, the Motor Vehicle place is so crowded, you have to wait for hours. Even if you go late in the day, it's still crowded.

The Departmart of Motor Vehicles in Brooklyn (in Coney Island) could use a sprucing as well!

[Jennifer Exon]

We have one DMV office to a huge county..so it is a total joke! I went three days ago and gave up after 1 1/2 hrs into the line and 13 people ahead of me. Next time I will go without my babies and maybe the wait wont be so bad! Thanks Martha for sharing your boring chores with us.

[Wendy]

Hey--we don't get to pick in Oregon! And your picture looks really cute!

[Donna]

A nightmare in NH for they have recently changed to a temporary license rather than issuing a new one immediately. The temp is in B&W and looks like a fake. Many people of been turned away from renting cars to entering bars because of this. It took my son three hours to get his temporary license at the DMV last week. He now has to wait two months for it to arrive. Not such a great time at the DMV for him.

[Tiff@Three Peas]

I am from a small town in North Caroina. So going to the DMV is not a major event. No lines at all. I do need to get mine renewed this month though. Even though there are no lines it still is a hassle when you have three kids in tow!!! You never know what's going to happen.