What can I expect at the Georgetown (DC) DMV?

May 17, 2007 10:23 AM

When is the best time of day/day of the week to visit the Georgetown (DC) DMV to convert my CA license to a DC license?

I need to convert my CA driver's license to a DC license. I don't own a car so no need for vehicle registration, etc. I live in the NW so Georgetown's DMV seems to be the most convenient for me. (Right?)

Have you been there? Was it crazy and crowded? Does it take a long time? Any time-of-day, day-of-week recommendations? I'm working M-F 830-5 and need to minimize how much time I take off.

They're open M-F from 8:15-4, naturally.

posted by juliplease to Law & Government (17 answers total)

Call the DMV and ask. Like my local DMV, they may even have the best hours to go on a recorded message you get when you call them.
posted by amro at 10:29 AM on May 17, 2007

The DMV's in CA let you make appointments. You'll still wait a little while, but far less than just walking in.
posted by a_green_man at 10:32 AM on May 17, 2007

You might also try the DMV on Rhode Island Ave NW, as they are open on Saturday. You could go there in the morning and then go to the MeFi meet-up picnic in the afternoon!
posted by parmanparman at 10:36 AM on May 17, 2007

It's a waiting game. You go in, wait in a line where you tell them what you need done, and then you're handed a Bingo Ticket (ie, H 54! Bingo!) You take a seat, and wait.

I've only ever gone to the DMV near Judiciary Square (tried Georgetown, but they didn't do what I needed them to - a temporary plate, that is.) and while I did wait awhile, they do keep things moving and once I was up, they're very efficient about the whamming and bamming to get you out of there. The most torturous wait, for me, was the one to get my Bingo Ticket in the first place.

Georgetown's DMV is smaller, and located inside a mall, so I can't vouch for your wait time. I will say I received some piss-poor customer service (and me, having grown up in NJ, where the DMV is Hell on Earth!) at Georgetown, but everything is so streamlined at Judiciary that it was a much smoother, efficient process.

YMMV, and excuse the pun.
posted by atayah at 10:46 AM on May 17, 2007

Response by poster: Amro, I'll try that, thanks. I'd still love input from MeFi locals, too.

Speaking of which, I don't see that location, parmanparman. Is it still open?

current list of DMVs

And I can't come to the picnic 'cause it's moving day. But the next one! Can we please have another soon?
posted by juliplease at 10:47 AM on May 17, 2007

parman parman is talkign about the location at: "BRENTWOOD SQUARE SERVICE CENTER – 1233 Brentwood Road, NE" - which would be close to the RI Ave/Brentwood stop on the Red Line. It's not open on weekends though, from the DMV page.

I've only ever gone to the Penn Branch Center in SE and the main C Street NW location (which is now on M Street in SW)- both have gone pretty fast (except for the time the license printing machine broke...)

I would go on Saturday if you dont want to take time off and go to the new central location (M St SW) - if you're going by Metro, probably a lot quicker than the Georgetown location (which would be Metro->bus or a long walk)
posted by jare2003 at 11:22 AM on May 17, 2007

I just changed my CA into a CO license. They told me the best time to come in was Tues. or Wednesday before 9:30. I think that's a safe bet if you don't get a good time frame from your local office. My wait was minimal. The longest part was emissions testing for my registration, and that was no more than 15 minutes.
posted by monkeymadness at 11:26 AM on May 17, 2007

The georgetown branch, in the experiences of myself and dozens of friends, is the secret stash of the DC DMV. Almost always empty and quick. Definitely the way to go, as long as, as previous posters noted, they perform the services you require.
posted by raconteur at 11:30 AM on May 17, 2007

I was at the Georgetown DMV two weeks ago, and asked the security guard this exact question, thinking that she mostly sat there all day an observed the crowd, so she would know.

Her answer was to come in the mid-afternoon of the middle week of the month. In the mornings there is a pre-work rush (unless you are in line 1/2 hour before they open), and it is busier at the beginning and particularly the end of the month.

I showed up once on Monday at lunch, and had to leave after about 45 minutes because I had to go back to work. I went back Wednesday at 2, and it took me about 45 minutes total, so that was faster.

One tip: when asked how you are going to pay, go with a credit card if you can. It is faster than paying with cash or a check.

Don't expect it to be empty, though. You still have to get a ticket and wait. Bring something to read. Cell phone access is spotty because it is in the basement. You can sit outside on a nicer, less crowded bench and look at the board through a window, which is what I did. Much better than being inside.
posted by procrastination at 11:33 AM on May 17, 2007

Seconding the C St NW (main) location. I got there a few minutes after it opened and, even though there was quite the line ahead of me, was done in a little over a half-hour.

Also speaking as a former CA driver, my heart broke a tiny bit when they shredded my California license right in front of me...silly me, I was under the impression that I could retain it as a memento of my previous life.
posted by kittyprecious at 11:52 AM on May 17, 2007

Response by poster: I was prepared to give it up, kittyprecious, but I didn't know that they'd make me witness the execution. Thanks for the warning.

And thanks, everyone, for the advice!
posted by juliplease at 12:00 PM on May 17, 2007

The Georgetown DMV rocks. It's clean, the people are polite, and the line moves fast - probably because they only do a subset of tasks, not a whole lot of variation. It's not on the Metro, as mentioned above, but is TOTALLY worth the minor hassle to get there without a car - a $8 taxi each way from downtown should do it, and minimize your time out of the office.

Stay away from C Street, which is one of Dante's circles.
posted by nkknkk at 12:29 PM on May 17, 2007

My strategy at the C Street/Judiciary Square location is to get there after the initial rush, but before they get backed up. If the place opens at 8:15, I'd get there at, say, 9:00. I have had some good experiences there, and some bad ones. Bring a book, and be sure to use the bathroom before you get your ticket.

I've also found the Penn Branch to be a good place to go, but, if you're carless, it might not be the best option.
posted by MrMoonPie at 1:02 PM on May 17, 2007

Another vote for the Georgetown DMV (shhh... keep it secret!)
posted by dcjd at 1:05 PM on May 17, 2007

I went to the Georgetown branch around 3 pm one day and there was not a long wait. I was probably out of there within 30 minutes for a change-of-address (which req'd a new picture due to a DC screw up.)
posted by redarmycomrade at 1:08 PM on May 17, 2007

Just so everyone knows - the C Street location is closed now. It moved to M Street SW (by Navy Yard)
posted by jare2003 at 1:23 PM on May 17, 2007

raconteur and nkknkk are spot-on. A recent visit to the C Street location entailed a 45 minute standing wait in the line to speak to the person who tells you which line to wait in.
posted by CaptApollo at 2:03 PM on May 17, 2007