Need to get a new license?...any tips on where to go?

verucasalt · May 2008

Which office is the best to go to. I think the Xpress but the one in Brooklyn is so much more convenient or should I suck it up and go Xpress cause that will save me time in the long run? Thoughts, suggestions?

deedee · May 2008

I would highly recommend that you go to the DMV office at Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn. It is very efficiently run. Last May I needed to renew my non-drivers I.D. so I filled out the forms online and printed them and went their with all of my documents. I was apprehensive and prepared for a long wait. I was in and out of the office in under 20 minutes.

carmen · May 2008

I would totally disagree with DeeDee unless you go at least 45 minutes prior to opening. I tried to go to the Atlantic DMV 4 times during different daytie hours and each time the wait was 2-4 hours. I went 45 minutes prior to opening and was out 30 minutes after opening (so I only waited 30 minutes in the actual DMV) I had to go for plates, but I've been to the xpress office for my license and it wasnt bad. It took about 30 minutes in-office but again, I showed up 30 minutes prior to opening. My friend went on her lunch break and it took 1.5 hours so I guess it depends on where you go.

bergenites · May 2008

We went to the Atlantic Terminal DMV a few weeks ago. If you just need to renew, change your name or apply for a NYS license from out of state, then it is easy. If you have to take the test, change plates, etc. then it is longer.
We arrived exactly at 8:30am, when they open and were out in half an hour.

alafairnadia · May 2008

The xpress on 34th is pretty fast. I had to change from a Texas to an NY DL a few years ago and they got the paperwork through, photo shot, etc, in like 30 minutes. with a gigantor line.

verucasalt · May 2008

well I need to get a NY license and surrender my CT one. I am assuming it shouldn't take that long.

Bergenite you got there at 8:30 and didn't have to wait in any lines...or any substantial lines? That is pretty amazing!

I suppose if I print all of my paperwork and fill it out beforehand that saves time too.

carmen · May 2008

Just an FYI- they take your out of state license and mail you the new one 2-3 weeks later, so if you don't have a passport you're without photo ID for that amount of time. I didn't know this when I exchanged mine and it was a huge pain in the butt (in NC, where I'm from, the print it out right there and give it to you same day, I foolishly assumed this was standard)

vanilla · May 2008

atlantic terminal is no big deal for getting a license. i had a massachusetts one and was in and out of the atlantic terminal in just under 45minutes. they give you a temporary license that lasts longer than the time needed to get your new one in the mail. plus they are pretty nice at the atlantic terminal.

oh, and i got my new license in the mail in less than 2 weeks. and i went just a few days before christmas. seemed super fast to me. i was shocked.

carmen · May 2008

^they do give you a temp one, I forgot to mention that, but it's not a photo ID it's just a piece of paper saying you can drive.

bergenites · May 2008

Veruca, I had to get my name changed after getting married, my husband had to change states for his license. We got there and there were lines all over the place, it was maybe 8:25am. We asked the security guard where to stand and he put us at the back of one line.

When the door opened it was sort of a free-for-all, but they explained that the line to the right (not where there are lots of switch-backs like at airport security, but just a straight line) - is where you stand for changing licenses like we were doing. We were about the 6th in line and were out of there in half an hour - first you get your photo taken, then you wait until they call a #, then you're processed.

So, if you get there on time and get in the right line (now that you know where to go) it is easy.

I got my license within a week too! And since I was just changing my name they didn't take my old license... they did when I switched out of state though. I actually found Atlantic quicker than the 34th St. one where I stood on line half an hour before it opened in the freezing cold last Feb., and then had about an hour inside.

verucasalt · May 2008

for changing an out of state license do you have an eye exam taken too or no?

opossumqueen · May 2008

Wherever you go, print out the paperwork online and have that ready. I exchanged an out of state at the express office and it wasn't too bad. Just ask which line to get in to make sure you don't waste time as there are several lines.

They did an eye exam and photo in one line, then I paid and got my temp. in another line. As someone else said, unless you have a passport, you will be without a photo id for a while.

bergenites · May 2008

Yes, you do, but with both eyes together, if I recall. It really doesn't take long - the same person who takes your pictures does that.

bergenites · May 2008

Oh, and you must have a passport and social security card or other forms of ID that add up to 6 points.

daver · May 2008

Bergenites wrote: Oh, and you must have a passport and social security card or other forms of ID that add up to 6 points.

Not if you are exchanging an acceptable out of state one. And you don't _have_ to have a passport, regardless. It is all documented here:
http://www.nysdmv.com/license.htm

bergenites · May 2008

You must have other forms of ID that prove your name and DOB. A passport is one of the options.

From the DMV site:
If you do not have a NYS driver license or or a NYS learner permit that is now valid or that was valid in the last two years, you must show proof of identity that equals a value of six points, your proof of date of birth and your Social Security Card

A US passport is equal to 4 pts, and an out of state license is 2 points - so it is one of the easier ways to get a NYS license. Other acceptable forms of ID are foreign passports with visa, naturalization documents, welfare cards, etc.

daver · May 2008

If you are trading in an out of state license, you only need 2 points. And an SS card. I think I used my marriage certificate.

Provide at least two points of identification and proof of date of birth, and your out-of-state photo driver license and your Social Security Card.

bergenites · May 2008

My husband was just turned away at the DMV when we went 2 weeks ago because he needed a passport (or other form of 4 pts) and SS card to change his out of state license. Just speaking from my (recent) experience.

caaahyoko · May 2008

Carmen wrote: Just an FYI- they take your out of state license and mail you the new one 2-3 weeks later, so if you don't have a passport you're without photo ID for that amount of time. I didn't know this when I exchanged mine and it was a huge pain in the butt (in NC, where I'm from, the print it out right there and give it to you same day, I foolishly assumed this was standard)

haha! I assumed the same thing you did! I figured if they could print it out on the spot in MO, they must be able to print it out here.

Xpress was ok. However, my only gripe is that if you have more than one thing they need to do--I needed to exchange my out of state AND change the name to my married name--they throw you back in line after the first task instead of doing both at the same time. The whole taking my picture, switching my out of state took about 30min, but then I had to wait another 30min for them to call my number AGAIN just so a different clerk could look at my marriage certificate and change my last name. Inefficient, me thinks? Errrr... :?

daver · May 2008

I haven't been in two years, and it doesn't surprise me that they would deviate from their documentation. When we were there, I had no problems. My wife, however, had all sorts of issues because she had brought her birth certificate that showed a different last name than her ID. Never mind that we had the marriage certificate with us. They demanded all sorts of court documents. She ended up screaming and yelling until they got the facility supervisor who overrode everything and pushed it through.

Sometimes I miss her.

Primus has a good song about the DMV.

caaahyoko · May 2008

Bergenites wrote: My husband was just turned away at the DMV when we went 2 weeks ago because he needed a passport (or other form of 4 pts) and SS card to change his out of state license. Just speaking from my (recent) experience.

Yeah, if you have a reeeeeally expired passport, like me, you need to bring your birth certificate, or a combination of other crazy things.

Here's the list of what each document is worth:
http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/idlicense.htm

arlette · May 2008

I try to avoid that atlantic terminal branch. I find the lower manhattan officer rather efficient and speedy.

carmen · May 2008

When I traded in my valid NC license all I needed was my SS card and my birth certif. I brought a library card and some mail just in case but that was plenty...they didn't give me any trouble.

daver · May 2008

Carmen wrote: When I traded in my valid NC license all I needed was my SS card and my birth certif. I brought a library card and some mail just in case but that was plenty...they didn't give me any trouble.

Yeah, I brought a whole mess of stuff because I heard it was bad. I pulled my AZ license and my SS card out of my wallet, then handed them the marriage certificate because it was already out from my wife's stuff. Then I pulled out my folder and prepared to unleash all the great stuff I had brought and they told me there was no need, they had everything they needed.

Le sigh. All that preparation gone to waste.

bogframe · May 2008

The last time I had to renew my license, I went to the DMV in Coney Island and was in and out in about 45 minutes. Add that to the salt air and the opportunity to scarf down a few of Gregory and Paul's hot dogs and it wasn't such a bad deal!

caaahyoko · May 2008

daver wrote:
Yeah, I brought a whole mess of stuff because I heard it was bad. I pulled my AZ license and my SS card out of my wallet, then handed them the marriage certificate because it was already out from my wife's stuff. Then I pulled out my folder and prepared to unleash all the great stuff I had brought and they told me there was no need, they had everything they needed.

Le sigh. All that preparation gone to waste.

hehe. Me too. I had my high school diploma and everything. However, I did overhear someone being told that the stuff they had wasn't good enough, and they were trying to explain they couldn't get whatever they were being told they needed. I definitely felt bad for them.

filmlover44 · May 2008

Subject: Re: Need to get a new license?...any tips on where to go?

VerucaSalt wrote: Which office is the best to go to. I think the Xpress but the one in Brooklyn is so much more convenient or should I suck it up and go Xpress cause that will save me time in the long run? Thoughts, suggestions?

I got mine in Albany AND registered our car there too. It was quick and efficient. It is a bit of a drive though.

(Had to meet my son who is in school in Amherst at a half-way point)

Need to get a new license?...any tips on where to go?

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