From 5-hour waits to driving through the building — these are the funniest, most painful, most relatable DMV experiences from across America.
Was told 30 minutes. DMV closed 5 hours later without ever calling my number.
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A government clerk in D.C. refused to accept my New Mexico driver's license, insisting I needed an international passport. Both the clerk and her supervisor failed to recognize New Mexico as a U.S. state. D.C. Courts later issued an apology regarding 'New Mexico's 106-year history as a state.'
Was told the wait would be 'about thirty minutes.' Five hours later, the DMV closed without ever calling my number. Had to reschedule — and the next available appointment was two months out.
My engine actually exploded during my driving test. Four fire trucks, several police cars, and a DMV director later, I said 'so, do I pass?' The instructor refused to pass me without completing parallel parking — so I had to parallel park a state vehicle in the parking lot.
Brought a death certificate and probate documents to transfer my deceased father's car title. The clerk insisted that my father would still need to come in and sign the title in person.
The Yonkers, NY DMV only had street parking with a 1-hour meter limit. Since every visit took at least half a day, I got a parking ticket every single time I went to the DMV.
I have heterochromia — one brown eye, one blue. The DMV clerk told me it was 'impossible — no one has two different colored eyes' and refused to let me select an eye color for the form.
Witnessed someone confuse the gas and brake pedals during their driving test. They crashed directly through the DMV testing center building itself.
Waited three hours at the DMV. When the license finally arrived, it had my photo on it — but a completely different person's name.
Showed up at 7 AM for a 'quick' walk-in renewal at the Asheville, NC DMV. Found 30 people already in line outside. Only 5 of 12 workstations were staffed. Waited until 11:15 AM and got handed a 'temporary paper license folded up like a scrunch.'
Hit a pole while parallel parking during my driving test. The examiner showed mercy and let me continue. I then hit the pole in front of me head on.
Mailed truck registration paperwork to the state DMV office. The papers vanished. A year later, they resurfaced — having been mailed by a Ford dealer in a completely different state.
A student became the first American authorized to wear a pasta strainer on his head in his driver's license photo, telling DMV staff he needed it for 'religious reasons' as a practicing member of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.
Completed the entire driving test perfectly. The instructor even said it was 'one of the best tests she had ever seen.' Failed because I was so nervous I forgot to put my seatbelt on at the start.
I've called the DMV over 90 times today, starting at 8 AM on the dot. Never reached a single human being.
Tried transferring my license to Michigan. The clerk refused my New York state ID, insisting it was fake because 'NY is just a city.' A supervisor had to be called over to explain that New York is, in fact, a state.
Tried to renew my California license online. The system required a selfie for identity verification. I had to take the selfie approximately 40 times before the system finally accepted it. Then it told me I needed a touchscreen device I didn't own.
Spent over 8 hours at the DMV for a motorcycle endorsement, being shuttled between different lines. After 6.5 hours, discovered the endorsement was missing from my paperwork — had to wait another 1.5 hours to fix it.
A driving instructor told me about a student who reclined his seat all the way back, put one foot on the gas and the other on the brake, grabbed the top of the wheel with one hand and said: 'Let's go.'
A DMV clerk told me to sign the CHP verification line on a form — a line I was absolutely not authorized to sign. When I hesitated, the clerk said: 'Do you want this done today or not?'
My cousin's driving test examiner pitched a natural gas pyramid scheme during the entire test. When my cousin declined to sign up, the examiner failed them.
My family has a tradition of creating absurd personas for our license photos since the 1970s. For my latest renewal, I got a full punk makeover at a salon. The DMV required a retake but told me 'lip snarls weren't allowed.'
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