Enjoy the weather (or not) while waiting in a seemingly endless line outside of the SF DMV!
San Francisco has a single DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) location, at 1377 Fell Street at Baker. Nobody likes going there, of course. You'll almost certainly have to wait in a seemingly-endless line that wraps around the building (outside!), and often onto the adjacent sidewalk.
DMV Tips
Where is your god now?
- MAKE AN APPOINTMENT if at all possible.
- Don't be a jerk. Take it in stride, and be polite to the folks working there - they have a thankless job.
- You will end up waiting outside, possible for 2-3 hours (or more!)
- If it looks like it may rain, bring an umbrella. If it's sunny, make sure you don some sunscreen or you'll get a nasty burn!
- Bring some reading material to keep you occupied.
- Give up and go to a different DMV location. Average wait times are listed on the DMV site(s).
What's up with the outdoor line system?
The SF DMV is unique in that it has a "one-line policy," meaning that everyone, regardless of what they're there for, waits in one big line outside the building. This policy was implemented in 2011 in an effort to cut down on the notoriously long wait time. According to DMV officials, the one-line policy has cut the average wait time by an hour, but that may simply be because people give up and go to other DMV locations (such as Daly City) rather than withstand the elements.
