Georgia Department of Driver Services

NOPE, NOPE, NOOOO! Do not, under ANY circumstances go here. DON’T even THINK about it.
First sign that this place is gonna be a headache: The fact that the DDS office is actually inside the South Dekalb Mall but there are ZERO signs to indicate this. Thank God for Unilocal because I would’ve been driving around forever.
The mall itself is a grungy, broke-​down, scary place that I would never be seen shopping at. I feared for my life just being in there so park at the right spot because the less time spent walking around looking for the office, the better.
The best place to park is not at the main mall entrance or at Macy’s but look for the side of the mall with two clothing stores right next to each other with an unmarked entrance to the left of them. Yep, believe it or not, THAT inconspicuous opening is the best place to park for such an important office!
When I got inside, the line was of course spilling out of the building which is always to be expected in these offices I guess. There was a nice and efficient lady inside who served as the first checkpoint making sure that everyone had what they needed before moving forward to the next step. She also helped certain people skip the line who didn’t need to stand in it which shortened the line for everyone else. I was grateful to her but she was the very LAST nice or efficient person in that entire office.
When my number was called, the guy who was supposedly helping me was flat out rude and argumentative. Another lady was aloof and ignored me when I asked her a question. And overall NO ONE seemed to know what they were doing… AT ALL! The whole experience made for a very frustrating, annoying and infuriating day! I spent hours there and still left without what I came for.
The guy had the nerve to ask me if I’d like to make another appointment and I was like «umm, how do I put this? Nooo, I’ll make another appointment at a different location, thank you very much!»
Seriously, if you value your time and sanity, just go somewhere else.

This Decatur location is always busy because there’s only one center to serve the entire Decatur. The DDS needs to hire more people or provide another center. There was only one examiner testing for the several hours that I was there. I had about seven cars ahead of me. I waited for two hours in a hot car because of this. I was tired of waiting and exhausted after the first hour. After passing the road test, I had to go back in and wait another hour just to pay for the license. Please note that the test was only 20 minutes long. So waiting time is approximately 2 – 3 hours in total. Please plan accordingly if coming to this location. On an average day, you simply can not pop in and out.
Please hire more people. People have better things to do with their time. I heard the other locations only takes an hour.

If you are someone who can catch MARTA or does not have a ride this is your savior! I was stranded with no money but a 20, lost my debit card, and my license. A person on the platform informed me to try this place and for that I am so grateful to this day. TRUE STORY I waited ten minutes they had me out the door in 15 minutes tops. I was super early though and I would go during the middle of the week.

Drove around South Dekalb Mall for 15mins until I found out it’s INSIDE THE MALL. Moved quick, but if you’re not there before 8am come back another day.

Two hours of my life I’ll never get back… there was a 30 – 45 minute wait just to get a slip with the waiting room number. Another 1.5 hours goes by in a sketchy waiting area with plastic chairs, and I finally get to verify/​secure my identity, take an awful updated license photo that I wasn’t expecting to have to do, and leave with my temporary license until the real one arrives in the mail. And because I like torture, I also head down to the very opposite end of the mall to the tag office, to pay my car’s tax.

I had a great experience. Like all DMVs get there early (but I arrived just before 9) and it was a breeze. Nice, helpful and friendly and out in under an hour, test and all. Seating is limited though (not as massive as Sandy Springs) but much nicer and more efficient. Did start to fill up as I left (around 10) but overall aces.

Disorganized, ghetto, and a place you do not want to be. Too many minorities holding up the line and its hot, smells, no sense of orientation at all. I very much this like it here and this area. Go somewhere north to another DMV.

I was in and out. the people there are sweet as well.

I will never go to this DDS location again. I went there to get a new license. 3 hours later, I finally got it. Their queueing system is bonkers. It does not follow any specific order (so they might call N350 then C200). so you better be quick if you go to the bathroom! Plus, it’s not first-​come-​first-​served. Specific people handle specific tasks, so someone who comes in an hour after you might still go before you.
At the end of the day, I got my license… and when they sent me the final copy in the mail, I realized they spelled my name wrong.

I was pleasantly surprised
when getting my card
that the process was relatively quick
and not at all hard.
Now mind you, I did come
on a Monday at 10 a.m.
and if I had to go back
it’s the time I’d pick again.
But overall they were nice
and I didn’t catch a disease.
It’s not a place I’d hang out
but the experience was alright with me.

Huh, my experience at this DDS was completely different from the other two people. I went in today to get a change of address and also renew my license a bit early. There were tons of seats, and I got called up so quickly that I didn’t even have time to finish filling out my paperwork! Everyone was really nice, too.
The reason why they’re not getting 4 stars however, is because 1) my hair was sticking up in the back, and I wasn’t told this. Now I’m stuck with a really crappy driver’s license photo for the next 8 years. GREAT. I was also made to take off my glasses for the photo. I found this highly irritating, as I like myself better with glasses than without, and I don’t see why it was necessary to take them off. 2) Every other place I’ve been to laminates the driver’s licenses then and there. I was given a paper copy. Uh, what? I asked her if it’s even a legitimate driver’s license, if I’m going to be having issues if I’m out of state with a paper driver’s license. I mean, I’m going out of the country in a month, so this is making me really uncomfortable. I was told I’ll receive my real copy in the mail within 2 – 4 weeks, but that just seems ridiculous to me. I want my real driver’s license in my hands!!! Grrrr.

the staff is a hot ghetto mess. the majority of the workers in south dekalb dds have bad attitudes. they are always trying to close before theyare actually supposed to. its always way too crowded. you will be in there forever no matterwhatyou are tryingto get. im really big on customer service andthis location just doesnt do it for me. i hatehaving deal with attitude problems from someone im doing business with.

In a half-​assed attempt to grow up and live my life legitimately, I finally succumbed, and resigned myself to getting a Georgia Driver’s license.
That was the first bad idea.
The second bad idea was to come to this location.
The initial check in was a relative breeze as I was more than prepared for any and all requests for documentation. I was given a slip with «F527» on it. I looked at the board that indicated what number they were on: «A103.» Have no fear, they don’t go in numerical order, so don’t bother going to the bathroom or anything, because you just won’t know when it’s your turn. The thrill of uncertainty keeps you going.
There were more people than seats and there were probably 150 seats. Entire families strolled in together, like the DDS is a vacation destination. Some people were smart enough to bring lunch with them and rude enough to make it fish.
You get the drift.
Suffice to say, in the three hours I sat on a crumb-​strewn chair [not my crumbs, mind you], waited, and watched the world go by, I decided to never again get a new license; vowed to shave my head; visualized my tubes tied.
The only benefit I could ascertain amidst the wait was the amazing air conditioning that pumped continuously, keeping the crowded masses — or at least, me – from going loco.