NJ Motor Vehicle Commission

I had to transfer an out of state license. From entering the front door to walking out with my license in hand, the whole process took maybe 45 – 50 minutes. In fact, it would probably have been faster but I went in the middle of the day, rather than very early, and needed a specialty sticker for the front of my license. The trick was having all of my ID paperwork organized (use the states 6 pt ID check wizard online if you’re curious. It spells it out pretty clearly and calculates the total number of points for you) and quickly AND APPROPRIATELY filling out the little license application card they give you at the reception desk. I can’t speak on the process for the registration/​titling lines, but I will say, they at least appeared to be moving quickly. There were 4 steps to the license process:
1. Go to reception for the correct form and instructions.
2. Stand in line so they can check to see my different forms of ID. They gave me a number and asked me to wait to be called again. I only had to wait for about 6 or 7 numbers to go before me.– (about 25 minutes).
3. I think this step was basically verifying your ID again, as well as your forms, and making sure you’ve been seen. It seemed annoying at first, but I’d rather have waited those previous 20 minutes for a second ID check than 3 hours for no ID check only to find out I didn’t have the right stuff. There may be another reason for this portion, as well, so I won’t dock points for that.– (5 or so minutes total)
4. You’ll be directed to wait in a little line/​cubby area. When you’re called, this is where you’ll verify what you need with the staff and they’ll take your picture, etc. You pay here, as well. Licenses were printed on the spot, which I appreciated because I remember getting my license in NY and having to carry around a piece of paper with my info and no photo while they mailed my actual license (about 15 minutes total).
The staff there that I interacted with were very friendly, despite customers approaching with the wrong paperwork and catching attitudes when they’re told they do not have the right stuff.

I guess it depends on who is staffing the front desk… so, the first time we went, the place was good… fast, efficient and nice… the second time we went, we were met by two «receptionists» one of whom was repeating his story about his trip to Hawaii, and how LONG the flight was, and what stopevers he made. Now you ask how I know this? Because he nor the sidekick that was there never picked up their heads until I loudly said HELLO… even after they saw me! What kind of customer service is this? I approach… you STOP what you are doing and you HELP ME! The customer. It gets worse… he then proceeds to school me in the process of obtaining a license plate (the NJ Lighthouse one) and states that ‘THAT is done in Trenton!” Hello sir, but that is not what they told us last time… so he responds to go to Window 5, which is what I did. And then he states to come back and tell him what Window 5 told us. Can you believe? Like I should be the one to teach him how to run DMV… Idiot. Now, I am not even going to discuss the nasty attitude at Window 5 (based on the obviously very unhappy woman staffing same), but the long and short of it is, I got my license plate. So after coming back from Window 5 I tapped his computer with my new license plates and said GOT THEM and that was the extent of my explanation of «WHAT they told me!» And he said ok. He could have cared less about his job, about me, about the DMV or anything other than his layover in LA on his way to Honolulu… this place is a disgrace.

For a DMV, they are awesome. Fast, easy (well, as easy as the process can be, which is limited), helpful and friendly. The license process is set up to require you to do some homework, but the info to do that is all readily available online, and if you bring the right docs, the process is fast and easy. This DMV was much faster than others in NJ I have been to, and friendly also. I will happily pick this location the next time I have a DMV chore.

This place is the most inefficient, rude, and incompetent organization I have ever come across other than the USPS. Good luck trying to get anything done anytime soon. When you come here bring a puzzle or a boom cause you will be waiting FOREVER, maybe even two books! God forbid you ask them a question and make them you know… actually work because they don’t seem to happy when you do that. The best way also to get them upset is to use common sense… they don’t like that either. Good luck is all I have to say