Federal Way Auto License Agency

Oh my god! Staff according to the demand… Your line has 15 people in it and your lead or manager closes the second of two windows for tabs. People are cutting lines and your process takes to long… If it’s organized you will have a quicker turnaround time along with better satisfaction…

Great service! Renewed my tabs online yesterday, picked them up at this location this morning. The girl was friendly and I was literally in and out in 30 seconds. Love how they have a dedicated internet pick up window. Will definitely be back for any future needs.

If I could give negative 5 stars for this place I would. Hate is a very strong word and shouldn’t be used recklessly, but I literally HATE this place. The ladies here need to give their customers decent customer service for giving them business. Without us, they wouldn’t have a damn job. My last experience here was a nightmare due to lack of respect. I will never come back here!!!

Hope this is the location right next to the Commons Mall that I’m reviewing… Anyways, I’m shocked to see so many terrible reviews. I’ve visited this location three times in the last five or so years and it’s always a pleasant experience. There’s never any or much of a wait time and the staff are incredibly friendly. The last time I was there to replace my license, I grabbed my ticket, went to the restroom and by the time I came back out, my number was already up. Gus, the person who I’d spoken to on the phone and who helped me at the counter as well, was incredibly helpful and pleasant, even going as far as to answer other questions I had about other issues and giving me solid information. Surely, the three times I’ve been there couldn’t have been a fluke. Thanks to the Federal Way DMV for getting me in and out in no time flat and providing a great experience! It was appreciated.

I will keep this one short and simple:
The people who work here are Zombies. No respect and no emotion. Just completely careless, and speak as if they are reading off a teleprompter.

The old lady act like she wasn’t even work there, just so absent minded and careless. I don’t understand she has to be like that.

I’m not sure why there is so much hatred for the workers here. I’ve been here twice, once a year ago to change the title of my car and then again today to get tabs, and have never had a hard time.
When I came for title, I took a number and had to wait 30 minutes or so. The woman at the window was pleasant enough and helped me figure out everything I needed to do. It helped that I looked up all the documents I needed online so I was prepared. Today, I had to get tabs. It was busy due to other end of the month procrastinators like me, but not too bad. I got in the Express Window line and waited maybe 5 minutes. The woman who helped me this time was very pleasant and was very efficient. In and out in 10 minutes.
These people are human and have their bad days. If you are nice to them, they’ll be nice back. And I’m sure at the end of the day or a weekend near the end of the month is super busy. Expect a wait. Be prepared.
And no, unlike reviewer Sarah C said, I am not related to anyone there or full of BS. ;)

Wowwwwww. Coming to these reviews makes me feel validated that the general consensus is that this place is very unprofessional and ill-​staffed. both ladies helping out at the window were both very rude and unhelpful they actually had the attitude that they were inconvenienced that I would even come there for my tabs. I wasn’t even greeted. the lady with black curly hair just stared at me until I asked if I was next. so rude. so unprofessional. they’re just miserable at this job. I too wish I could give negative stars. if you can, go to Burien or kent. if you must go to this one I suggest you mentally prepare yourself. also the people leaving 4 stars are related to the staff and/​or full of bs.

If I could leave 0 stars, I would. I think they found the only two unfriendly people in the state of Washington and put them to work here. I’m fine with the fact that this was my second time taking off work to register my vehicle since moving from California without success, and I’m fine with the fact that they did not offer any helpful information with which we could resolve the issue. Where my problem lies is when the manager came over to «help», using nothing but an aggressive tone, and when I, in a calm speaking voice, used the phrase, «to put it into perspective», and she combatively interrupted, «what did you just say to me?» Because she didn’t hear me through the glass. She glared at me, looking for a reason to throw me out while I was explaining to her that the title for my vehicle was lost in the mail during my many moves after my return from Iraq and Afghanistan while on active duty in the military. Her tone and demeanor were disrespectful, and as someone who earned taxpayer money while serving and took that honor seriously, I can honestly say that she is not worth my taxes. Unfortunate experience, and after I figure out how to fix the issue myself, I’ll unfortunately have to take another day off work and return.

The service here is terrible. I understand that these people are bottom of the totem pole bureaucrats, but why do I have to be treated like I’m always wrong? I’m not the enemy, but the employees here are on the defensive at all times. There’s no smiling, no pleasantries, I’m intruding upon their lives.
Further, if you don’t know as much as or more than they do on the red tape you need to cut through, they are shocked at how stupid you are.
I’m unsure why the License Agency made the choice to staff entirely with bitter, caustic people, but be aware when you come in that that’s what you need to expect. Nobody is on your side, nobody wants you or your business, nobody cares that you even walked in.

My family has been coming here for over ten years however today was the first time we ever felt mistreated. First by the girl that works in window 7 who refused to give me her name, which I later found out is «Jessie».
She told me if I want to complain I can go ahead and call her manager. Much to my surprise the manager did not try to resolve the situation, but instead claimed that she did not hear the girl in window 7 screaming, yelling, disrespecting, and talking in an unprofessional tone. But behind me over 20 people witness the disturbing conversation of the clerk screaming rudely.
The manager knowing that I’m in the location, unsatisfied did not come out to apologize, but instead came to the window and spoke rudely to me exactly like the girl in window 7, if not worse. Then it all made sense as to why an employee had the audacity to speak to a customer rudely and unprofessionally.
Please get a professional manager that knows how to handle their employees and manage the work place better.
If you must go to this licensing place please avoid going to window 7, instead go to window 6 she’s a kind lady that deserves to be manager. I feel like if someone like the lady in window 6(express window) was manager this place would be running a lot more smoothly, and maybe the ratings for this place would go up.

Worst place to get a vehicle license transfer. No matter what time of the day, expect a minimum 1 hour wait time for license transfer. The express windows are a little bit faster, but the line is always long.
I have been to the agencies in Covington and Auburn and both places are much better.
If possible, drive a little further out and avoid this place. I am never ever going back here for a vehicle license transfer.

This place has no customer service. I called to ask a quick question, they picked up to put me on hold for 20mins before I hung up. I get there and they have 4+ people in the back office laughing and joking around while there’s 1 window open and a room full of customers waiting. I’ve wasted too much life in this place. Oh and they whisper the numbers so that hopefully people don’t hear and get skipped over and are sent to pick up a new ticket. If you don’t like your job you should get a new one.

Miserable place. I have been in three times over the past few years. It is worth it to drive further and get better service. Lines out the door, the counter people are just plain rude, and their customer service is terrible. A lot of these people don’t even need to be working in this profession it is like it is the bane of their existence working at this office. Going to this office makes me miss the NY and CA DMV system. They had it down way better than here and that is saying a lot!

Why oh why did I go here. I never have a quick time here. I always go to another one, but I was right here. An hour later I got my tabs. I should have just did them on line. 8 windows and never seen more then 2 open. By the way, express Window is not express. It’s faster to take a number.

As far as Auto License Agencies go, this is definitely my 1^st choice on where to go. I find that the majority of the staff are customer service orientated and well trained. The people who seem to get mad don’t have their paperwork/​information put together and then expect the agents here to sort it out for them. I find that the lines seem to move fast — go 1^st thing in the morning and there is NO line — can be in and out in under 5 minutes!

AWFUL customer service. Id give this place a negative star if able. Stood in line last week for 45mins to be told need emissions. No problem. Got emissions done. Today waited in line for over an hour. Im next and this lady walks in and right next to me; says she was here earlier and has a question. Told her, politely, ive been waiting (just like the 20 people behind me) for an hour and she needs to go to the end of line. DOL counter rep overheard lady and as she finishes with her customer, tells lady to come on over, she can answer her question. WTF!!! Its been hit and miss with this place but thats the last straw. I will never come back and will make sure i educate all my friends and family on BAD, BAD, BAD!!! customer service i received today. Avoid at all costs and shame on you, rep!

Probably the worst car licensing experience ever. I suggest calling ahead to make sure you have ALL the items you’ll need before making your visit and waiting. The staff is less than friendly as well. Both times I’ve been in, they have required additional documents to purchase tabs to authorize me to do so regardless of the fact that I have the current registration. So call ahead, save some time & gas!

Coming from California, I was very impressed. This office is effecient and friendly. I got great advice regarding my motorcycle license transfer and only waited 15 minutes for my new ID.