Washington State Department of Licensing

DO NOT LET THE MEAN OLDER BLACK LADY TAKE YOUR PICTURE! She clearly hates her job and treats everyone like she could clearly care less. Twice l have had to have my picture taken by her, and she doesn’t tell you if your hair is messed up and doesn’t let you see the picture. Go to the Shoreline office– nicer people work there, and they are fast without being rude.

HOLY COW.
This is the best expeirence I had ever had at a government agency.
I needed a WA drivers license so I headed to the DOL at noon on a Thursday with no appointment not knowing what to expect in terms of wait time/​bs I would have to deal with. The negative start comes from my initial experience with this DOL. THE SIGN IS SO TINY. It is impossible to see from far away unless you know exactly what you are looking for, so I included a photo so you don’t get lost and angry like I did.
However, after that, the experience here was literally unbelievable. You are able to fill out your forms online on your phone while you wait if you don’t complete it prior. Everyone who worked there was BEYOND kind and helpful. I was done in about a hour and a half. No stupid driving tests. Pictures are taken immediately after and you get a temporary paper license with your name on it. It was like a dream how easy it was. Come here during off hours to have a great experience and get all you licensing stuff taken care of!

amazing! best dol ever!
the staff were very very friendly and i only waited 15 minutes to renew my license.
the secret is is that it was a tuesday at 3pm!
it’s warm and well lit– my picture actually turned out well! maybe it helped that i got a (complimentary) haircut right before at seven.
the camerawoman does snap quickly but gave me 2 seconds i think and it was one shot.
bring cash, otherwise $ 2 surcharge!
since they have limited services, there will be less people obviously.

Oops someone let her license expire. I don’t think you should have to take time off work to stand in line for the state to give you the «OK» to drive… so I went on my lunch.
The website for each location provides you with current wait times which are actually very accurate. I thought the website was broken, it said 0 minute wait time. Hustled up there to chat with someone for a number which will be called.
Loud speaker and screen displaying which person they are serving at which desk helps. Make sure you aren’t blind, pay them them money, get your picture taken and you’re done.
I was in and out in about 10 minutes from the time I stepped foot through the door to the time I left. And the woman who helped me was really nice.
I no longer look like a pissed off 12 year old boy in my picture and the only pain was from my wallet missing $ 56 ($ 2 of those dollars are for using a card vs cash). Be advised the sign is small but if you are entering from the west side of 2^nd and spring there is a window guiding you in the right direction.

Yeah I can agree that this DOL office is difficult to find. The sign in about 12″ x 14″ and is very plain white writing. The entrance could easily be mistaken for the entrance to the office building or parking garage.
However, this is the easiest DMV experience I’ve ever had! I was able to pre-​apply for my WA license online just 30 minutes before walking in. It was late in the day so I thought it would be a long shot for even being able to get in on time. But this place blew me away with how fast and friendly they were.
You go in, wait in line to be greeted, tell them what you’re here for and get a ticket. You should already have all your documentation ready before getting to the greeter. Then they check you in and you get a number. The numbers are displayed above on an HD TV and are read aloud when they call you up. You talk to the person at the desk, pay the fees and whatnot, get your picture taken, and they mail you your license. It’s easy, but the directions weren’t posted anywhere inside so I wanted to help by putting it here.
Plus, they have AC! Perfect on this hot afternoon.

Debbie gave me incorrect information during my initial visit to the Spring Street DOL which caused me to have to return to the DOL, deal with parking downtown, and wait in line — two additional times in the same day! The worst part of it is that during my second visit of the day, when it became clear that she had given me the wrong information earlier that morning, rather than apologising for the inconvenience that she caused with her mistake, she pushed off all responsibility, telling me to contact another department.
Three visits to the DOL in one day is the kind of B.S. you wish on your worst enemy. So, in a way, it really serves Debbie right that she has to spend every single week day at the DOL. I hope she despises her job as much as I despise searching for parking in the middle of downtown to go to the DOL for the third time in a day.
This DOL doesn’t have a restroom, so come dehydrated.