No More Saturday Hours at the DMV
The California DMV has been going through a wee bit of a transition. Fortunately they decided to improve their website just in time as the California state economy took a dramatic downturn. The new site provides more of the services that used to be only available at the DMV Field Offices. All of the DMV Offices now have reduced hours and services but so much can be done on the website, that doing the dreaded wait time in a DMV lobby is almost completely unnecessary.
One feature that the DMV has added is a monthly column, Ask George by George Valverde, director of the California Department of Motor Vehicles. I thought I would feature a few excerpts from the last few months to give a taste.
Q: What is a safe distance between me and my airbag in case it inflates due to an accident?
A: You can take important steps to eliminate or reduce risk of injury without turning off your vehicles’ air bags. The biggest risk of injury is being too close to the air bag. An air bag needs about 10 inches of space to inflate. Ride at least 10 inches (measured from the center of the steering wheel to your breastbone) from the air bag cover if you can do this while maintaining full control of the vehicle. If you cannot safely sit 10 inches away from the air bag, contact your vehicle dealer or manufacturer for advice about additional ways of moving back from your air bag. For more information on air bags, please read the air bag section of the California Driver handbook located online at http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/pgs46thru47.htm#airbags.
Q: My grandparents just bought me a classic car for my graduation. Out of curiosity, how do I check the car’s smog test history?
A: This can easily be done by visiting
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/brochures/fast_facts/ffvr33.htm and clicking on Check the Smog Test History of a Vehicle. Here, you can either enter the car’s license plate number or the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to get the cars complete smog test history.
Q: Can you offer me any tips on how to save money on gasoline?
A: Of course! The DMV offers an entire page on its Web site devoted to helping you reduce fuel costs. Some of the helpful tips include information on how to purchase fuel wisely, how to drive more efficiently, even how to improve the efficiency of the vehicle you drive! To start saving money on fuel today, visit http://www.dmv.ca.gov/about/save_fuel.htm.
Q: I’m in the U.S. Armed Forces and am out-of-state on active duty. Is my driver license still valid?
A: If you are out-of-state on active military service in the U.S. Armed Forces and have a valid California driver license, your license will be valid for the full time you are absent from the state and for 30 days from your discharge date, or when you return to California. Carry both your driver license and discharge papers during those 30 days. Call 1-800-777-0133 and ask for a card (DL 236) which extends your license. Military dependents do not qualify for this extension. For more information, visit www.dmv.ca.gov.
05 Jun 09 1:04 pm
First off great blog! Some super points about the DMV’s recently updated site. As great as it is sometimes there’s just no choice but to go down to the local Branch. Which I recently had to do.
I was renewing my license and knew it would take a while, as I had to take the written exam. Left work early, got there with plenty of time, got my number and proceeded to wait for about an hour. Finally I was called, paid my renewal fee, and was sent off to another line to have my picture taken (no smiling), and complete the exam. At which point I was told I could not take the test because it was after 4PM and I should of got there earlier if I wanted to take the exam. I went around for a few minutes but eventually realized the conversation was going nowhere, not to mention this was at the height of the swine flu outbreak, and didn’t want to risk an physical contact…
Long story short, now I have to go again within the next 60 days before my temporary license expires.
Go Cutbacks!
21 Jul 09 9:38 pm
Why is it “Driver” licence and not “Driver’s” or “Drivers”license?
Gramatically it should say “driver’s license” because the word driver show’s ownership or possession. In other words, it is the license of the driver. I realize that some state’s might say driver license, using “driver” as an adjective, and it does convey the meaning, but to be gramatically correct you need an apostrophe.
Also, could you check and see if it used to be “driver’s” license in years past, but got changed. If so, I’d like to know who made the change, and why.
Since everyone says “driver’” licence, and “driver’s” license is gramatically correct, why should someone in the state government decide to change it?
Please reply, I won’t be able to sleep until I get to the bottem of this.
Thank you,
Richard Simon San Diego
27 Jul 09 2:30 am
You are SO CORRECT and I will ask and get you an answer. (it bugs me too!)
11 Aug 09 8:21 am
I have a car that just became a classic and just failed smog test. Have had 2 mechanics try to get it to pass but no luck. Is there any special provision for classic car smog test or will I have to sell it out of state?
21 Aug 09 8:30 pm
Can you please send me the mailing address for George Valverde. My 81 year old would like to send him a letter.
Thank you!
09 Nov 09 10:51 am
I have a 1985 Toyota Tercel 4WD wagon that runs perfect but will not pass smog. Will it qualify as a classic car next year? If so can I get a smog exemption for my little car? It has been in the family since new and has almost 200k on it. It runs and looks very nice but I cant drive it unless I can get it smogged.
14 Nov 09 8:53 am
My son got a DUI in 2002. He completed traffic school and filed an SR22 in 2004, and his license was reinstated. Last month (5 1/2 yrs later), the DMV suspended his licese because they had not record of either the Traffice School certificate nor the SR22. He had the school fax them the certificate (which they said was faxed in 2004) and he had his insurance company giver them a coy of the SR22 that was filed in 2004. They would not accept the SR22 and said he had to refile another one. This now shows up on his DMV and has prevented him from getting a job with the Gas Company. We understand human error, but this has caused some severe consequences. We need that unfair suspension revoked. Can you help.
17 Nov 09 11:23 am
The worst system EVER!!! - I went to dmv office to register my car. The registration was late due to a work injury that happened in July/09 and I have been in a cast and unable to drive. I was told to call an 866 nbr to get instruction on hold to get the late registation hold removed. I did that and was told to fax the forms to another 866 nbr and than call 24hrs later to verify the fax and to pay the $14 fee by credit card over the phone. 1).. the fax will not go through.. 2).. called again 11Nov and recording said call back 16Nov. 3).. called 16Nov and recording says “more than 10 min wait call again tomorrow”………. 4).. went back to dmv office and they say nothing they can do. I need my car to finally get back to work after long injury recovery. What is going on??? Did you ever wander WHY THIS STATES IS IN SUCH BAD SHAPE? No one knows what is going on… Can you or anyone with an answer help?????