[docfort]

American here. The DMV (sometimes the BMV) is a state-based agency, where state is a regional authority, as opposed to federal, which is a national authority. California’s rules and requirements on when you need to visit the DMV are different than Ohio’s rules for its BMV.

Still, you generally never visit for vehicle inspections. Third parties take care of that.

You visit the state agency office for licensing issues. Want to drive a vehicle? Want your vehicle to be properly registered in your state? Go to the DMV.

For these essential functions, you should make an appointment. But truthfully, the appointment doesn’t really matter. There are too few offices for the demand, so most space in the agency is dedicated to the waiting room. I’ve waited nearly a day one unlucky time. And there are different functions per line. Your form may need to be processed by multiple functions. So you need to wait in multiple lines. It is a few minutes if no one is there, but hours otherwise.

The only reason why you’re there is because you have a relatively simple thing to accomplish. And you’ll only need to do this a few times while you live in that state, since renewals are usually done via post.

Is it the worst thing we have to do? Nope. But it’s highly disruptive because you don’t know how long it will take, despite being relatively straightforward. It’s an example of poor customer service’s power to shape opinion.

[forgotusername6]

Why is vehicle or licence registration not online? Or at the very least by mail?

[diydsp]

The identification requirements are strenuous in my state. Perhaps to combat fraud and out-of-state registrations, e.g. to get cheaper insurance. I needed my birth certificate, a utility bill from within 30 days, and my passport last time I renewed my license!

[nradov]

Routine things like renewals can be done online or by mail.