Just back from the Illinois DMV

[volcs0]

Got my license, registration and plates.

Oi.

What

a

flog.

Thanks for listening...

[Mr Downtown]

Money, or exasperation? Illinois doesn't have a DMV. We have a Secretary of State's office.

Because he gets elected every four years, our Secretary of State goes out of his way to ensure short lines and helpful employees. My experiences have always been pretty positive.

[AAA]

Did you go to a real one or the contracted out schemes?

[spearmint]

When I go to the CA Dmv I pick some obscure location. The one half a block off El Camino was hard to find and good to go to. The San Jose one was a nightmare. Here in Napa not bad at all because it is in a town with little around it.

[Racer X]

In Washington, you can renew on-line. i got my drivers license in 2 business days, and tabs usually take about a week.

[BigGuynRusty]

AAA office in Burbank, takes 2 minutes.

BGnR

[volcs0]

Just moved back to Chicago from Boston. Apparently, we are "new" drivers, since we've been away so long.

Went to the Secy of State ofc on Randolph (nearest one). Waited in long line to get number to wait 45 minutes to get paperwork to wait in a line to get my pay my $10 and get my written test. After the test, I waited in another line to get my test scored (100% woo-hoo!) and was then sent to chairs to wait to be called so I could stand in another line to get my picture taken. Once taken, I sat down and waited until it was ready. Then I went to another office and waited in line to find out which window to go to for registration and plates. The guy at the window showed me which forms to fill out and then told me to go wait in line to ask the guy where to go next. After he told me where to go, and I talked to the next guy, I waited for a cashier who took my $140 and gave me my plates. Then I walked to another building to wait in another line to get my Chicago sticker. Once they had my paperwork, I waited in another line at the cashiers to pay the $75.

So, $225 and four hours later, I'm all set.

Did I say, "Oi?"

[The UnDoug]

I'm tired just from reading that.

[ADent]

And you wonder why some people aren't thrilled with government health plans - this is just to get three licenses - no actual work or thinking required just pushing electrons and scoring a test.

[ho'ard]

[quote volcs0]Just moved back to Chicago from Boston. Apparently, we are "new" drivers, since we've been away so long.

Went to the Secy of State ofc on Randolph (nearest one). Waited in long line to get number to wait 45 minutes to get paperwork to wait in a line to get my pay my $10 and get my written test. After the test, I waited in another line to get my test scored (100% woo-hoo!) and was then sent to chairs to wait to be called so I could stand in another line to get my picture taken. Once taken, I sat down and waited until it was ready. Then I went to another office and waited in line to find out which window to go to for registration and plates. The guy at the window showed me which forms to fill out and then told me to go wait in line to ask the guy where to go next. After he told me where to go, and I talked to the next guy, I waited for a cashier who took my $140 and gave me my plates. Then I walked to another building to wait in another line to get my Chicago sticker. Once they had my paperwork, I waited in another line at the cashiers to pay the $75.

So, $225 and four hours later, I'm all set.

Did I say, "Oi?"
You must have picked kind of a busy time-- there are times when that place is completely dead and it's literally in and out. Hope you didn't drive down-- traffic was horrible tonight (I participated in a little monthly bike ride which started out on Randolph crossing Clark).
Sorry if $225 seems like a lot to you but I think 20 years from now we'll look back and wonder how we could have let cars "cost" the city so much without trying to recoup more of the cost from those who choose to own them.