West Hollywood DMV — Attraction in Los Angeles

Would have rated this higher until my recent visit. When I moved officially to California in 2014 I went to the DMV to change my plate and registration to CA from MI. During filling out of the paperwork my fiance made an error putting that the car first entered the state in September of 2013 (Which is true, but we were looking for places at the time and visiting), I tried to explain to the teller that this was an error and he looked at me like that of a cynical computer that could only be found in a Stephen King novel and regardless kept it at September of 2013. Due to frustrations, having to work, already being there a long time, I just accepted it, paid the extra money and assumed that was it. But when finishing the my payment I asked " Since I got the smog check in 2014, that would mean I wouldn't have to get one again until 2016, right?" "Mmhmm," he robotically nodded. Like most people I assume mmhmm and a nod means I was correct. Then a couple months later I have to pay registration again, due to the employee's mishap and not willing to listen to a human and only respond to what is on paper. Frustrated, I paid for another registration just a few months after, assuming it would be over, like their water, California needs to bleed even their people dry. 2015 rolls by and in August I get a registration notice stating I needed a new smog check. "But you got one in 2014?" You're correct, reader. So not just once, I called the DMV twice and talked to two separate costumer service representatives, explained I got a smog check in 2014 and they both said, then I could just go in there with the certificate (which I had) and I would be fine. I went in, things moved smoothly, the teller was polite, and when it came to the smog check I explained everything. She said okay, talked to her manager, and asked me to wait... I know a lot of people like to over-use the phrase "I have never been so disrespected" But I can say this with certainty. The manager came up, Said "You need a smog check, it says 2013," She begins to walk away. Not willing to explain anything to me, just walking away. So I speak up, something I rarely do and again say I have spoken with 2 costumer service representatives, and one of your own employees. "Well they don't know what they're talking about and I highly doubt an employee would say that." It wasn't just what she was saying but her tone, treating me like I was stupid, like I was trying to cheat them out of money. Let's not forget I already forked up over $400 in one year on registration because they wanted to treat me like I was trying to cheat them before. It wasn't about money at that point, it became about principle. A government run department has their employees and costumers service reps telling me one thing and another telling me another. The whole time we are having this exchange she just keeps trying to walk away to blow me off, never explaining in greater detail, never showing even a sign of fake sympathy, she just keeps treating me like I'm trying to cheat them and I'm scum. The exchange of me trying to learn more information and her quick insults goes on. It says it on this sheet so that's how it is was the mentality. You know? Like a robot. I am a person that I usually just keep my mouth shut and pay, bad service/food, I still tip 20%+ percent and eat the food, people chatting during a movie, I just accept it. I am willing to suck up and just take a lot of crap, which is why it was all the more insulting how this manager, a MANAGER! treated me. How did she become a manager then? One doesn't know. Don't managers need to be knowledgeable and able to talk to people? You'd think. Did you curse and wish her a violent death while driving home? Worse. No I understand the job is stressful and you probably deal with a ton of jerks, it's Hollywood and there are a lot of self-entitled people. But if you're going to be (however small) the face of a government department, I can only assume they'd all be on the same page or even lie to me and put the blame on someone else like...

Beware! Equip yourself with knowledge before you arrive here! I came to register my car from Canada at this location. On my first visit I and the people in line were told at 4pm that no more applicants would be allowed in as the DMV did not pay them overtime and they wanted to ensure what ever clients were inside were out by 5pm (the closing time stated on the website). When I returned the following day (well before 4pm!) the line was pretty short, my temperature was taken and all other Covid safety precautions were adhered to. My interaction with the agent was pretty smooth but the vehicle registration amount was well above what the online fee calculator had given me. When I questioned that I was told the fee calculator online was just an estimate and not entirely accurate. I wasn’t convinced but came home and researched further. I called DMV twice (2.5 hour and 1.5 hour wait respectively). The first agent again convinced me the online calculator was just an estimate however the second agent gave me the document that the vehicle licensing fee (VLF) is derived from. She also told me the online fee calculator was just an estimate. I wasn’t convinced so I played around with the calculator to see how the DMV calculated the amount I was charged and how much I should have been charged and it just didn’t make sense. I went back to the office today specifically to speak to the manager. I was made to wait in the line outside and then again inside. Even then I had to go to an agent first who told me they couldn’t access my file to see how the amount was generated. I was adamant today that I wasn’t going to leave without an answer! The agent was back and forth with the manager on duty (Beverly). The manager was not prepared to help instead she gave me a phone number to call. That was the best thing she did because the call was answered immediately and the person on the phone (Adrian) gave me the advice which got things moving. However, even after his advice to fill out the application for registration again and a statement of facts form the manager did not want to have a discussion but instead take the papers from me and have me leave. Again I had found out that the agent/manager can access my file and re bill. I had found out that the initial agent had entered the incorrect purchase date of my vehicle (he entered the date I imported it (2020) and not the date I purchased it (2017)) so the calculator was generating a VLF for 2020 and not 2017. I had to be very firm with the manager and after what felt like for ever she told me she was going to get the agent to fix it! They did and hey ho the amount calculated was the same as what the online fee calculator had charged! So don’t believe them when they say they can’t access your file once it has been sent to the office in Sacromento and if the VLF amount the agent charges differs from the amount you calculate yourself question it! Ask what purchase amount or date of purchase was entered to generate the VLF? The agent had overcharged me by...

I went in there yesterday with the new license plates they just sent me for my new car, and also my old black plates from my old car which i have sold. I told them that i would like to give them back the new plates they had sent me, and i wanted to reassign my old black plates to my new car. I was given a form to fill out and wait for my number to be called. When my number was called i went up to window 20 and explained to the lady what i was trying to do. She told me that she didn’t think they could do that, she then went to check with another employee or manager and came back and insisted that they couldn’t do it, that i had to go online and do it myself. I knew this was incorrect because another employee earlier on in the day when i first went in at window number two had told me that they could do that. I then decided to go back and talk to the employee at window number two, but she had an attitude and told me that she couldn’t help me because the process was going to take too long and she was about to leave for the day, even though it wasn’t 5pm yet, that i should go online and do it myself. Today i decided to go to a different DMV location. I waited in line and when my number was called i went up to the window and explained to the guy what i was trying to do and handed him the form that i filled out yesterday, the guy completed the process in under three minutes and handed me my new registration. I was shocked that it took so little time to complete the process. It’s so disappointing that this simple process could not be done for me...