PennDOT Driver & Vehicle Services — Attraction in Pittsburgh

I want to update my review today (12/09/2021). I had a very nice experience of renewing my driver’s license today. Everything is quick and efficient. People are polite and very helpful, which is totally different from my previous bad experience 3 years age(below the divider line) Hope people could go there without worries due to many bad reviews before. Right now, I think they have new employees who are friendly and efficient, I believe you won’t upset. I am gonna to give full stars for their improvement this time.

————————————————————————— 3 years ago: I had a unpleasant experience for renewing my Driver Linscens today. I am a foreigner with poor English listening. when I did the vision test, I didn't understand the directive the man behind counter 5 . so I asked him: "sorry, can you say again?" he just shake his head and mark the paper form that I need an eye examination. I said: no, "I don't have any eyes problem". he said: you have to talk to your doctor, not me! I was so upset. then I asked him to double check what documents I need bring next time (because this is my second time here, last time due to lack of documents. I don't want to come again and again ) he was so impatient and said:"all list here." unwilling to talk one more word. I was angry and re-got a waiting ticket that I don't want to be serviced by that guy . the concierge boy is very nice and friendly and help me find the manager. after the manager's help. I re-did the vision test. and the manager took my case by himself! Although everything was done at last. but I didn't receive any apology. even the manager didn't say any words like: "I am sorry that you feel uncomfortable with our service." no, no words, no apology, no explanation, nothing they do to let me feel I am welcomed. I am really disappointed . unfortunately, I have to go there next time again! I wish I would not see the guy behind...

Go to a different photo center, if at all possible.

After waiting two hours in order to get a physical copy of my renewed licensed, which I only had to do because Penndot sent required documents to my old address (despite the fact that I updated my address when I processed my renewed license online). I was informed that this was a known issue with their online system by the lady behind the counter.

This wasn't a big deal, things like this happen; but, because of the issue that happened on their part, I was subject to a $5 fee before I could get my physical renewed license.

I had been waiting long enough that I didn't particularly care about a $5 fee anymore, except for the fact that they don't accept credit, debit, or even cash; only check or money order.

A little archaic, but, sure, whatever. If they just mail me the bill or charged the amount directly to my Penndot account, I'd be more than happy to pay for it.

Nope, apparently I need to show up in person with a $5 check in order to get a copy of my license that I've already renewed, but didn't have a physical copy of already due to an error on Penndot's behalf and wait for another hour or two after making another commute to the photo center.

Perhaps what miffed me more than anything else is the fact that, despite being very sympathetic with their issues and limitations throughout this whole process, the employee serving me was extremely rude and unsympathetic about the situation I had been forced into.

If this was any commercial industry that had competitors, I would never go to this company again. At best, I would avoid this photo center if at all possible. You're not going to be able to avoid most of the inefficiencies, but, at the very least, the lines will probably be shorter and the personnel...

The worst experience in the States ever. Seems like I'm not only one who met "the ginger hair guy". I visited this DMV in Oct 2015 and met the front guy with ginger hair, blue eyes and around 5'7" tall (height is not exact).

He was gentle to former and later people who were tall and white guys and he even called them as "sir". However, right after I met him, he never turned his head up and just murmuring or shouting without greetings or information from the very beginning. When I did an eye exam, I couldn't hear him because his voice was too low. When I asked him to say it again, he shouted to me very loudly and threateningly "Even elementary school student understand it! You have an eye problem, go to a hospital!".

What if I had a tunnel vision? Or what if I couldn't graduate from schools? He humiliated not only me but also every person with disabilities and educational minorities. On top of that, can we really say that it was not in the category of "subtle racism or gender discrimination?".

After 2 years, I graduated from medical school and now am living in NYC, one of the most diverse cities in the world and DMVs in here are quite different from those of Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, from reviews over this bulletin, I guess "the ginger hair guy" is still working there although lots of people including me complained about him to a manager. And it seems like that the DMV in Pittsburgh is still not improved for the last 2 years. Unstructured, harsh to the weak, never respond to reviews. Hope this place will...