New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission — Attraction in Runnemede

A Remarkable Experience at the Runnemede DMV – A New Standard in Public Service

Yesterday, my daughter and I had what can only be described as a truly pleasant and unexpectedly uplifting experience at the Runnemede DMV office—yes, the DMV!

Historically, visits to the DMV have been synonymous with long waits, frustration, and a need to brace yourself mentally and emotionally. Many of us have gone in feeling like we had to be on the defense just to get basic assistance. But yesterday, that narrative was completely rewritten for me.

From the moment we stepped in, the energy was different. There was kindness in the air, a sense of order, professionalism, and a genuine willingness to help. The team was not only courteous—they were compassionate, knowledgeable, and approachable. It was as if the entire staff had been re-trained not just in operations, but in humanity.

We were fortunate to be assisted by Juju, who helped my daughter obtain her first learner’s permit. Juju’s service was beyond impeccable. She was not only efficient and thorough but also warm, engaging, and full of encouragement. Watching my daughter step into this rite of passage and be met with such high-caliber service was deeply meaningful to me as a mother.

This wasn’t just about us, though—we observed it throughout the building. Staff members were going above and beyond, offering assistance, exchanging kind words, and even giving compliments—all while performing their duties with excellence. It felt like something truly positive was happening internally, something cultural. Whether it’s new leadership, stronger accountability, or an improved training program—whatever it is, it’s working, and it’s noticeable.

This experience reminded me of the importance of writing reviews—not just to highlight what goes wrong, but to acknowledge and reinforce what is going right. So often, upper management is unaware of what’s actually taking place on the front lines. But when we speak up—both in critique and in praise—it can shift the standard and elevate the entire experience for everyone.

Yes, the space is a bit tight, but it’s clean, well-organized, and managed efficiently. We were checked in, seated in the waiting area, and assisted in a smooth and timely manner. The flow was seamless. It was perfect—in a perfectly imperfect world.

I want to personally thank everyone who has had a hand in this transformation—from the frontline workers to the administration overseeing operations. Yesterday, you embodied the essence of what public service should feel like: respectful, efficient, empathetic, and human.

We left feeling hopeful, energized, and optimistic—not only about the DMV, but about the future of customer service in public spaces. I’m grateful to live in New Jersey and to witness and experience the beauty of positive change in real time.

Thank you, Runnemede DMV. You’ve raised the bar—and I hope this is just the...

Where to begin with the Motor Vehicle Commission in general for the state of NJ... The most incompetent group of individuals I have ever come in contact with in my life. If I treated my clients with the lack of interest and concern that I has been displayed towards me I would be without a job. These people make a decent living and have health insurance we hard working residents of NJ could only dream of having and are the laziest most incompetent human beings. I sent my license renewal through the mail over a month ago after receiving the packet in the mail that recommended I do so if I do not have time to go to the DMV. This is the first time in my life I took advantage of this service and I am sorry I did. They lost my renewal form and check. I only found this out after calling the main number nearly 30 times for it to ring busy every time. I resorted to email to find out what the status was and why my check had not cleared my account. The answer I got was if your check didn't clear it wasn't processed. This was after 2 weeks of trying to get a hold of someone. I emailed back asking them to research where my form and check was and to please have a manager call me with a resolution because I am sure when they do find it they will still cash it and I will never get a reimbursement. I wanted them to work with me and tell me how now at the end of the month are they going to rectify this situation. After 10 days of no response I resorted to going to the DMV in Runnemede. I agree with one of the other people that left a review. The old lady they have there as a receptionist is an absolute miserable human being and should retire!! She has zero customer service skills and threw my paychecks at me when she said I couldn't use them as proof of residency because I get direct deposit. Then she proceeds to tell me I cant get a license renewal anyway because the cant take pictures. I said I do not want a new picture just renew my license and Ill keep the old picture I just want this over with. She proceeds to tell me they have to take a picture. I said well that's funny because if i renew through the mail you are using the old picture and it said on the form I could do so for 2 years if memory serves me correctly. Which is stupid to give this as an option in one scenario and not the other, it is absurd . I have been to that DMV 4 times in the last week and still do not have a valid drivers license. It expires today. I went there 3 times and the "system' was still down each time I went and the last time I went there were probably 800 people crammed in that crap hole and I would have missed the rest of my day at work. I will be attempting one last time today after work and pray that this nightmare will be over... The Department of Motor Vehicles Sucks and so do its employees!!!! Every last...

I typically have no issues registering my vehicles at this location and have never felt compelled to leave a review until recently. A few weeks ago, I visited to register a vehicle I had purchased out of state. Since the vehicle was sold to me at a discounted price, I expected to pay sales tax based on the actual purchase amount.

Unfortunately, the initial employee assisting me seemed unsure about how to calculate the sales tax in this case. She consulted another employee, who reviewed my dealer invoice and stated—without explanation—that I would need to pay tax on the full MSRP, not the discounted price I paid. When I questioned this, pointing out the clearly listed sale price on the invoice, I was met with the repeated response: “That’s just the way it is,” delivered in a somewhat dismissive and condescending tone. No further clarification or reasoning was provided.

Rather than escalate the situation, I paid the full tax amount, though I left feeling it was incorrect. Once home, I reviewed the New Jersey Consumer Guide, which explicitly states that consumers are not responsible for tax on dealer discounts. Armed with this official documentation, I returned to the office and spoke with a more senior staff member. This individual immediately understood the issue, and processed a refund of the overpaid amount roughly $200 without hesitation.

While I appreciate the eventual resolution, the experience could have been far less frustrating had the initial staff been better informed or at least open to reviewing the applicable guidelines. Telling a customer “that’s just the way it is” without context or the ability to point to a regulation is not an acceptable way to handle an inquiry, especially when it concerns money.

I hope this feedback serves as a constructive reminder of the importance of proper training and respectful communication. Consumers deserve accurate information and the opportunity to verify policies not blanket dismissals. A simple apology from the original employee, who remained seated nearby during the correction process, would also have...