Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles — Local services in Columbus

I am writing this review to share a deeply troubling and traumatic experience I had today, which highlights a severe gap in customer service and accountability at one BMV location, contrasted by the wonderful service at another.

My day began at a BMV where I was met with what can only be described as appalling service. After just finishing my driving knowledge exam next door, I went to the counter to proceed. The staff member assisting me loudly and publicly announced that I had no data in their system. When I tried to explain that this was impossible as I had just completed the state-required exam moments before, she was dismissive and completely unapologetic.

The humiliation of being wrongly called out in front of a room full of people was unbearable. When I attempted to speak with her again to resolve the clear error, she became hostile and nearly shouted at me, "to do my own job as she do hers." Her behavior was not just unprofessional; it was aggressive and demeaning. It makes me wonder if the lack of visible name tags is intentional, as it prevents any real accountability for such conduct.

Feeling completely traumatized and unsure of what to do, I decided to try a different location. I went to the BMV on Broad Street in Columbus, and the difference was night and day. A lovely, diligent lady assisted me. She listened patiently, found my data in the system without any issue, and clearly explained the next steps I needed to take. Her kindness and competence were a stark reminder of what public service should be.

This experience has left me shaken. The treatment I received from the first employee was unacceptable. It points to a systemic problem, likely stemming from a lack of any feedback mechanism, like customer surveys, that would make staff aware of how poorly they are performing. Management needs to address this immediately. No one should leave a public service office feeling humiliated and...

Very rude people the inspector was rude. I know it feels like that I am writing this just because I am angry but if you are not a perfect driver who makes no mistakes your chances of passing are 50/50. I gave a road test today and I knew what mistakes I made because I was nervous and the inspector told me that I failed for the same reasons that I thought. But on my way home I saw the paper that they gave me back and I saw that I needed 40 points off to fail but the mistakes I thought I had done and what he told only accounted for 10 points rest of the points were marked off the things which were not even tested and my test lasted for less than 10 mins. I have driven for 3 years 2 of them in abroad and almost an year with my temps and I had reached a point where my instructor said I was making no mistakes and I have been driving within no problems for 6 months now. I know I was a bit nervous and made some mistakes, but there is no way he found so many problems with just 10 mins of driving and some of which were not even tested then. Now they want me to take 4 hours of driving course and if I did all those mistakes after driving for 3 years what would just 4 hours do? If you have a little difficulty in conmand of english language If you are going to this location be prepared to be treated like sh** and hope you get a nice inspector and wish that you pass because it's all on your luck and the inspector's mood. If I had someone or someplace to complain about the inspector I would. If you are giving a road test just install recording cameras on and in your car so if an unresonable mistake shown by the inspector you would have some kind of way to...

(EDIT: not only was she rude, but she lied to me and told me she couldn't do what i needed done without a specific document that i didn't end up needing at all. i went to the south high bmv the next day and everything was really smooth and easy, and they were very nice.)

the woman working window 8 the morning of 7/11/22 was extremely rude, i felt like i was being berated the whole time because i didn't know everything she expected me to know. i was missing a document that i needed, which is fine and i don't mind coming back with everything i need, but she was treating me like i was stupid for not knowing? she also expected me to know what her screen was displaying, staring at me like i'd just insulted her when i hadn't said a word just because something on her screen came up blank (because of the missing document), then acting annoyed that she had to tell me what was happening. like, uh... sorry for not being a mind reader?? my mom told me later that she'd dealt with the same woman last time she'd gotten her tags renewed and been insulted to her face (comments about her age and her car).

i don't expect customer service people to be peppy and conversational or anything, but she was downright mean. lots of negative reviews here seem to mention this same woman too. she's an older white lady with sort of bushy gray hair (and glasses, i think?), but i didn't get her name. the other workers here have been perfectly fine, it's just this one woman.

i cried in the car on the way home! it was fun :) i'll probably go to another location next time just to avoid her. i'm disabled so the bmv is already hard enough...