PennDOT Driver License center — Local services in Norristown

I have been a licensed driver for over 5 years now. I had an amazing experience when obtaining my drivers license at the Shillington, PA DMV. It was very comforting. For the past few months I have been helping a friend of mine with driving. She became very confident with learning the ins and out of driving and from my experience I can confirm that she was even more confident and ready for her license test then I was 5 years ago and I paid a driving school to teach me. Unfortunately, my friends experience at Norristown, PA DMV wasn’t so pleasant. Her initial test was in July. Due to covid 19 the driving test is different which is understandable. My friend and I were able to be in the car together during her test and I am a witness to how rudely she was treated. Instructor Dan failed her on parallel parking due to wanting her to “practice more.” He didn’t Specify specifically what she did wrong just handed her permit back and said “you need to practice more.” As an instructor I would imagine that he would give better constructive criticism but maybe not. We came back today and her instructor Matt Moore was even more rude. He mentioned prior to even giving my friend driving instructions for the test that she failed her driving test before. It just so happened that instructor Dan was outside smoking cigarettes with Matt before he started talking to my friend. I wasn’t aware that DMV workers were allowed to smoke on the job. Also not assuming that instructor Dan remembered my friend but either way that comment wasn’t necessary. It was beyond unprofessional! Also it doesn’t help boost the confidence of someone trying to get a license. Again constructive criticism goes a long way so maybe if he mentioned her prior failure then said but today hopefully you pass we would’ve received his remake differently. Also he asked her for my insurance and registration which we had but he told her before she gave them to him that she would have to identify which is which. I didn’t understand why she needed to identify what they were when all that mattered was that I had an updated insurance and registration. Obviously he could figure that out himself. He then asked where would they be kept in a car. I personally keep mine in a small folder in the door of the drivers side of my car again for my own personal reasons. My friend answer Mr.Moore by saying “some people keep it in the safest place in their car like the glove compartment or another assessable place in the car.” He then said sarcastically and with a raised tone of voice “yeah you wanna keep it in the glove compartment because if you get stopped by the police they’ll expect it to be there.” Again some of us don’t keep it in the glove compartment for personal reasons. It seemed like an inappropriate trick question but I guess this is new part of the test? I wasn’t aware. He also failed her because he said that she didn’t look both way before making a turn. Again the driving test is different due to covid 19. Neither of these instructors were in the car during her test. I was. You can assume because she’s my friend that I would say she didn’t do anything wrong but that’s honestly the truth. These instructors seemed like they hated their jobs which is unfortunate but they shouldn’t allow that to make their attitudes rude. Also they shouldn’t feel comfortable being rude to people because they hate what they do. I’m sure there’s other jobs they could get and be happy. I was told that the staff at Norristown, PA DMV is rude but seeing it first hand was all the confirmation I needed. If your looking to obtain your license and you are confident that your going pass I recommend not going to Norristown,PA DMV. The staff will make you feel...

Horrible experience as I felt like I was treated unfairly.

I took my first driver's test 2 weeks ago and failed due to "failing to stop" at a left curve where the double yellow lines were following up with a stop sign to exit the course (Keep in mind I didn't cross them as I follow the lane on the far right). When the white instructor was explaining, he said there was a STOP SIGN. There was NO stop sign there and he said that we had to pretend we were coming out of the parking lot. Now, I understand there are parking lots that don't have stop signs and you still need to stop, however, he was talking about two different things. I brushed it off although and rescheduled.

Before I lined up, I watched others take the driver's test. I watched this one car with the same instructor I had before pass and didn't stop where I failed (there was another car that had him and also passed w/ the same thing). I felt the uttermost humiliated. I tried getting the black instructor as you wouldn't have to go through the curve, but meet up after the 3rd stop sign. I lined up where I would get the black instructor as they were taking turns. Ironically, they switched up which I had my instructor that failed me. Usually, they would ask for passengers in the back to stand outside during the test, but this didn't happen. As I backed up on your 3rd turn for parallel parking, right before I was gonna stop in the middle and put it in park, he says "STOOOOPPP" with intimidation and annoyance tone. He came up saying "Look! You made it!" The way he talked just seemed pretty much petty and probably the reason I passed although I've made it on my first test. The part I failed, I stopped and at that point he gave me a pass.

You maybe treated better than I have experienced. However, reading other reviews made me feel to share mine. I felt like I was targeted specifically and I passed with petty. The instructor confused me and ruined my dream to have joy in getting my license. I'm gonna be looking back how I got this license and it's by confusing me and pass with no pride. I hope this helps and gives you all a warning about the white instructor with a huge beer belly (I'm sorry it's not very...

Came to have my daughter's name changed on her permit. The paperwork was confusing & it said permit, driver's license, etc. I was asking questions to the person at the front desk who told me to ask the person who called my number. When I got to the counter (after my number was called), I asked her which one to check. Her response? She doesn't have a driver's license so it's obviously a permit. I was asking questions because I was thinking the driver's license should be changed, not the permit. The lady who took care of us was rude & she wasn't very helpful. The lady said the DMV system doesn't put characters in the system. I explained I went to great lengths to have her name changed on her birth certificate so I need it to show how her name is on her documents. It's so sad initially the Department of Vital Statistics didn't recognize the apostrophe (the year she was born). Now they do, but want you to pay for the spelling change. Now the DMV? This lady told me to change the way I spell my daughter's name. WTF is wrong that everyone wants to tell me how to spell her name? Then after all of that I had to pay $5.00 for the name change just for them to put a space in her name because they don't recognize the special characters. They are so rude at this location & they don't speak to you with any sort of dignity or respect! She turned to the guy who was sitting beside her & started talking to him about them not recognizing the special characters & he agreed. Well NEWS FLASH DMV some parents have special characters in their children's name & NOBODY I REPEAT NOBODY should tell a parent how to spell their child's name! You all need to get with the change with the technology we have and stop this nonsense! In all of this I paid $5.00 for them to put a space in her name. She stopped talking to me & thought I was going to walk away. Well, no I'm not done, I have questions & you need to answer them. I sat there for over an hour waiting to be called nonetheless so you will take...