DMV Sterling Blvd — Local services in Sterling

I came here very early mornings on Saturday 30th July, i come here to make a test because I already pass documents check list around 2 months ago but the lady who works at the counter cue card she speaks Spanish and she check my documents and asked me to came back next time and bring new updates statement, I tried to told her I already passed documents check list and I have papers from DMV and today I wanted to make a test and update my address,so that means I don’t need to bring new documents because I have customer information forms and information that very clearly !! When you return I need to bring all the documents that I presented on the first visit, and the lady asked me to come back next time because my statement very old, so I tried to explain my statement very old because I passed documents check list before so I am not new coming and I don’t need to bring new documents and I showed her my customer information from but she still refused and asked me to come back, she didn’t give me a ticket to make a test, so I tried to look for print shop near by DMV and print new statements, then when I come back to DMV, the another staff I guess maybe she is manager or I don’t know,she comes to help her to organize the lines because is to slow and she asked me I am here for??? I told her I come here to make a drivers license and I want to make a test today, she asked about my my documents and I showed her, she told me i have everything and I don’t need to bring new documents and I can make a test but by the time is too to make a test because almost 11.30am so I lose my time because the First Lady don’t understand much about the system and asked me to come back , DMV should have someone professional to work in the front of couture and should let her learn and improve her job and how to organize, she should to know her job just pre scan documents and press cue card, if you don’t want to lose your time just call someone to help because sometimes the staff in cue card don’t understand much about system, I guess is happened only on Saturday because I been here before the staff here very nice and fast service I never seen unprofessional...

This place is new and shiny but the staff is a little rude.

Visit 1 - Appointment (Fantastic)

turned back as I didn’t have a page on my lease that proves I signed it. Understandable, mistakes happen. It was my mistake. This was a great visit, no rush, friendly conversation at the window.

Visit 2 - Walk-in (horrible) Information Desk lady was rude, even a lady at the window was rude (visit #2). Sent me out of the window with a form which took less than a minute to fill and I had to get a new token and wait another 40 minutes for my turn to eventually go back home as my car was less than 12 months old and they needed a bill of sale to prove I paid sales tax. She could’ve easily checked my documents then itself and told me if I had all the needed documents and then get back in line again, but no! So inefficient and rude.

Visit 3 - can’t get worse than this.

They sent back everyone saying the system is down in the entire state of Virginia. No one at the info desk. One staff member came to attend, was visibly disappointed to see people. Talked nicely to a guy in front , was unhelpful to me (probably judging me by appearance). Same was done by the security guard who communicated this. Anyway, this was a lie. I got a call from DMV in Leesburg (call back from the customer service as I left my number for a call back) and when asked they told me it’s false. If something like that happens, an email goes out like a red alert email or something, but it wasn’t the case. This specific dmv may have been down but it surely wasn’t communicated. Plus they also claimed that it may not come back online for the rest of the day. Guess they wanted to take a day off!

In short, overall it’s just ok, just like any other DMV but I had to go here 3 times for something that could’ve easily done in one visit. Probably it’s my bad luck or a bad experience with this one. I picked this one only because of the good 5 star reviews, sadly for me, it’s just a 2 star DMV. Never coming back here. Would rather go to a 2* rated nearby. As long as things get done, I don’t mind it being 2* or a 5*. The experience should be good, here it...

The Department of Motor Vehicles is, without question, one of the most frustrating and maddening institutions to ever exist. I would rather have a root canal without local anesthesia. One would think that in 2025, with all the advancements in technology and streamlined systems, the DMV could at least function with some semblance of order. Unfortunately, the opposite seems to be true. My experience there has been nothing short of an exercise in futility, thanks largely to employees who do not follow their own rules and refuse to apply any level of consistency from one customer to the next. Rules and guidelines are supposed to provide structure, clarity, and fairness. Yet, at the DMV, they are treated more like vague suggestions that change depending on who you happen to deal with. One employee will tell you that you need a specific form of identification, while another employee at the very same counter insists that the exact same document is unacceptable. Come back the next day, and a third person gives you an entirely different answer. It is maddening to realize that the people who are paid to enforce regulations do not seem to understand or even agree on what those regulations are. What makes matters worse is the absolute lack of accountability. When you point out that their own website or posted guidelines contradict what the employee is demanding, they simply shrug or dismiss you without explanation. There is no apology, no willingness to problem-solve, just an attitude that says, “Too bad, come back again.” And so, people waste countless hours making repeated trips, all because DMV staff cannot remain consistent in applying their own standards. The entire experience is the definition of inefficiency. It is insulting to citizens who carve out hours of their time only to be met with contradictions, arbitrary decisions, and unnecessary roadblocks. The DMV is supposed to serve the public, but instead, it feels like a hostile bureaucracy designed to wear people down. Until the employees are trained to follow their own rules and apply them uniformly, the DMV will continue to be the poster child for...