Comment by simmanian | Hacker News Reader

Comment by simmanian | Hacker News Reader

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With government orgs we get representatives who don't have any stake in improving these things.

I once had an incident where the receptionist at a DMV office messed up and didn't register me. I had patiently waited for 3 hours before noticing that people who lined up after me started getting called. So when I went up and asked if anything is wrong, the office manager looked something up on her screen and, upon seeing that I'm not registered, smiled and cracked a joke about it with another employee. She then told me I have to go back and take a seat and wait for my number to get called. At this point, I realized something went terribly wrong, and started literally begging to get expedited since I had already waited for more than three hours by then. The office manager's response was to scream at me, telling me that I'm causing disruption, and threatening to remove me with force.

I wonder if there's a way to actually improve the quality of these services?

I always hear horror stories about the DMV from Americans, and I too am baffled as to why a service used by almost everyone is bad. The UK equivalent (DVLA) has no branches and does everything by post. So you don't have to queue for anything.

In the UK the extremely user hostile government services are those for the marginalized; benefits and immigration. But the universal ones have pressure to work effectively.

I think the DMV job are high volume customer service and the pay is not particularly great. So it is probably a stressful job dealing with all the people. On the other hand if I go to a low volume office like county records, the people are more pleasant.

> has no branches and does everything by post

I'm really curious how this works.

They don't take a picture of you in person for your driver's license? Even the first one? What about the driving tests? Eyesight tests?

What if you want to buy a used car from a stranger, do you hand over the cash and then wait weeks for the registration to change hands by post? How do they prevent title theft if they can't check ID in person?

If I recall correctly you either have to mail in your passport with application form and photos or you can go to post office where they can verify ID for your fist provisional license.

One of the step to get full license is to take theory test in person at test centre. They check your address and verify ID again at this stage.

We have small driving test centres in most areas. You prebook the slot and turn up. They’re fairly punctual.

Where I live, you bring your own photo – there's some basic requirements to the photo, though – to the police station. Then you'll get a temporary license while the real one is in the mail.

You go to your doctor and get a proof of health. Costs around $100.

Typically the tests are arranged with your driving instructor as part of the course. Each attempt is also around $100.

When selling a used car, you just give the person the registration certificate when you've received payment. Then you reregister the car on the tax authority Web site.

Photo authentication is either from other photo ID, or by a gloriously decentralised system of getting someone sufficiently middle class to sign it: https://www.gov.uk/id-for-driving-licence

Driving tests are done in person with an appointment, so no queueing. There's no eyesight or medical tests, but at the start of the driving test the examiner will ask you to read a numberplate from a specific distance (20 meters?)

The registration transfer system used to be done on the basis of a "log book", which then became a piece of paper with an authentication hologram, but now it is of course online: https://www.gov.uk/checks-when-buying-a-used-car / https://motorway.co.uk/guides/v5c-the-ultimate-guide-to-the-...

> How do they prevent title theft if they can't check ID in person?

I'm not really sure what this means or how to translate it to the UK system? You might be at risk if someone managed to forge a V5 for a car they had stolen?

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