Hacker News Reader

My best bet is he just didn't want to have to deal with the DMV...

If anyone happens to see this, the best thing I've learned this year is that you can do all your DMV business (at least in CA) at any AAA office, if you're a member.

Really? Including getting my licence renewed?

I've been putting off going to the DMV for nearly a year now. My licence is very, very expired. If I can join AAA to avoid this, I definitely will.

Well, I bought a car and exchanged plates there.

I just got my CA license last week. The whole procedure, from showing up to leaving, took less than 1 hour. Maybe the claremont office in oakland is somehow different than others.

And "less than 1 hour" is supposed to be a good thing now?

I used to complain about the RTA (the NSW equivalent) in Sydney. But I have to admit that last time I showed up to get my New South Wales licence renewed, I was in and out with a licence in my hand (printed on the spot) in about fifteen minutes.

Fifteen minutes; impressive. In the US, various states' DMV offices, especially in densely-populated urban areas, are a frequently-cited example of public sector inefficiencies. Waiting in line for 2-4 hours (to deal with registration, issuing licenses, and so forth) is par for the course.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com