How to Be Prepared at the DMV

The Department of Motor Vehicles is notorious for turning Bozo the Clown and Little Miss Sunshine into Oscar the Grouch. Dozens of people must walk into the office each day without the proper paperwork, payment and identification and then leave in a huff. Follow these steps to be prepared for your next trip to the BMV and perhaps you may brighten a DMV employee's day by not having to ask for the billionth time, "Do you have your Social Security card with you?" Read on to learn more.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Call ahead or do an internet search for your states Department of Motor Vehicles (sometimes called the Bureau of Motor Vehicles). Ask for specific instructions on what you must have in order to take care of your needs.
2. Bring proper payment. If you are unsure of what your DMV accepts, bring a couple methods of payment. Cash is usually safe, as are checks. Credit cards are not typically accepted.
3. Have your Social Security card handy. Many states now ban social security numbers from appearing on a driver's license, which means you must have your social security card available to verify your identity. Without this you may very likely be turned away.
4. Allow yourself plenty of time. If you want to see a DMV employee's head spin, walk into the office 5 minutes before closing. In addition to arrive with ample time left in the work day, don't wait until the day your tags are to expire to take care of them. If you should happen to forget necessary documentation, payment or identification, you could end up with expired tags if you can't get back to the office in time.
5. Be aware of any upcoming holidays and plan to take care of DMV business accordingly as they are closed on all major holidays.