You also can play it smart when dealing with the California Department of Motor Vehicles, and save yourself a trip to the DMV or limit the amount of time you spend there.
One way to avoid DMV lines is to make appointments. The DMV started arranging appointments by telephone in 1984. Today, the fastest way to get an appointment is to use the DMV Web site. "The advantage of the appointment is that you show up and they're prepared for you, and sometimes you're out in a matter of minutes," said Steve Haskins, a spokesman for the DMV.
Walking into a DMV office without an appointment can sometimes mean a wait of well over an hour.
Some DMV business -- renewing auto registration or ordering personalized license plates, for example -- can be handled completely online.
As a result, the DMV Web site is gaining in popularity. A year ago, Haskins said, 40,000 to 50,000 DMV clients used the Web site each month. Now the site is averaging "better than 70,000 a month, and sometimes approaching 80,000."
The DMV launched its online services in 2000, and more than 1.5 million customers have used the system since then, Haskins said. The department expects to surpass 2 million customers early next year.
The DMV went online in the 1990s, but at that time the site offered little more than information and forms.
The online appointment system puts you in the driver's seat, allowing you to easily schedule what works best for you. If one office cannot accommodate the date and time you would like, you can select a different office to see if it has an opening for you.
Of course, appointments are best suited for tasks that do not have to be done immediately. The time between scheduling an appointment and the date of the appointment can range from a day to two weeks, based on the selected office, its customer count and staffing level, and other factors.
Last week, for example, the wait for Merced and Modesto appointments was seven to 12 days longer than if people opted to do their DMV business in Turlock or Sonora.
In a hurry? Try the Mariposa DMV office, where the appointment system last week listed next-day openings.
In the Northern San Joaquin Valley and foothills, the DMV also has offices in Manteca, Tracy, Lodi, Los Banos and San Andreas.
If you cannot wait for an appointment -- perhaps your driver's license is set to expire this week -- get to the DMV early to limit your wait in line. Some offices open as early as 7:30 a.m., and Haskins noted that lines are typically shorter in the mornings.
Want an estimate of how long you will have to wait? The DMV Web site offers that information for 59 out of 168 offices, including Modesto and Stockton. Computer links provide real-time updates of waiting time.
The DMV's online program is a result of Gov. Davis' interest in e-government, Haskins said. He added that the DMV was a logical testing ground because it is in constant contact with the public.
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