What is wait time to renew without appt at DMV at Bryan? Totally frustrated trying to make appt. Fortunately, I have a month to renew...must renew in person. What a ridiculous mess!

i would try the Aggieland board

At least you get to mingle with members of the community.

I live in N Foat Wuth

two months before my DL expired there was only on place I could get an appt. that was not a month past expiration.
That was Flower Mound.
Several people tried to walk on and they were told all times were full and there would be no place for them.

Very flexible people as you can imagine.
The young lady guarding the door had a favorite answer for everything, "Above my pay grade"

Since I won't have to do it again for a while I'll let you in on the secret. Make your appointment in Hearne. Although I bet it's going to be busier now that the Brenham office is out of commission.

strbrst777 said:

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What is wait time to renew without appt at DMV at Bryan? Totally frustrated trying to make appt. Fortunately, I have a month to renew...must renew in person. What a ridiculous mess!

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You might want to try the Hearne office. Still need an appointment but can get one much sooner. They take online appointments.

Go to the one in Columbus, I breezed right through with an appointment.

I couldn't get an appointment for my home county in a 3-month window around my birthday, so I scheduled and completed the process at Granbury, an easy 40-minute drive away.

But I was the only one there so no waiting or issues.

I go to Liberty County, wait time next to nothing and the ladies are friendly.

Yes

https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/how-renew-your-texas-driver-license-commercial-driver-license-motorcycle

C@LAg said:

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strbrst777 said:

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What is wait time to renew without appt at DMV at Bryan? Totally frustrated trying to make appt. Fortunately, I have a month to renew...must renew in person. What a ridiculous mess!

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doesn't texas allow renewals online?

https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/online-services

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Only every other time. If he went in person last time, the yes. If he did online last time, he has to physically go in.

Yeah I understand. Just adding for info for those that don't know

Go to Hempstead and go right through. Send the time you'd wait in Bryan driving there while listening to music or a good podcast.

When I moved out of state last year I asked around about where to go for a DL. I was told to go to the DL store and thought they were kidding. They weren't. Went to the DL store with my existing Texas license and birth certificate. Walked out 20 minutes later with a DL, license plate and voter registration. I was anticipating a beatdown similar to Texas but was pleasantly surprised. Privatizing that function seems like a good idea.

I did mine in Lufkin recently on my way to see family up in ETX.

As many have noted, go to a smaller or less busy town. We live in Georgetown and the waits are ridiculous. Wife and son did new DL's in Temple super easy. For passports, we just renewed in Lampasas. No line. In and out in 20 minutes tops.

The appointment only system was glorious for me last month. Breezed through while they turned away all who didn't read the by appointment only sign. More systems should operate like that.

Need to add a letter to my license, and I put in the appointment 3 months ago. I still have to wait 2 more months for my day.

Something that should be as simple as an online site requires a many month wait. Laughable.

strbrst777 said:

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What is wait time to renew without appt at DMV at Bryan? Totally frustrated trying to make appt. Fortunately, I have a month to renew...must renew in person. What a ridiculous mess!

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You can make an appointment ahead of time at most DMV's and then they text you 30 min before you need to go in. Or you do it online

if you don't pass, please don't drive into the building.....just kidding! ;-)

Somehow we managed to do all of this without appointments before covid. Government discovered a way to waste more time and flex on us peons and they have never given it up. We are going to be living with the fallout from covid for a very long time.

The renewal will be for eight years. If you are two years or less before renewal, do it now and could be good for ten years- that's what I did a couple of years ago.

It's been privatized in other states and it works like a charm. Take government out of it.

Thanks for the serious replies. Re renewals, how was this absurdity allowed to happen. Surely, the state of Texas can afford facilities and staff to better serve us. With growing populations. it's only going to get worse as in the past four years. Politicians should step up and fix this mess.

Covid shut downs put the licensing folks behind as high as 400K+.
People waiting until four weeks left before renewing is an issue.
People not going on line to see what they need to bring with them as well as not filling out the forms ahead of time is a huge issue.- and then get mad because of their screwup. These people are eating up appointments for folks who are prepared.

HumpitPuryear said:

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Somehow we managed to do all of this without appointments before covid. Government discovered a way to waste more time and flex on us peons and they have never given it up. We are going to be living with the fallout from covid for a very long time.

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And for a renewal why do you need your birth certificate again? Your DL number never changes. They have your entire driving record and how many times you have renewed in the past.

I did live out of state for several years in the early 80s and took a whole day off to get my license in the new state since my experiences in Texas were lengthy. Took right at an hour and I left with a new laminated license. Didn't have to wait to receive it in the mail.

Try the DPS in Hearne.

I was able to make an appointment there about two weeks prior with the intent of also attending the Aggie Baseball games that weekend. I drove from DFW to Hearne for a 10:30 appointment and arrived at 9:45. I asked one of the 2 workers if it was ok for me to be this early and they both were happy to assist me at that moment.

They were both extraordinarily cheerful and kind and made me feel as if they were genuinely happy to assist me. It was by far the most pleasant DPS experience I've ever had.

I think it is a DHS requirement imposed on the state

TXAGBQ76 said:

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I think it is a DHS requirement imposed on the state

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The birth certificate issue? I can see that for new applications for DL and ID cards but for renewals?

I went on a Saturday to the Arizona driver's license store and left in 20 minutes with license, license plates and voter registration. Texas is light years behind in this process. Private businesses are undefeated against government offices.

Yep. It gets even more onerous if you move from another state.

strbrst777 said:

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What is wait time to renew without appt at DMV at Bryan? Totally frustrated trying to make appt. Fortunately, I have a month to renew...must renew in person. What a ridiculous mess!

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You need appointments now!

Around here, you just go to the driver's license office. I can't remember the last time I wasn't first in line when I arrived.

I particularly liked the woman working at one DPS office a few years ago. We were both cracking jokes the whole time. At one point she asked if I wanted a receipt and my response was "If you can't trust the Texas Department of Public Safety, who can you trust?" That really cracked her up.