TexasCHLforum.com

So it came time to renew my TX DL for the first time since moving to Texas. I drove to the DPS office in Hurst, took the last available parking space and walked in. I opened the door and wow...I have never seen that many people in one little room before. I checked in and was given a number. I then sat and sat and then when I got bored I sat some more.

There was one guy who was very vocal complaining about the wait and the fact that they don't allow food or drink inside, yet their water fountian was out of service.

Finally they called my number, I went to the counter, handed lady my paperwork and less then 5 mins later, I was out of there for 12 years!!

I didn't carry today tho I know I was allowed to. I figured that even if I was carrying and some crazy did start shooting up the place, by the time I'd unholster, the 3 troopers that were there would have already shot the guy, and probably mistaken me as a 2nd gunman.

The system that DPS has set up is awfully slow and they should either open it to more then 10 positions (half of which were on lunch while I was there) or open up a 5th office to help the growing population of 1.8 million here in Tarrant County.

Sorry for the rant, but the wife is at work and I just needed to get it out!

They have a monopoly they have no reason to provide good service

You know you can renew your DL online, right?
I did mine online last year. Took me zero time.

Only 2 hours? You got off easy.

AlaskanInTexas wrote:Only 2 hours? You got off easy.

Last time I was there, it was a whole day affair.

RoyGBiv wrote:You know you can renew your DL online, right?
I did mine online last year. Took me zero time.

You can renew online EVERY OTHER time. The OP's comment about "I was out of there for 12 years!!" indicates this was his required in person renewal and that he is aware of not needing to renew in person next time.

California DMV. I dont even know where to start. Easy a 6 hour ordeal in San Diego. Hated it so much I actually went WITHOUT tags for about 8 months because I absolutely refused to step foot inside of the DMV. Then they started allowing registration online, I immediately logged on and took care of it. Here in San Angelo you will wait maybe 10 minutes. Love small towns!!

Mike1951 wrote:

RoyGBiv wrote:You know you can renew your DL online, right?
I did mine online last year. Took me zero time.

You can renew online EVERY OTHER time. The OP's comment about "I was out of there for 12 years!!" indicates this was his required in person renewal and that he is aware of not needing to renew in person next time.

So.... my first TDL (I moved here in 2006, and didn't get my TDL until late in the year) expires on my birthday in 2012. Does that mean that I can renew online, or does "every other" not include the first one?

If you have a class A, B, or commercial license you have to renew in person.

The Annoyed Man wrote:

Mike1951 wrote:

RoyGBiv wrote:You know you can renew your DL online, right?
I did mine online last year. Took me zero time.

You can renew online EVERY OTHER time. The OP's comment about "I was out of there for 12 years!!" indicates this was his required in person renewal and that he is aware of not needing to renew in person next time.

So.... my first TDL (I moved here in 2006, and didn't get my TDL until late in the year) expires on my birthday in 2012. Does that mean that I can renew online, or does "every other" not include the first one?

I believe the purpose is to require that you can pass the vision test at least every twelve years. If you took the test as part of getting your Texas license, you should probably be able to renew online in 2012.

As corrected above, my statement only applies to class C operators licenses.

Like snatchel said you don't know how easy we have it here. I lived in Socal for 5 years and when I went to switch my DL to CAs it was a 3 day ordeal. It would of been 4 if I would of gone back to get my CDL since after all that they wouldn't give it to me because my Medical card expired in 2 months. And of course it cost me over $500 for the tags for my truck.

Wait until it's time to renew your CHL. You'll be sitting around for four hours (class) instead of two, and then you have to wait weeks or months for DPS to mail the renewed license to you.

funny I came from socal and the dmv was great there. it was just a matter of knowing what one to use. I used to go the one in newhall. it was a 20 min deal when the line was long. now going to the one in arleta was a nightmare.

cheezit wrote:funny I came from socal and the dmv was great there. it was just a matter of knowing what one to use. I used to go the one in newhall. it was a 20 min deal when the line was long. now going to the one in arleta was a nightmare.

Well that explains it. The ones in Pasadena and East L.A. were nightmares. I wanted to burn them down.

I have to say in their favor that they helped me a lot.

I have trouble walking even with a cane and can’t stand for very long. The lady noticed me standing in the back of the line, had me go around and found me a place to sit. Got me taken care of in about 20 minutes.

I have had three back surgeries in the last ten years and really appreciated the consideration.