HOLY *** BMV Sucks. Gotta vent.

Ha! told you so...

Things are so much better these days.....................Yrs. ago, I spent 2 days in line at BMV and the line was out the door, down the street past where the food truck is just trying to renew my car registration! Yep, they closed up at 2:30 and needless to say those in line that had not finished got to go back the next day.Took a chair, a cooler, a book and umbrella also brought cash as sometimes they took checks and sometimes not! I don't think they took credit cards back then.

6 hrs. is nothing, girl. Welcome to life in the VI.
Get used to O' Reilly's Postulate: Murphy was an optimist.
(Murphy being the one who said if something can go wrong, it will!)

If you are going back there you may want to do it this week or next as it will be mucho holiday time with X-mas eve, x-mas, day after x-mas, the weekend, the the New years trio, the weekend after and let's not forget 3 Kings Day on the 6th ! Plus, the beginning and end
of the months are always busy with the procrastinators and the obsessive compulsives who have to get things done early.
Good luck to ya! Stay sane!;)

I don't mind waiting, I'm used to that. Been here a year now so thats not new to me. That wasn't the issue at all. It was the fact that the lady simply didn't want to listen or actually understand. She wouldn't even look at the paperwork which was correct. The DMV in AZ could take the same amount of time but at least they have a brains in their heads. At one point I DID see the lightbulb go off in her eyes and she DID realize that I was right and she knew what the situation was but she still refused to help.

That is compounded by the fact that they could actually help THEMSELVES and the public by correctly posting the needed information. Even now I have no idea what I need to renew my tags. Their website doesnt provide squat. I guess I don't understand the work harder NOT smarter mentality. I believe in the reverse. Provide the public with what they actually need to have and THEN if they don't have that, you have every right to tell them to shove off.

Alana that is absurdity lol. What do you think is the ROOT issue? At first I thought maybe it was the system but honestly the people I encountered (5) could have given two shits about anything other than their coffee, water, breaks or lunch. They had absolutely no interest in helping anyone. I think the BMV is a place where "good Days" don't get you anywhere.

Santa who are you?

Is the BMV open tomorrow? IDK if they are closed on fridays or shorter hours. Anyone have the info for getting the tag renewal?

Did you try speaking with her supervisor to explain things? Maybe that might have helped but MVB can be a black hole where many can get trapped (and have). There are some easy times, great, helpful people, speedy lines and you are in and out. Then there are those time when you have crossed into a completely different dimension. <(imagine the theme song for Twilight Zone here)
Sounds like your day! Good luck with your next encounter!

Monday - Friday: Think it's open at 7:30AM - 2:30 PM. (unless holidays)
If it's too close to closing time they won't even let you in the door.
If you ever need a photo ID from there, always call to see if camera is working, they have film and someone will be actually there to take the pic.

To the second part of your question:

If your car is older than three years old (2010 or earlier) you have to go to Inspection Lane. It now opens at 8 am, not 7:30 like it has for 20 years :X...Have your registration, proof of insurance and driver's license available. You will line up behind the BMV building, the inspector will summon you to the shed. Hand over your paper work while you say, "Good morning!" You will be asked to do some tests: turn on your headlights, left turn signal, right turn signal, brakes, maybe honk the horn. If you pass, you will be given back your paperwork. If you don't pass, you will have to have whatever is checked off fixed before you return and do this again. Park your car behind the building. (If your car is newer than three years, you skip Inspection Lane and go to the next step...) Go inside to window #1. Say, "Good morning!" and present your paperwork. If you have no tickets, you will be asked to go to window #2. If you have tickets, you'll have to pay before moving forward. At window #2, say "Good morning!", give them the paperwork, show your license and if you have a senior citizen card, show it (50% discount!) They will give you a number and you will wait... At some point, they call your number and a window #. Go there, say "Good morning!", pay (credit cards are accepted) and voila! You will receive a new sticker for your window and a new registration.

At least that is how they did it this morning. This is always subject to change...;)

wow, the one on stx was not that bad for me when i finally got one for here. it seriously took 20 minutes.
that was the first one i got.

the second one took maybe 30 minutes.

i am sorry you had such problem

the tags on stx only take about 2 hours,
i do not remember the procedure.

I thought they issued new tags (license plates) when you got vehicle registered?
That's the only time I have ever gotten any.

yeah i think you are right

That's why many people pay to have these things done. The expeditors know the people and the system and they're cheaper than meds, I believe.

It will be easier next time, you are now officially a resident and citizen, congratulations????

Scared to death once in inspection lane when he stood in front of my car, had me put on my emergency brake and rev the engine... OCD kicked in making sure I had the right order. I've had 5 hour visits there and 20 minutes. Lower the bar and you're so pleasantly surprised when it goes well.

maybe I am using the wrong word, I need the sticker for the front window. Expires this month.

Got sticker last month and it took me 30 min.
Guess I went on a good day.
Have to renew drivers lic . Do u have to wait until
They are ready to expire(mine is in feb.)
Can I go anytime?

That's why many people pay to have these things done. The expeditors know the people and the system and they're cheaper than meds, I believe.

I've had my re-registrations and everything else to do with DMV handled by an expediter for just about 30 years and it's worth every penny. Not even that expensive .. The first time was enough for me!

I did my registration this morning. Inspection Lane opened at 8:20. I was inside at 8:40 and out the door at 9:10. At least on St Thomas, they have improved 200% since I have lived here. Do not go the first couple of days of the month or the last week. There is actually a day designated on your registration.

Every year when my registration renewal on stt was due, my sphincter muscles would tighten up for days. The day of, I would stab myself in the ear with a railroad spike in the morning before leaving home because I knew it would be less painful than the registration process. It helped to continually remind myself that they hate you. They pay much more attention to, and care much more about their coffee and coworkers than you.

It is better on stx, a similar bad experience to DMV's in the states. Although last week I thought I hit it at a good time. Got my car inspected in 5 minutes and window #2 in 5 minutes. Then I waited 45 minutes for the cashier to call me. I was the only one in the building for the first 15 minutes. My. name was called after 5 other people, who had arrived 15 minutes after me. I think they made me wait because they don't want to process one person at a time, but prefer batch mode. They don't care if you have to wait. You are only the low life's that pay their salary. Public servant? No, public royalty.

Thanks everyone of the info on the reg. EE. Appreciate it!!

Well my car and insurance is in my BF name. I guess I forgot that so he will have to do it.

OT thats smart... I am ON BOARD with that!!! I am sure well worth the $$ Do you have a contact? Id be willing to do that for sure but confused... how does the expeditor do this for you if he is not the owner of the car nor on the registration or insurance? I would really be into it as my BF works crazy long hours and its hard for him to get time off especially when we don't know how long it can take. I don't think I want to step foot back in there.... ever.

stt007: You are Negative Nellie tonight, eh? I find that two people can experience the same thing with different results. 😉

Waste and inefficiency is a pet peeve. Combine that with horrible customer service/attitude and that's what you get.

I agree EE but I do agree with 007 too. I am a big 0/3 with the BMV. It also took TWO DAYS to get my car title transferred. We had a local who knew everyone at the BMV help us with my boyfriends vcar bu that still took a full day. I had to go back and fourth from STT to STJ THREE times. My car originally was owned in STJ. The STJ BMV wasn't even open LOL!! No reason that we could figure out either - just closed "dey said"

My entire bitch session would be null in void if they would just list on their website specifics on what you need to have to get things done. ITS SO SIMPLE. then if you don't have what you need you don't go in and wait and bog down the process. If you don't have the requirements you won't wast their time or yours. This is a simple fix, theres a lot of people who could help do a site with information.

I totally got the I'm royalty vibe when I was there from the people I dealt with. Not that everyone Ive experienced there has been like that but 90%. The cashier lady was kinda nice and at least smiled.

Thanks for the reminder. I need to renew my vehicle registration in Jan. Last yr. had friends visiting and spaced completely on it until
mid-Feb. Luckily, was in and out within an hr. I did take a book, water and cash, just in case. Personally, I can't see paying someone
$100 to do this but that's just my opinion. If I was bringing a vehicle in from the states and needed to deal with Customs, paying road tax, getting the moving permit and going thru inspsection, etc., that would be different.

To AandAtoVI: an expediter is the person who pays bribes to BMV employees to get things done, while you wait hours and hours and go no where. They make money, the BMV employee makes extra money, and you get shafted. It is ridiculous horseshit. It's like government in Uzbekistan.

Banks in the VI are only marginally better. I could say a lot more but don't want someone to read this and retaliate against me.

My favorite bumper sticker seen on STT: "St. Thomas, USVI - you can't make this shit up!"

Still love it, but as I'm sure you've seen, many of the islands' wounds are self-inflicted.

Hubby was always the first one in line when they opened in the morning on STX to get registration/inspection done. Never took more than ten minutes.

Check your PMs.