Department of Motor Vehicles

Location

505 Pole Line Rd. (Across from Post Office)

Hours

Normal operation:

Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri 8am-5pm

Wed 9am-5pm

Closed first three Fridays of each month through June 2010

See Davis DMV Office for Saturday hours

Phone

(800) 777-0133

(800) 921-1117 Automated Voice-Recognition Appointment Scheduler

(530) 753-8324 fax

Website

http://www.dmv.ca.gov

The Davis DMV has recently implemented a very-much-desired computer system for tracking waiting clients. Before, all the windows dealt with every customer request, and when you'd go in, you'd just take a paper number from the wheel and sit and wait for HOURS until they call you. NOW when you walk in they have a nifty scrolling marquee which not only tells your current wait time, but also the current wait time at other DMV's nearby (West Sacramento, etcetera). Then you go to a triage-like window where they ask you what your business is, and then give you a printed-out number for the corresponding window. Lastly, your number and window is announced over the loudspeaker, so if you go outside for some reason, you won't miss your place in line. A good idea is to check the Davis Office's wait time through the website before you head out there.

It is still highly recommended that you make an appointment for any business you might have with the DMV, which can be done over the phone or through the incredibly easy-to-use website (above).

Tile Mural by Tony Berlant entitled Davis '88

• If you are an out of state student attending college in California
  

• Age 22 or less - you can retain your driver's license and plates from home
  

• Age 23 and older you must obtain California Plates (Reference PDF Document, page 2, section 7005 - definition Non-Resident Student Exemption from Registration. You must surrender out of state plates unless you ask for Interstate Registration where you can keep your out of state plates especially if you are still a resident from outside California and return during breaks (Reference from PDF Document, page 17, section 7130)

• Pickup Truck Registration
  

• Unless a permanent camper shell is installed, your truck is considered a commercial vehicle subject to weight fees. Heavy trucks that weigh greater than 5000 lbs are subject to heavy fees.

• Other references include the California Highway Patrol

Comments:

Note: You must be logged in to add comments

2005-09-15 19:09:59   A birth certificate or valid passport is REQUIRED to get a CA driver's license. If for some reason the name on this does not match the name on your previous state's DL, (like for example you got married at some point between the day you were born and now and you changed your name) you will need a CERTIFIED (not simply a photocopy) copy of your marriage license. Not that there's anything on the DMV website or any signs in the office informing you. —BlancheNonken

• Well it's buried a bit, but that info is online: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/brochures/fast_facts/ffdl05.htm#true —Jevan
  

• You can get these at the Yolo County Clerk-Recorder's Office, a painless while-you-wait printout process. They're also necessary for changing your name at Social Security, and proof of SS name change is also required for new-name DL issuance. —JT, formerly JB
  

2005-11-21 12:10:52   I had to registered my pick up which requires weight certification (WTF California) after a lot of digging, the only place is Sierra Sod for $8 at 27991 Mace Boulevard —OnsonLuong

2006-05-16 16:46:17   When my wife and I moved to California from Wisconsin, she was not able to get a license with her married name on it because we didn't have an official marriage certificate with. She did, however, have an official Wisconsin license with her married name on it, but that was not good enough. Rules are rules, but things like this always make the DMV unpleasant. —AdamSchneider

2008-05-15 15:26:52   This is the best DMV in America. It seems less crowded and usually a short wait—even without an appt. —CurlyGirl26

• Please tell me that this is sarcasm at its finest! Of all of the DMV offices that I have been to (about 10) this is one of the worst. Just the other day, I had to transfer a vehicle from my brother to me. I had the form filled out and checked the wait time for non-appointments on the website. It said three minutes. I went right over and got my tag, B 43. As they gave me the tag, they were calling B 42. Now, I don't know how they prioritize their queue, but they called some A's and B's, quite a few H's and J's. It was 39 minutes later when they called B 43. I swear they have the slowest workers too. I sat there as two of the agents chatted with each other for a few minutes before calling the next patrons. Now, I would understand if this was a one-time thing, but the Davis DMV always seems to be this way. At least every time a family member or co-worker goes there. I have not heard a single first-hand good experience. I guess YMMV. —DavidGrundler
  

• 2008-05-16 06:36:20   I'd have to say it was better (circa 2002ish) than the Sacramento DMV I went to (in Citrus Heights? Off Madison, if I recall correctly) and better than most Florida DMVs. About the same as North Carolina and Pennsylvania college town DMVs. I will say that of the two visits I made to the Davis DMV, one was amazingly fast, easy and courteous (switching out of state DL). The other was courteous, but there was a large number of people and it certainly wasn't fast (transferring in an out of state vehicle). I wish I could remember the day/time of day I went, but it was likely some shade of morning on a weekday. —JabberWokky
  

2008-05-16 08:27:58   When I was married I went to the Social Security Office in West Sac and the DMV the same day and was able to get a license with my name on it. I did not have to show a marriage license, just my paperwork that said I had applied for a new SS card with my new name. I agree though that the appointment thing is a joke. I do that everytime and still have to wait. —MyaBrn

2008-09-24 16:35:16   I checked the DMV website before going to the Davis office and the wait said 12 minutes without an appointment. I got there and waited 15 minutes and was out of there in another 5 minutes. A very painless experience! —DrWang

2008-12-02 14:35:31   I needed to renew my license and I was 10 days away from moving to a permanent residence at a house in Woodland, but had already moved out of a Davis apartment (essentially homeless on my parents couch in the Bay Area). I asked if I could put my new address on my license, but have the new license mailed to an alternate (my parent's) address while I waited for my house to close escrow in the next 10 days (we could not receive mail there yet). I was told no, the license has be mailed to the address on the license. So, I had to get a license with my parent's address in Livermore, then immediately fill out one of those brown change of address cards to carry around with me until 2013. So annoying! Sometimes I wonder if these things are really rules, or if people just get a kick out of messing with you. —AmLin