I just renewed my tags online also & I saw that about the charge. My question for the DMV would be, is this legal for them to charge a person extra just because they decide to stop by instead of using the internet? Like you said DCA, some people do not even have the internet. I have a brother who has internet but has to have help using it because he does not fool with it enough to know how to do the renewal online. It is sad tht people will be charged for not using the online DMV site to renew anything through DMV or they are punished with an extra $5.00 fee.
I renewed my tags online, and had to go into the DMV in person after my new stickers and registration card didn’t show up after a month. I had a piece of paper I printed out which said my registration was renewed, but I still had my tags run (at least once that I know of) because of the expired stickers. So I still ended up having to go into the DMV and wait in line and get my registration stuff from them. Whatever was sent to me in the mail never showed up. There wasn’t an extra $5 charge since I had already renewed and paid online. However it wasn’t fun driving around paranoid for a couple weeks worrying about being pulled over because of my expired stickers.
It is a blessing to have the option of renewing online, rather than going into the DMV office. I went in to obtain a VA driver’s license last month, register and title my vehicle, and it was a breeze. I completed all three within 45 minutes. The reason that is even remotely possible is because the waiting area isn’t completely full of customers.
In my experience of DMV offices in other, more crowded states, it would also be viewed as an advantage to take care of these matters from your computer. If I didn’t have a home computer, I would still rather visit a local library, or use someone’s computer to avoid going into the building.
I’ll pay an additional $5 any day for a trip to the DMV that doesn’t require taking time off work!
Now, I’m not saying you didn’t take the time to read before your rant, or anything…but on my renewal form, it says I can renew online, by mail, or by telephone without incurring the visit-the-DMV fee.
Or are you also speaking out for the senior citizens without phones and mailboxes?
The 5.00 deal went into effect last year (July 1) I think.My girlfriend didn`t get her new stickers in the mail after ordering on line and we went to the DMV to retrieve them there. She still had to pay another $1.00 even after ordering them on line.That was still better than the 5 bucks, but the whole idea of ordering on line and saving the time and trouble of going there still blew it all out the window !!!!
DMV isn’t the only place doing it this way. if you filed paper taxes for the state of va this year there was an extra charge. it’s just a product of economic times and hardships. everywhere is seeing it. we will continue to see it. and it’s all DMVs.
It’s simple. Doing business over the phone, internet, mail, automatic bank withdrawals, etc, saves money for the business/entity.
Good private companies offer you the choice without a charge. Government agencies force you to do what they want with the charge.
Doing business with the Government; the IRS, Post Office, DMV and the like, is a PAIN IN THE ASS! They don’t have to be nice to you. They don’t have to have you as a satisfied customer so you will come back. You get what that give you and you better be happy with it! It takes an act of congress for a State/Federal employee to get fired.
Now… apply your experiences with dealing with State/Federal agencies and apply them to your health care…
