Michigan's Secretary of State offices are moving to an 'appointment' system

[Siwsan]

They made that 'announcement' when I was waiting to get a new license plate. Appointments aren't mandatory but should you choose to NOT schedule one, they warned you should be prepared for a 2+ hour wait. And, of course, a man piped up and said he tried to make an appointment but there were no openings for THREE WEEKS!?? Me thinks there might be some fine tuning needed. Better yet, maybe reopen some of the offices they closed.

So, as soon as my license renewal notification arrives, I'm making an appointment. I need to upgrade to the enhanced, 'Real ID' version, with a veteran designation. All I want is to be able to take flights, get discounts, and also flee back and forth into Canada, should the need arise. I'm old. Life shouldn't be getting this complicated.

[safeinOhio]

1. When I lived in Ohio

There was never a Wait. Registration were 1/4 the price in Michigan. Just copy how they do it.

[Siwsan]

2. I was #15 and had about a 45 minute wait.

Normally I'd just use the kiosk to renew my tags but my poor license plate is starting to peel so I have to get a new one. Out of the 15 counter places, only about 6 were being used. It would seem that since they closed a whole lot of locations, they'd at least be in a position to keep the ones still open fully staffed.

[Ms. Toad]

22. Real ID changed that -

at least initially.

I was one of the earlier ones, so they probably didn't have the bugs worked out. But there are points at which processing the Real ID requires a second layer of approval (which takes time), and they weren't sure which documents were allowed to prove what (even though they have a very clear online sorting process).

It may have improved by now.

[mikeysnot]

3. Get a passport.

Skip real ID. Based on what I read. Real id is for domestic, you need a passport to fly out of the country.

[Siwsan]

5. I don't have any overseas travel plans, at the moment.

I'm waiting to see how Brexit shakes out. I have been looking into a trans-Canada train trip, or maybe even a Great Lakes cruise.

[mwooldri]

12. Some states - including Michigan - have an enhanced driver's license.

This allows transit into Canada (or Mexico) on this enhanced driver's license alone - no passport needed. It's not the same as Real ID, though Enhanced driver's licenses are effectively Real ID compliant.

https://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-1627_81569---,00.html

[Wounded Bear]

17. I believe Real ID licenses are compliant for interstate travel-domestic flights...

Border states IDs are often 'as good as' a passport across your own state border into Canada/Mexico, but not other states.

IIRC.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

25. We just looked in to this as our passports are about to expire and we have a Mexico trip coming up

IIRC, real id only works for driving/walking across the border. You still need a passport for airline flights.

[obamanut2012]

4. Florida DMV has done this for years

You still wait some with an appointment, and sometimes it can take over a month to get one, but if you don't have one and live in a larger county? Four to five hours wait. If you're lucky.

[Siwsan]

7. I think the appointments are a really good idea for routine stuff

I will definitely book my appointment, as soon as my renewal notification arrives.

I normally used the kiosk to get new tags, which is a quick transaction. Once I get this driver's license upgrade taken care of, I should be back to kiosk or on line transactions. Well, hopefully, anyway.

[csziggy]

9. It depends on the location - here in Leon County, none of the offices have appointments

So you show up and take your chances on how long the lines are. I mostly renew online - both my tags and my DL - but when I have to do business at the office, I try to show up at odd times and the lines are not too long. Just this morning I tried to call DMV since their online system is not showing my street address in their system ( ). After nearly 30 minutes I gave up. I may have to spend part of the day tomorrow or Monday in line at the local office.

Backstory - I have a homemade flatbed trailer that I am selling. It hasn't had a tag for years, not sure if we still have a title (I bought it forty years ago), don't know if there is a VIN on it anywhere. The people buying it may be able to claim they made it but I sure would love to have it legitimately transferred out of my name.

[roamer65]

6. I do it by mail in MI.

Only hafta go in once every 8 years for the drivers license renewal.

[Siwsan]

8. The last time I did this by mail, it took forever for the tags to arrive

I sent for them well in advance, too. Normally I'd get them in less than 2 weeks, but that last time it stretched to almost a month. That's when I started using the kiosk, which is really fast and convenient.

Hopefully my next visit for the license upgrade will be my last, for a while.

[KatyMan]

10. License plate tags?

You can't get them at the service desk in the grocery store?

[roamer65]

11. Not in MI.

[Siwsan]

13. Yes - new license plate tags

They have kiosks at the Secretary of State office. Never seen one anywhere else, although I don't know why. Seems it would be a great idea. Grocery stores are definitely not an option.

[KatyMan]

15. Hm,odd.

I thought it it was a thing here in Texas it must be everywhere. Thanks for the info!

[mwooldri]

14. The UK is an all mail system.

Number plates are permanent to a car, though you can arrange for plates to be swapped between cars. Some paperwork is handled at the Post Office. Driving tests (theory and practical) are by appointment. Examiners are civilian, not connected with the police.

[Siwsan]

21. We have the mail option, too, but I needed to replace my license plate

before I get pulled over and ticketed for having a raggedy plate. The paint is taking leave of the metal.

[gibraltar72]

16. I am a Michigander

And I sure as hell didn't vote for this. This is disappointing.

[Siwsan]

19. It kind of makes sense, but also makes emergency transactions a real problem

I'm glad they made that announcement, though, and hope they put that on the website, too.

[shanti]

18. In California

we have an appointment system, but it is voluntary. When I got my Real ID, I decided to make an appointment, and did. From walking in to walking out - 45 minutes. A lot better than 2-3 hours!

[Siwsan]

20. It is voluntary, here, too, but they are really encouraging making an appointment

Today's visit, for me, was around 45 minutes, from in the door to out, but I also got there 30 minutes before they opened. Had I paid more attention to the line forming, I would have probably cut my time in half. I don't think I've ever spent much more than an hour at the SOS office.

[llmart]

23. I just usually get a passport which is good for ten years.

Saves a whole lot of hassle. I'm in Michigan and I regularly go to Canada since I'm only about a half-hours drive from there. I've never been to Europe and am not planning any trips there in the near future, but living in Michigan I figured I might as well get a passport.

[Siwsan]

24. I had one for years

Then life got in the way of my traveling so I let it lapse. When just going back and forth to Canada, using an enhanced license, which I need for driving, anyway, instead of a passport means one less thing to carry around with me.

[jimfields33]

26. In Florida, I walked in without appointment and immediately "may I help you?"

Was in and out with new drivers license in ten minutes. Eye exam took longest part. However, I Never do anything dealing with government in the morning. In fact, 3:15 seems to be the best outcome for me. All my neighbors want to be first at 8 o’clock as walk ins. Nope. No thank you. Too many feel that way for some reason.

[Siwsan]

27. Back before they closed so many offices, that was my experience in Michigan.

I actually thought about waiting until later, today, but it was so cold, this morning, I figured people wouldn't be lining up, outside, much in advance of the doors opening. I looked away, for a minute, and missed my opportunity to be in the front of the line. But, being #15 wasn't all that bad. Had they been better staffed, I would have been in and out in a very short time.

Besides, I'm still battling the end of this virus, and by the afternoon I'm ready to crash. I have to get running around done before noon, while my energy is still available.

[jimfields33]

30. Oh so sorry

I didn’t get the full picture of this situation. I hope it goes fast.

[MichMan]

28. Much more convenient

I live in a more rural area of Michigan and usually order tab renewals on line, but needed to go in person this last time for a drivers license renewal and to obtain a Real ID compliant one.

It was great being able to make an appointment and go on lunch hour from work instead of just showing up and pulling a number to wait your turn

[Siwsan]

29. I was surprised at how few people had appointments.

And, out of the names called, there were several no-shows. Maybe afternoons are more popular.

I'm most definitely going the appointment route, when my license renewal notification arrives. I've already got all of the required paperwork gathered up, in my document safe.