So I spent a total of 7 hours at the DMV yesterday. I had to take my written test and driving test to get my West Virginia Driving License. A combination of severe incompetence, 2 state-wide DMV system outages, and just general, sloth like slowness was the cause.

My actual driving test consisted of 4 right turns. I thought maybe she'd forgotten something back at the office when I realized she'd just asked me to drive back to the DMV Parking Lot. "Congrats, you have passed" she said. Wow. I didn't even go above 25 MPH. It's also ironic that the woman "examining" my driving skills was an alcoholic. My car still smells like a Weatherspoons on a Monday morning after Freshers Weekend. When the woman finally handed me my license, I asked her where I collect my paycheck, since I'd done a 7 hour shift there. She did not look amused.

Can anyone beat 7 hours? Must be some kind of record surely?

7 hours? Sheesh. I was done in 25/30 mins in St Louis, MO! 3 tests and the driving test. I drove round the block and parallel parked. That was it!

Did 4 or 5 in Atlanta. Was told by H1b sponsor to leave UK license at home, and then use that if you're ever pulled over. Waited outside in the GA sunshine in a huge. Finally get to the counter.
DMV employee: "You don't have your British license?"
Me: "No, I left it in the UK".
DMV: "Well, you'll have to send for it, then. NEXT!"

Went to a different spot where the line was only an hour. Congrats and keep practicing those left handual turns.

Sounds like 7hrs of fn! Did you have to study much for the written test and was it done on a PC?

Yeah it was PC based. I didn't study a whole lot, I took a few practice tests online which can be easily googled. Not sure how other states work, but I was allowed 6 wrong answers, out of 25 questions asked. I wish I could say most of the questions are common sense, but there are some very silly questions where the correct answer doesn't seem right at all. But, I do live in West Virginia, and it is the DMV, and this is the U.S, so nothing really surprises me. It's funny, this is my 4th week of being here and already I'm desensitized to the lack of common sense and overall dumbness of dealing with any Government related stuff. I regularly hear the default response of "Welcome to America!" whenever I question the logic behind certain situations or scenarios here. It's almost like they're proud of it!

I took my test in WV, although it was 40 years ago. It took about half an hour, including the actual driving test, which was in the parking lot.

Next time make an appointment by computer and get priority over non appointees

Went out to the country for mine. In and out within an hour.

I had an appointment for mine in California and I think it took around an hour. This was in 1997 however so a long time ago, driving test was about 30 mins. Drove down a few side streets, right and left turns, u-turns, parking ability in a parking lot, merge onto the freeway and drove about 2 miles, exited the freeway, entered the freeway going the other direction, exited, and back to the DMV.