Twinkle0927

Apart from the long waits at our closest DMV, i have had no problems with them. But I have an SSN already. Not sure whether it's that that makes the difference or being 26 years older than the OP and therefore 26 more years of real-life experience. I've lived in India and China - dealing with the DMV here is NOTHING in comparison to dealing with any official body in China.

Oh well, OP, you'll only have to deal with bureaucracy here for another 4 years before you're sent packing back to the U.K. where I imagine the DVLA will be even busier and even more clueless due to the exit from the EU and having a whole new license issuing system to deal with.

Ecto17

Glad it went well first time, sadly we had done all our homework but things just didn't go our way, third time lucky for me!!

Chesten

Bit like that for me. I had spent time online to research the process. I thought I had everything including a sworn affidavit for no SSN which is the requirement in TN. But was told I needed an i94 which confused me at the time as had not come across it. Naively thought visa in my passport was the holy grail. But next visit was ok.
I was overprepared when I did my practical and had all sorts pertaining to rental car just in case, but it wasn't needed.
I did find one particular DMV lady bloody difficult in a way that other customer facing people e.g. at utility companies and others at DMV are not. But hey ho. Bad luck when you get the Rottweiler or the poorly trained team member.

I understand why the OP is getting flack and there are good points being made and, hopefully, life lessons being learned. But who doesn't need a rant once in a while?

ScousePete

I wonder why they wouldn't let you take the test in a rental car?

Jerseygirl

My daughter took her test in a rental car. This was because NJ Rules stipulated the car must have a centre handbrake. Non if ours did...so she used a rental car.

Steve_

One of my relatives had this problem, the guy told her to get an SSN (which she was eligible for as L-2 but at the time she thought she wasn't) so they told her to get the letter and then one of the other employees said to her on the way out that she could try a different DMV office where they weren't so strict, so she went there and they issued it!

Then even more amusingly she belatedly realized she needed to get an SSN, went to the SSA office and the girl at the desk was from Birmingham (UK) and was really snotty to her.

Steve_

Well I don't agree with the previous replies, you're perfectly welcome to come on here and rant about American bureaucratic excess, isn't that the raison d'etre of this forum? The California DMV seems designed and intended to give people a heart attack.

Being 17 the OP doesn't have to worry about their blood pressure quite so much, rant away.

chawkins99

Sure, we all have the right to rant on occasion but for a 17-year-old to join a forum and their introductory post is a rant containing threats and questionable language in that way shows a degree of immaturity. Sounded like a 3-year-old's tantrum.

My view and, it seems, that of several other posters was that that attitude most likely was also directed toward the DMV staff. That sort of attitude is not going to endear them to ANY authority figure.

Just imagine the first (maybe only) time they are pulled over by the police

malch

Apparently, they had some silly California rule. It wasn't written down in any general publications I could find. And I also went through the rental agreement fine print and didn't fine anything incompatible with using the rental car for the test in that either.

I argued with the Examiner without success and then asked for the Supervisor but he wouldn't budge either. So home I went without taking the test.

I understand that using a rental car is now specifically permitted. Proof of insurance is obviously required.

Ultimately, I took the test in a driving school car and passed quite easily.

I had done my homework pretty carefully and thoroughly so it was a VERY frustrating and irritating process at the time.

Pulaski

Agreed. In the "local pub" analogy used sometimes to describe BE, you wouldn't wall into a pub full of strangers and start ranting about a bad experience, but if you're known to all the regulars in the pub an otherwise similar rant might be understandable and acceptable and quite possibly even amusing.

Mr Fitch

It sounds cliche but killing with kindness works wonders at the DMV. One thing I've learnt living in California for 11 years is that quite alot of Californians are sensitive. VERY sensitive. You show up in a stink anywhere, be it DMV, post office, bank etc. and you will most likely be met with belligerence. Bare in mind, these people have to deal with a plethora of angry people every day, as soon as you show them anger, they switch off. Understandable i think, as long as they stay professional.

I had huge issues with getting my DL when i first moved to CA. I already knew the DMV sterotype but i wasn't expecting that level of rudeness. I learned over time with each new endorsement to my licence (eg. Motorbike, Emergency Vehicles) that a compliment goes a long way in a place like that.

My advice to you OP, is try not to get too upset. I understand your frustration, but i honestly think you will have better luck in the future at the DMV if you just swallow your pride and show them you are a nice person that they WANT to help. Of course, you will on occasion get someone who is just satan incarnate, but it's rare and there is always one unfortunately.