Crowds Fill California DMV Offices On Busiest Day Of The Year

STOCKTON (CBS13) — The Monday after Thanksgiving weekend is without fail, the busiest day of the year at the DMV. It doesn't matter which field office or what time you go, if you don't have an appointment, chances are you'll have an hour or more wait.

"I've been here since 9 a.m. It took me 20 minutes just to find a parking spot," said Stacy Swisher, who had to renew her van's registration.

Many people opted to sit outside to listen for their number.

"It was so crowded in there I decided to come out here and wait, there's not a seat open," said Amanda Inlow.

California's Department of Motor Vehicles said the first and last of each month are typically busy days.

"We just got off a four-day holiday weekend and also it's the first of the month," said DMV spokeswoman Jessica Gonzalez.

The DMV doesn't know why the Monday after the Thanksgiving weekend is busier than Mondays after other four-day weekends. At the Stockton and Broadway Sacramento offices, customers were waiting in line for different reasons.

It is recommended you make an appointment. That could be the difference between being in and out in 15 minutes versus waiting for an hour to be seen at the counter. This January, the new law allowing undocumented persons the chance to apply for a drivers license takes effect. Those individuals must make appointments, so there will be added competition to book an appointment at the DMV offices.

"We found Wednesdays tend to be less visited," said Gonzalez.

60 DMV field offices will be open on Saturdays starting January 3, 2015.