| Author |
Message |
    
Liz
Citizen
Username: Mschiquita
Post Number: 5
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, August 30, 2003 - 9:37 am: | 
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We recently moved here from NYC and have to do the dreaded auto and driver's license conversion - we have heard it can be a nightmare! What is the inside scoop on how to do this and where? We checked out the DMV website but it is confusing...would GREATLY appreciate an outline of the process!!! Many, many thanks! |
algebra2
Citizen
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 1177
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, August 30, 2003 - 10:21 am: |
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I did it at Springfield DMV. First get the book and study b/c you must re-take the written test and you'd hate to stand in line and then fail it. Get tere early and remember your glasses b/c you need to take the eye test too. Wasn't THAT bad overall, and I waited in line at 9 months pregnant. |
jem
Citizen
Username: Jem
Post Number: 770
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, August 30, 2003 - 10:34 am: |
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Other tips: Aim to get to DMV after the first few days and before the last few days of the month, and try for a day in the middle of the week. First thing in the morning is probably better than late morning. You have to pay for parking at the Springfield office parking lot, so bring quarters.
Don't bring children with you if you can avoid it - the waiting is annoying enough for adults. Bring something to read - the study guide for that @#$#@ written exam gets awfully boring after awhile. The experience will be unpleasant and frustrating, so be prepared.
Good luck! |
greeneyes
Citizen
Username: Greeneyes
Post Number: 379
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, August 30, 2003 - 1:15 pm: |
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Re-take the written test? That stinks.
I've converted licenses from 3 states and the only test I had to re-take was the vision. DMV is nightmarish enough without having to re-take a written test.
Jem is right, don't bring children and have a lot of patience. Make sure all of the paperwork you have to present is filled in completely. I've seen customers sent back to the end of very long lines for not having their paperwork prepared properly. Sad to say, but a pleasant DMV customer rep is a rarity.
I think they require birth certificates in addition to the NY driver's license. They only accept a birth certificate with a raised seal, the original, not a copy.
Welcome to NJ, if you can survive the DMV, everything else will be a walk in the park. |
Jackie Day
Citizen
Username: Zoesky1
Post Number: 87
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, August 30, 2003 - 2:25 pm: |
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Re the written test: you MUST STUDY. The questions on the written test are not what you'd expect. It's not about HOW to drive so much as HOW New Jersey laws affect driving. There's a whole bunch of stuff on it that you would only know from reading the damn book even if you've held a driver's license for 20 years. When I moved here from NYC and had to convert, I failed the first time because I barely read the manual, thinking it was really aimed at first-time drivers. It was embarrassing as hell, considering I had been driving for 16 years at that point. You must READ the thing and pay special attention to the NJ-only laws. |
jab
Citizen
Username: Jab
Post Number: 113
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, August 30, 2003 - 2:42 pm: |
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We read the manual as we waited to take the test and both of us passed. On the other hand, a woman there at the same time had just passed on her seventh attempt. Of course, waiting to take the test gave us about two hours to study. I don't remember taking a birth certificate, but its possible that I showed my passport. Good luck! |
sac
Citizen
Username: Sac
Post Number: 670
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, August 30, 2003 - 6:36 pm: |
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I don't know if this is still the case, but when I took the test 17 years ago, there were many questions that were along the lines of the nature of penalties for DUI, etc. I barely passed and was truly aggravated since I don't really think that knowing the details of the penalties for breaking the law is nearly as important as knowing what the law is. Nearly half the questions were in that category on the test I took.
What I would really like them to ask is "Who has right of way - the left turner or the facing car going straight - when the light turns from red to green?" It is truly amazing to me how many people in this state drive as if it was the left turner should go first. And certainly more important than knowing exactly how many months or what fine you will be assessed for a particular infraction of the law!
(Of course this would primarily benefit all those 17-year-olds taking their test for the first time who have grown up driving around NJ ... those of us who came from other states already know the answer.)
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Liz
Citizen
Username: Mschiquita
Post Number: 7
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, August 30, 2003 - 7:04 pm: |
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thank you all for your wisdom - have just found out that the Springfield office doesn't do DL tests any more - any thoughts on where else to go?
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Jackie Day
Citizen
Username: Zoesky1
Post Number: 88
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, August 31, 2003 - 1:50 pm: |
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I took my test at the DMV on Rt 46 near Wayne. A hike, but I lived in Montclair at the time. You could also try the one in Newark; never been there, though. |
Joan
Citizen
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 1899
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, August 31, 2003 - 3:24 pm: |
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We both took our driving tests at the office in Newark and I don't remember it being bad at all. That was over 20 years ago though and conditions there may have changed. |
duncanrogers
Citizen
Username: Duncanrogers
Post Number: 696
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, August 31, 2003 - 4:23 pm: |
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That was over 20 years ago though and conditions there may have changed.
Ya think?? |
NCJanow
Citizen
Username: Librarylady
Post Number: 909
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, September 1, 2003 - 8:02 am: |
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Check out todays Star Ledger for a list of the new Point System. Anything to make it more difficult at Motor Vehicles, it seems., www.state.nj.us/mvc/.
NCJ aka LibraryLady
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C Bataille
Citizen
Username: Nakaille
Post Number: 1532
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, September 1, 2003 - 8:12 am: |
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Actually, in Newark as a whole, things have gotten markedly better over the last 20 years. It really has taken many decades for Newark to even begin to recover from the '67 riots.
As for the DMV in Newark, I've been there a couple of times over the past 10 years. Seemed better to me than the Irvington office - better ratio of staff and seating to customers than Irvington. Staff less surly and some downright nice. Also, better parking.
Once you've got the drivers' manual down, be sure to bring a good book, whichever office you choose. Good luck.
Cathy |
C Bataille
Citizen
Username: Nakaille
Post Number: 1536
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, September 1, 2003 - 8:57 am: |
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From today's Ledger - changes starting tomorrow:
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-10/1062391874253630.xml
Edited to add: okay, now I see that Nancy got this info out already. Oh well. Sometimes it's easier to comprehend/swallow from the newspaper than from mouth of the bureaucracy. Good luck!
Cathy |
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 60
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, September 1, 2003 - 10:09 am: |
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I went to the DMV on 46 in Wayne about 6 years ago when I moved from NY -- I don't recommend going there...that is the most God-forsaken place I've ever been to. I worried I was going to walk out of there with lice the place was so filthy and disgusting. Much to my surprise when I got there, I had to take the written test (which is on the computer now, so you're never actually writing anything...), and when I finished, the old lady who was monitoring the "classroom" looked at me and said "you barely passed that one by the skin of your teeth". I felt like I was back in high school... |
Me2
Citizen
Username: Me2
Post Number: 1
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 2, 2003 - 9:54 am: |
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Liz, Please doublecheck whether you need to take the written test. I am almost certain that I read somewhere that effective Aug 2003, NJ no longer requires the written test for license conversion. I could be mistaken, so please confirm. |
1-2many
Citizen
Username: Wbg69
Post Number: 284
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 2, 2003 - 10:29 am: |
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I don't really recommend the Springfield DMV office. Every time I have been there it has been a real bear, always taking several hours - even just this summer, even first thing in the morning. Try a different one. |
Teri Wayne
Citizen
Username: Cynicalgirl
Post Number: 1
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 2, 2003 - 11:32 am: |
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We moved to Maplewood pretty recently, and we both got our licenses converted. NJ just (I mean *just*) changed the rules -- you don't need to take the written test if you have a license from another state. I took it in July, flunked it (very embarrassing!) and when I went back to retake, the law had changed. Did all of this in Newark, by the way, which was slow and scarey, but offered all of the services in one place. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 1704
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 2, 2003 - 11:39 am: |
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I renewed my DL in East Orange a couple weeks ago. I got there at 7:50am, was 15th in line for the 8am opening & was out with my new photo license by 8:30am. The people working there were even very nice & had a sense of humor. Parking is plentiful & free that time of the morning.
Try the website for all the info:http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/index.shtml
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greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 1705
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 2, 2003 - 11:47 am: |
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Merde! I just looked at the new ID requirements! I would have a real problem showing my bank statement or pay stub to someone who does not need to know how much I make. And if you rent & are not a government employee or don't have your pilot's license, that seems to be your only option. |
algebra2
Citizen
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 1179
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 2, 2003 - 11:54 am: |
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why do you care if some dude/chick at dmv sees your pay stub? |
gozerbrown
Citizen
Username: Gozerbrown
Post Number: 196
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 3, 2003 - 4:37 pm: |
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I think they are looking at the statement specifically for identification purposes, to confirm your address and to possibly match it up with your social security number. Besides they deal with hundreds of people a day and probably wouldn't even blink an eye at your income after awhile. |
spw784
Citizen
Username: Spw784
Post Number: 368
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 3, 2003 - 6:03 pm: |
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Or just black out the income...Also a current company ID/Prescription card/health insurance card, combined with a printed pay stub, is probably an indication that you are working here legally; have an SSN, etc... |
redY67
Citizen
Username: Redy67
Post Number: 97
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 3, 2003 - 8:45 pm: |
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I went to the Springfield DMV last week and had no problem. I got there at 7:50, and was out an hour later. Considering it was the end of the month, I didn't find it too bad. |
Liz
Citizen
Username: Mschiquita
Post Number: 11
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 3, 2003 - 10:46 pm: |
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Please tell me more about your experience RedY67
- what docs did you bring? Did you do a new license, a license renewal or what? |
redY67
Citizen
Username: Redy67
Post Number: 99
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, September 4, 2003 - 6:46 pm: |
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My wallet was stolen, so I needed a duplicate license. I brought my expired passport, marriage certificate, birth certificate, and a bill. It was all pretty painless. I was 25th in line, and was in the first line for only about fifteen minutes. They check your ID, and your forms (for a renewal duplicate license etc.) and if everything is okay, you wait until they call your name. After about a half hour they called my name, I got my license, and took it to the picture line which took about ten minutes. |
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