Study ranks Charlotte DMV locations the worst in the nation

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Queen City is claiming the top spot on a list it does not want to be on. Charlotte is home to the worst DMV location in the country according to a new study. Charlotte not only claims the very top spot, but two other spots in the top five worst locations nationwide.

Customers stood outside in the shade at DMV office on Arrowood Road Monday afternoon in triple digit heat.

“It’s almost five, six hours now. Still waiting.” Pavan Patil from Charlotte said.

Many customers waited all day until the office closed at 5 without being seen.

“I came to get my real ID, so I guess it’s important I need it,” Rene Soto from Charlotte said. But, yeah, 5 and a half hours wait, I’m not too sure.”

A new study analyzed the Google reviews of DMVs in 30 major cities. The Arrowood road office ranks the worst in the country. It has the highest frequency of negative reviews at more than 30% that included words like long, slow, crowded and delay.

“It’s the only state I’ve ever seen do this. You got to wake up at 6:00 and get in the line to be here,” Markeith Artis living in Charlotte said.

In addition to Arrowood Road, Charlotte has two other locations that made the top five worst in the country at the Brookshire Boulevard and Executive Circle locations.

A DMV spokesperson responded to the study saying in part “We recognize the challenges our customers have faced. Under new leadership, NCDMV is actively working to transform and improve the customer experience.”

DMV employees are now directing customers to wait in their cars or nearby businesses to help them beat the heat. They are also now accepting walk ins at 9am.

“I’m just upset. They keep changing the rules,” Daisha Summers from Charlotte said.

Some customers at the Arrowood location hope to test their luck at a different office on another day, but everyone who talked with WCCB Monday agrees with the study’s findings.

“We got to find another one somewhere,” Artis said. “I would say this is the worst DMV experience I ever had.”

DMV officials tell customers to expect a wait and bring snacks, water, necessary medications and anything else that might make your wait comfortable.