01/27/2026

Which States Make the DMV the Easiest (And Hardest) to Use?

Source: Fleet Management Weekly

Buying a new vehicle or passing your driving test are just some of life’s milestones that should be filled with excitement and joy, however, dealing with the DMV can leave many Americans feeling rather lackluster. Long wait times at the DMV are often cited as an irritation for motorists, so we wanted to explore which states are making it easier for you to conduct your vehicle admin, and which are lagging behind.

A study from dmv.com found that the average U.S. motorist spends 44 minutes at an office before receiving any form of service¹. With the average hourly U.S. wage at $36.53 in 2025², Americans could lose an estimated $6.2 billion, across the 235 million licensed drivers³ per year.

To find out where drivers have it easiest, we analyzed DMVs in the three most populated cities in each state, looking at their average Google ratings, opening hours, weekend availability, and whether drivers can complete some of the most common DMV services online.

Nevada ranks first for DMV experience in the U.S.
Nobody wants to waste time doing ‘life admin’, and when it comes to DMV visits, some states make it a lot easier than others. Nevada ranks the best state in the U.S., based on average Google reviews, office opening hours, including weekend access, and the availability of some key services that can be completed online.

Nevada’s DMV offices average 3.4 stars out of five, and are open 53 hours per week, including weekends. While we only analyzed a selection of common online services, such as renewing or replacing your driver’s license, Nevada offered five out of the six key services digitally – with the exception of title transfers, which currently still requires an in-person visit.

Oklahoma ranks in second place and has the second-longest opening hours, averaging 54.7 per week. Residents of the state will be pleased to know that 67% of the services we analyzed are available online, including renewing vehicle registrations or driver’s licenses, registering vehicles, and replacing lost licenses.

The state of Ohio rounds out the top three, where DMVs are open for an average of nearly 49 hours per week, including weekends. Five out of six DMV services we analyzed can be completed online, with applying for a new license currently the only service not available. Among the other states featured in the top ten are Wisconsin, Florida, Arizona, and Massachusetts.

Top 10 states with the best DMVs

Minnesota ranks lowest for DMV convenience in the U.S.
Going to the DMV is rarely anyone’s idea of fun, but for Minnesotans, it might be even worse. Our analysis found that Minnesota ranks lowest overall, with an average Google rating of 2.7 out of five, no weekend opening hours, and just one out of six key services available online (applying to renew their registration).

Kentucky and Mississippi complete the bottom three, scoring 2.62 and 3.05, respectively. Both states lag behind when it comes to opening hours and online access, meaning residents still need to spend plenty of time in line instead of checking off their DMV to-dos from the comfort of their own home.

Arizona leads the nation in DMV customer ratings, while Louisiana lags behind
Customer reviews offer a glimpse into how people feel about their local DMVs, showing where offices provide efficient service and where there is significant room for improvement.

Based on Google ratings, we found that the average rating for DMVs across America sits at a relatively content 3.5 out of 5 stars. Arizona takes the top spot, with an impressive score of 4.2, while five other states, Delaware, Indiana, Wisconsin, South Dakota, and Utah, all tie for second place with an even four stars. At the other end of the scale, Louisiana ranks as the lowest-rated state, with an average rating of 2.5 stars. Minnesota follows close behind at 2.7, while Mississippi doesn’t fare much better with a score of 2.8.

Digitized services remain limited across many DMV offices
Some states make it easy to handle DMV admin, like renewing a license or replacing a lost one, from your sofa, though this isn’t possible everywhere.

On average, over two-fifths of DMVs (43%) only offer half of their core services online, showing there‘s still a long way to go in terms of digital convenience.

We analyzed six key services, including applying for new licenses, renewing a license, replacing lost licenses, registering a vehicle, renewing registration, and transferring titles on a vehicle. Both South Carolina and Pennsylvania come out on top, with residents able to complete all six online.

Several other states, including Nevada, Ohio, and Rhode Island, have almost all of their services available online, with applying for a new license or transferring a vehicle title being the only ones requiring an in-person visit.

Six states, Missouri, Delaware, Wyoming, Mississippi, Minnesota, and Kentucky, each offered just one out of six services we analyzed online, typically license or registration renewals.

Massachusetts and Nevada DMV offices rank first for accessible opening hours 
For most drivers working a typical 9-to-5, finding the time to visit the DMV isn’t always easy, and most states aren’t making it any easier. Our research found that 72% of DMVs in our analysis are closed on weekends, leaving millions of people no choice but to fit visits around their weekday schedules.

Some states, however, stand out for making the process easier. Massachusetts ranks as the most accessible for DMV opening hours, clocking 57 hours per week, including an average of seven on weekends. Nevada, which ranks third for overall opening hours, has the longest weekend opening hours, with an average of eight per weekend.

The states with the worst opening hours are Washington, where local DMV offices are only accessible during the week for 39.3 hours, and Rhode Island, with 34.2 hours across five weekdays.

Top 10 states with the longest opening hours

Expert tips for navigating the DMV process more easily
Visiting the DMV doesn’t have to test your patience, a few simple tricks can make the whole process smoother.

1 – Check what you can do online
No matter where you live or what you need from the DMV, it’s always worth double-checking your local DMV’s online services first, in case you can save yourself a trip. Many DMVs are continuing to digitize their services to help improve efficiency, so what previously required an in-person visit might now be something you can handle from home.

2 – Avoid peak hours
If your local DMV is only open on weekdays, the chances are many people will try and do their DMV run during their lunch break to save time. If possible, see if you can book an appointment or visit outside of peak hours to speed up the process.

3 – Bring the right paperwork
Ahead of your visit, double-check what paperwork is required to carry out your request. Typical documents required are proof of identity, your social security number, and proof of residence.

4 – Junking your car? Tell the DMV
If you are planning on junking your car, check your title requirements and what your local DMV needs to remove you as the registered owner. Depending on state regulations, failing to inform the DMV correctly could see you inadvertently facing fines for missing insurance or unpaid taxes.

Whether you are renewing your license or saying goodbye to an old car, saving time at the DMV matters. If you are looking to get cash for junk cars without the hassle, we’ve got you covered! Simply tell us about your vehicle, and we’ll take care of the rest, or come visit us at a junk yard near you.

Methodology: 
We analyzed three DMV offices for the most populated cities in each state (150 total), based on Google Maps reviews and their opening hours per week to create an indexed score. DMV online services we looked at, which included: applying for a new license, renewing license, replacing lost license, registering a vehicle, renewing registrations and transferring a title, were analyzed to highlight which DMV states were the most and least accessible.

1 – Study found the average DMV wait time is 44 minutes, sourced here

2 – Figures provided by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 2025 average hourly earnings.

3 – 235 million estimated figures, found on Department for Transportation website here