I just got my CA license last week. The whole procedure, from showing up to leaving, took less than 1 hour. Maybe the claremont office in oakland is somehow different than others.
And "less than 1 hour" is supposed to be a good thing now?
I used to complain about the RTA (the NSW equivalent) in Sydney. But I have to admit that last time I showed up to get my New South Wales licence renewed, I was in and out with a licence in my hand (printed on the spot) in about fifteen minutes.
Fifteen minutes; impressive. In the US, various states' DMV offices, especially in densely-populated urban areas, are a frequently-cited example of public sector inefficiencies. Waiting in line for 2-4 hours (to deal with registration, issuing licenses, and so forth) is par for the course.
I've been putting off going to the DMV for nearly a year now. My licence is very, very expired. If I can join AAA to avoid this, I definitely will.