California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV/RMV) Customer Service

This number is mostly used for the purpose of paying bills to the California DMV, making it mostly useless to people who don't actually have an account with the state of California. However, this number does have a purpose if you're using it to get information, as you can use it to find the location and hours of any DMV in the state.

When you call, you're taken to a menu where you can make a payment for things such as renewing your license or updating your vehicle registration. If you don't need to make payments for anything, you can request a directory of DMV locations to find the right location to serve your needs.

If you make that selection, you're asked to enter your five-digit ZIP Code so the system can find the three DMV locations that are closest to your ZIP Code. Once you provide that, the system will tell you where each location is and how far away it is from the ZIP Code you've given it. You can then request more information about each location, such as what its hours are or what street it's located on. After providing this information, the system gives you the option to hang up, return to the previous menu or transfer to the main number to get personal assistance.

If you choose to transfer to the main number, you'll get moved over to Miles, the California DMV's automated assistant. Miles is only helpful up to a point, as telling it what you're calling about can only connect you to a representative or set up a call-back for the next representative to come available. If the line is too long for you to get assistance before the close of business, you'll be directed to request a call-back and can schedule one for the next business day.

Overall, I thought this was a decent automated system for California drivers. The ability to handle payments over the phone makes for an easy way for customers to stay on top of any financial obligations to the state, and the information available from the DMV locations can be very helpful if in-person assistance becomes necessary. In addition, the option to connect with Miles and get help from an actual team member can be a welcome one for customers, as some problems need a human voice to be properly figured out.

The negatives about this call are that Miles isn't very helpful, and this number doesn't provide a lot of use unless you're already a California driver or planning to become one in the very near future. If I were a California driver or moving to California, I'd be inclined to use this number, as it seems to be set up very well. With a few tweaks, it could be an even better experience.