Where to Find the San Francisco DMV

San Francisco has one full-service DMV office located at 1377 Fell Street, between Divisadero and Scott Streets in the Western Addition neighborhood. This is the only California Department of Motor Vehicles office within San Francisco city limits that handles the full range of services — driver's licenses, vehicle registration, title transfers, and written tests.

The office is accessible by public transit. BART stations at Civic Center and Van Ness Avenue are each about a 10-minute walk. Muni bus lines 6, 7, 71, and 49 stop near the building. Street parking is available but limited; the DMV does not operate its own lot.

If you cannot reach the Fell Street location, the next nearest DMV offices are in Daly City (about 20 minutes south by car) and San Mateo (about 40 minutes south). Both handle the same services. Some transactions — renewing a license by mail or online, for example — do not require an office visit at all.

Key Takeaways

  • The San Francisco DMV is at 1377 Fell Street and is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed weekends and state holidays.
  • You must take a numbered ticket when you arrive; the office does not accept walk-ins without a ticket, and tickets run out on busy days.
  • Wait times typically range from 30 minutes to two hours depending on the day of the week and time of day you arrive.
  • Many common transactions can be completed online or by mail without visiting an office, which avoids the wait entirely.
  • Arriving before 10 a.m. or after 3 p.m. usually means shorter waits than midday.

Regular Hours at the Fell Street Office

The San Francisco DMV at 1377 Fell Street is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The office is closed on weekends and all state holidays, including New Year's Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

The office closes for lunch from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. During this hour, no new tickets are issued and no customers are served. If you are already being helped when lunch begins, you will finish your transaction, but you cannot start a new one.

Hours do not change seasonally. The same schedule runs year-round except when the office is closed for a state holiday. If a holiday falls on a Friday, the office is closed that day; if it falls on a weekend, the office is closed the following Monday.

How the Ticket System Works

When you arrive at the Fell Street office, you must take a numbered ticket from the machine near the entrance. The ticket shows your number and which service window to watch. You cannot be served without a ticket, even if you arrive early in the morning or on a slow day.

Tickets are issued starting at 8 a.m. On very busy days — typically Tuesday through Thursday between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. — the office may run out of tickets before 5 p.m. and stop issuing new ones. If this happens, you will be turned away and told to return another day. There is no way to reserve a ticket in advance or to call ahead to check if tickets are still available.

Once you have a ticket, wait in the seating area until your number appears on the display screens above the service windows. The wait time varies widely. On slow mornings or late afternoons, you may be called within 15 to 30 minutes. During peak hours, waits of 90 minutes to two hours are common.

Typical Wait Times by Day and Time

Wait times at the San Francisco DMV vary significantly depending on when you arrive. Monday mornings are usually slower than other days because fewer people visit on Mondays. Tuesday through Thursday between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. are the busiest times; expect waits of 60 to 120 minutes during these windows.

Arriving before 10 a.m. or after 3 p.m. on any weekday typically results in shorter waits — often 30 to 60 minutes. Friday afternoons are moderately busy but usually faster than midweek. The last hour before closing (4 p.m. to 5 p.m.) is often the slowest, though you risk not finishing your transaction if you arrive too close to closing time.

Wait times are not published in real time. The DMV does not post current wait times online or by phone for the San Francisco office. You can only estimate based on the day of the week and time of day. If you need to know the actual wait before you go, calling the office at (415) 557-1350 may give you a rough sense, but staff cannot always predict how busy it will be.

What to Bring to Avoid Extra Waits

Bringing the correct documents the first time is the single most important way to avoid a longer wait. If you are missing a required document, you will be sent away and must return another day. Common mistakes include forgetting proof of residency, not bringing your current license or ID, or missing a signed form.

For a driver's license renewal, bring your current license, proof of residency (a recent utility bill or bank statement with your name and address), and your Social Security number. For a vehicle registration renewal, bring your current registration card and proof of residency. For a title transfer, bring the signed title, proof of residency, and a bill of sale if the vehicle was purchased.

The DMV website lists specific document requirements for each transaction type. Checking the requirements before you go takes 10 minutes and can save you an hour or more of wasted time.

Transactions You Can Complete Without Visiting the Office

Many common DMV transactions do not require a visit to the Fell Street office. If you are renewing a driver's license and have no medical conditions or violations, you can renew online at dmv.ca.gov or by mail. The process takes one to two weeks by mail and is when ready online.

Vehicle registration renewals can also be completed online if your vehicle has no outstanding violations and you have not changed your address. Duplicate registration cards and license documents can be ordered online. Address changes can be reported online without visiting an office.

If your transaction requires an in-person visit — such as a first-time license, a written test, a title transfer with a lien, or a commercial license — you must go to the office. But before you make the trip, check the DMV website to confirm whether your specific transaction can be done remotely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make an appointment at the San Francisco DMV?

No. The San Francisco DMV does not accept appointments. You must arrive in person, take a numbered ticket, and wait your turn. Some DMV offices in other California counties offer appointments, but San Francisco is not one of them.

What if I arrive right before closing at 5 p.m.?

You can take a ticket up until 5 p.m., but there is no may provide you will be served before the office closes. If your number has not been called by 5 p.m., you will be asked to leave and return another day. Arriving within the last 30 minutes is risky.

Is there a DMV office in my neighborhood besides Fell Street?

No. The Fell Street location is the only full-service DMV in San Francisco. There are no satellite offices or smaller locations elsewhere in the city. If Fell Street is inconvenient, the next nearest offices are in Daly City and San Mateo.

Can I call ahead to ask how long the wait is right now?

You can call the office at (415) 557-1350, but staff cannot always predict the current wait time accurately. The wait depends on how many people are being served at that moment and how long each transaction takes. Calling may give you a rough idea, but it is not reliable.

What happens if the office runs out of tickets before I arrive?

If tickets have run out, you will not be served that day. You must return on another day. There is no list to join or way to reserve a spot. This happens most often on busy Tuesday through Thursday afternoons.