Usually, this full-service Tennessee Department of Safety driver license center nestled in the bucolic, quaint, humble town of Oakland, TN is my go to for all things driver license related. However, the "Real ID" Act has caused a horde of people to rush the driver license centers like flies on a rib roast. If you don't already know, if you desire to ride in an airplane, on a train, enter a federal building, etc. beyond October 2020, you SHALL be required to produce a driver license bearing the "gold star" REAL ID endorsement. This isn't like an endorsement to drive a commercial vehicle perhaps, but rather a means of verifying that you are who you claim to be. You will have to bring a cornucopia of documents with you to achieve this feat. Long form birth certificates with raised/stamped seal, passports, valid US certificates or consulate reports, unexpired permanent resident card, W-2s, 1099 forms, Social Security cards, payroll checks stubs, home utility bills, current Tennessee vehicle registration or certificate of title, Tennessee voter registration card, IRS tax return, bank statements or payroll check stubs, current rental mortgage contracts or receipts, current homeowner rental insurance policy, current automobile, life, or health insurance policy, receipt for personal property real estate taxes paid within the previous year, installment loans, current employer verification, current drivers license or ID or handgun permits are some of the documents required to get a "Real ID". I've been told the worst part of this event is the wait. I'm not taking about the usually one-two hour wait it normally takes to navigate the driver license centers. Just today, a nice older lady was walking outside the Oakland Driver Services Center and I casually asked her if she got her "Real ID" TN driver license. She reluctantly said "no" in the same tone as she would when stating her grandchildren didn't call her on her birthday. Grandchildren...call your grandmas! Oh yeah, she said she waited four hours and still didn't get serviced. I overheard another lady enter this center early in the afternoon only to be told, "Sorry, we stopped taking customers at 3:00pm". 3:00pm? But you are a government entity who is open until 5:00pm. The lady said she took off work to come to this location. Another individual at the bank told me he walked in at 10:00am and was finished at 3:30pm. FIVE and ONE HALF hours ladies and gentlemen! How much is your time worth? Call you TN state representatives! At 7:30am, there were already 5-6 people waiting outside the doors. Get there early and you may be the first few to enter. All in all, if there are no distractions or difficulties, it shouldn't take more than 30-45 minutes (once you have seen the clerk) to walk out those doors with a temporary paper DL card. The hard copy REAL ID DL card will arrive in the mail. If paying with credit card, you can complete your application via an electronic kiosk. If paying with cash or check, you will complete a paper application. Mr. Biles and Ms. Johnson were absolutely fantastic ! I truly believe the cause of all this congestion is not their fault. They are working with what resources and budgets they were given. Please be respectful and understand they are trying their best to help everyone get their driving road tests, renewals, handgun permits, and REAL IDs applications completed in a timely manner. Make absolutely sure you have ALL your required documents. Then, if you plan on coming to Oakland, call ahead and make sure they are "taking customers." So get ready to wait, bring a battery pack for that cell phone, carry a magazine or three, stuff that e-reader in your purse, leave your kids and comfort animals at home, pack a lunch or order in, and dress comfortably. Remember folks, Neil Paige and Dell Griffith eventually made it to their destination and so will you too! read more

Great service, they were very organized and efficient at their areas. First walked in I thought I would be there all day. I was out and on my way in about an hour ! read more

We had never been to the Oakland DMV before, and when we walked in, it seemed much nicer than the one in Millington. The lady that was greeting everybody at the door and finding out what they needed was the most pleasant and I thought, wow this is a surprise! But then we waited 30 minutes after our appointment time and my son was supposed to test to get his learners permit. The lady we went to was pretty rude. I'm assuming he failed the eye test, but we were never actually told that. When I said something about the test, she's snarled, "He's not taking the test." And I mean that she literally snarled at me. She threw a form at me, charged me two dollars, and said come back tomorrow with his glasses. Now that's on him that he didn't have his glasses for his eye test, but turns out that the form she threw at me has to be filled out by his ophthalmologist. She could have told us that. She could have told us he failed the eye exam instead of us just guessing. And I'm not even gonna talk about the other female employee that screamed at everybody to be quiet or she'd escort them out of the building when applause broke out after a number was called. If you have 50-60 people waiting with one guy saying he'd been there since 8:15 am and it was now 3 pm, they're gonna break out in applause when a number is called after 30 minutes of no number being called. If you don't have the patience for that and scream at already frustrated customers, maybe the DMV isn't the job for you! read more

If you have been to any of the other driver services offices you would rate this one a five! There were other people in line when I got there at about 2pm on a Friday. I scanned the walkin bar code to get our place in line. Once inside we waited for about five minutes before number was called. The process was to check documents then another was registering for whatever services nee Ten minutes later I'm leaving with my new license (paper). Sure am glad I drove out to Oakland. The employees seem to be in a better mood too which makes everything run smoother. read more

We have been here twice. there are several signs telling you to check in and scan QRCode, the first time we came a lady was telling people not to check in and asking them what they need while supposedly helping someone else, she was asking about three people what they need while helping one person. Today we had to come back and my son tried to scan QRCode a man raised his voice and told him not to scan the code and then said are you just gonna jump in front of everyone else? My son asked if he worked here and he responded again with a raised voice and rough tone, yea I work here! They are very rude and disorganized. read more

They have their own set of rules. Making an appointment for anything other than student drivers is futile, when you walk in they immediately tell you to have a seat without asking if you've scheduled an appt. They won't let you check in on the kiosk for some odd reason and they have this weird fixation on where you park. Between the staff and being overrun by people trying to avoid the Memphis DMV this place has been ruined. read more

Whatever you do, don't read and follow the instructions on the prominently displayed sign at the entrance. I sent the text to get in line as instructed by the sign, confirmed I was there, and received a text that I was "next in line" and would be called shortly. An hour and a half later, my number was still on the board as "next" so I asked the roving employee if I had missed my turn somehow. Apparently, he's the gate keeper. If you don't check in with him, you aren't in line. He acted like I was the ridiculous one for reading the check in instructions on the wall and following them rather than bugging the random man wondering the lobby. read more

I just left the Oakland DMV and had an outstanding experience. I made an appointment, which i believe was helpful. The check in process was easy. It did not seem busy so the wait was minimal for processing applications. The staff was friendly and efficient. Biles was the name of one staff member and he was great. Overall it was a very positive experience. read more

Would give it a 0 star if I could the people there are some of the worst people ever. Unfriendly, rude, and unhelpful. They all of attitudes and are very dismissive of you have accent or a disability. read more

If you want to be put in a bad mood by the WORST customer service possible, just go to this place! Every employee seems to hate their job. Are zero stars possible? read more

What is going with this DMV? There were EASILY 200 people standing outside waiting and it was full inside. The parked cars were backed up to the highway and sprinkled through the entrance of the neighborhood! Anyone know if I missed a memo about the DMV only being open on Wednesdays???? read more

All 3 of my experiences here have been so pleasant. The staff is very friendly and helpful. My daughter took her driving test here. We scheduled an appointment for 9am and they saw us at 9am. If you want a good experience make an appointment, appointments have priority. read more

On 12/28/2020, I took my son to this location (Oakland) for his learner's permit test. The attendee at the door is about as ignorant as they come. I looked at the website for what was needed: his proof of ID (passport), Social Security Card, proof of our residence, proof of citizenship (passport), proof of enrollment in school, and me to sign as a parent. I had all this and an appt, the employee working the door (whose job is to probably make sure you have an appt, take temp and screen for covid symptoms) would not let us through because I had "no proof" that I was his mother ( I had my passport and TN license too). I had to have a birth certificate to show this proof. The fact that our last names are the same (believe me, it is a last name that is unique enough to let people know that if you have it then you are definitely related) was not enough. The fact that that the 15 yo could talk and identify me as his mom was not enough. The fact that we both were of Asian descent was not enough. Lady...don't think to hard. I feel sorry for your lack of awareness. I hope her boss reads this and realizes how ignorant she is. read more