YIKES! License Renewal: Georgia Department Of Driver Services/Powder Springs-Marietta

I dreaded today for many reasons: The first anniversary of my beloved mother's death, financial concerns, and the fact that I had to renew my Georgia Driver's License (and a lot of material is now required to do so). Yes, I was ready for "war" with the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS). License renewal!

A friend and I walked into the DDS in Powder Springs, Georgia and were immediately in a line. I frowned. It looked like the line itself and the 60 or 70 people already waiting in chairs were really going to waste my day. Nope!

Wow!  I was truly surprised on the license count. This Georgia Department of Driver Services office (actually between Powder Springs and Marietta, Georgia) really runs an efficient and first class operation. Could this outfit actually be a part of the state government, I wondered? Great.

I was instantly greeted by a pleasant male staff member, escorted to a computer (and told how to use it for my renewal purposes), and then was again collected by a sweet female employee and given a service number when the quick computer details were finished. My number was B-351. (This initially concerned me, as numbers in the B-270s were then being called.)

Still, I remained calm, and asked about the approximate wait time. A kind and lovely young DDS employee said, "Probably 45 or 50 minutes, sir."  

I said, "Ouch," but had my briefcase and computer so I could work, if necessary. I thanked her.

Well, it turns out that this particular Powder Springs DDS office has 20 service windows (most "manned" by efficient females). Numbers were being called very quickly, with only a short time between them. It was like precision clockwork, or a German train station or something - but comfortable. I paced, then took a seat.

Quickly, it was evident to me that my wait would not be long, and I was not even sure I had time to go and wash my face and tidy up in their restroom before my turn! (I was already worried about the license photo!)

Within 12-15 minutes my number was called, I walked to window #2, and I felt like this was it; if anything bad was to going to happen, now was the time! Things were just going "too good" at the Georgia DDS to be true.

I said a cautious "Hello" to the pretty female attendant, and was greeted with a nice one in return. Things were looking good. The young lady asked for my number and what I needed. I told her "Just a renewal," and gave her #351.

Surprisingly and thankfully, my home-addressed financial statement, Social Security Card, Passport, Birth Certificate, and expiring Georgia Driver's License did the trick. She typed what was needed, took my photo (after I'd been wearing a cap), and I then simply signed a screen, gave her $20, got my temporary license, and was done! Amazing!

Initially, I was going to drive all the way to Carrollton, georgia for this renewal, until my friend that I picked up on Maroney Mill Road north of Douglasville suggested the Powders Springs Georgia Department of Driver Services location. I am sure glad he did! It was a wonderful experience.... Jimmy 

~ Jimmy Hall is owner of JIMMY HALL WRITING SERVICES (404-580-1501). He  organizes, develops, and writes effective business plans, resumes, seo-web content, blog material, letters, press releases, reports, papers, obits, and does business consulting work....