How to bypass lines at driver's license office

HOUSTON – The legend of long wait times at the driver's license office is being written by people who are in and out in just a matter of minutes.

"Five minutes!" Debra Reed, a Department of Public Safety customer at the Gessner location, exclaimed. "I love the new system. It works."

Reed is one of thousands of people using DPS's new system that lets you reserve your place in line before you ever leave your home. You can use your cellphone to do it, too, according to DPS spokesman Tom Vinger. 

Click here to get more information from the state about getting in line before you leave your house. 

People who don't use the system can end up waiting hours. 

"It was like hell, man. I waited five hours," said Mouhannad Wahbes, a DPS customer at the Gessner location. 

The Houston area's Gessner office has the highest customer volume in the state. 

KPRC 2 News is helping you save more time by providing average wait times for area DPS offices. 

Below are the average wait times for walk-in customers at Houston-area offices for renewal/replacement transactions, as well as original driver license transactions. These times do not include individuals who get in line online before arriving at an office.

The data was provided to KPRC 2 News by DPS.

Texas driver license offices tend to be busier during the summer months and periods around holidays or spring break, a spokeswoman with the DPS office said. Mondays and Fridays tend to be the busiest days, as well as after holidays. Summer is the busiest time of the year. 

Have a tip about this story or another story idea for investigative reporter Jace Larson? Email or text him at jlarson@kprc.com or 832-493-3951. 

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