There are two things to be aware of when contacting Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Services at this number. The first is that to streamline the process and reduce wait times, this number is meant to be used only by customers in the Salem metropolitan area and Marion County. If you're calling from Portland or another part of Oregon, you'll have a different number to use.
The second thing is that this number is meant to be used as an automated system for most callers unless you're in need of specific help. For general questions, you can often get all of the information you need by using the automated menu. When I called, I asked for driver's license information and was told I could get a text message sent to me with all of the information I needed on obtaining an Oregon driver's license.
I approved the text message, and within seconds, I received a link to the Oregon DMV's website with all of the information I would need to get my Oregon license. Whether it was finding out the length of time I had to get my Oregon license, the requirements I would need to fulfill in order to get an Oregon license, or information about the fees it would cost to acquire my Oregon license, all of the information was there on my phone.
Getting the text was simple, as the system asked if it wanted me to send the message to the phone I was calling from. Once it was sent, it asked if I needed help with anything else and hung up when I said I did not. I called back to check the wait times and was told that to get live assistance, I would need to hold for 20 minutes and 13 seconds. During the hold message, I was given several tips on using the website to help solve my issues.
It's clear that the Oregon DMV wants to use its phone system for specific problems and move basic questions to its website whenever possible. Given how well the online system is set up, that works out pretty well. The entire system is voice-activated, and if you speak clearly, there are no hiccups with getting to the menu you want. Spanish users also have the option to get help in Spanish simply by speaking in their native tongue without having to hit a button.
Even without human interaction, this phone system is set up to be user-friendly. If you've got a question that doesn't need personalized help, the automated system can provide all of the information you need to figure it out from your phone. With the option to get personalized help still available if necessary, this was a first-rate experience, and I'd have no problems calling the Marion County branch of the Oregon DMV if I needed assistance.