Hidden Houston

The Best DPS in Houston

Yes, a best DPS office does exist—and it’s pretty amazing.

By Adam Doster October 24, 2016 Published in the November 2016 issue of Houstonia Magazine

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One might assume that the Yelp reviews for the Houston-Rosenberg DPS Mega Center would be filled with pure vitriol, about lengthy lines and sour smells and cranky attendants. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, one recent entry claims this DPS “makes getting a driver’s license faster than a trip to Shipley’s.”

The office, which opened four years ago in a converted Super K-Mart, is the area’s best bet for your government-identification needs—perhaps even efficient enough to justify a drive out to Rosenberg rather than heading over to your local DMV. Its 70-odd employees serve 1,000 customers and observe 140 road tests daily, thanks to a queuing system that allows patrons to secure a spot in line remotely with their computer or smart phone. In 2015, the average wait time for a license renewal or replacement was just 19 minutes.

“You can wait at home,” says assistant regional manager Sheikh Obaidullah. “Or if you have some errands to do, you can do those.” Not that the spacious lobby is all that unpleasant, anyway—it even includes a small children’s play area. Staffers circulate throughout the space, seeking out any confused patrons in need of assistance.

Obaidullah, dressed sharply in a gray suit and red power tie, tells us that if Rosenberg was the last place he ever worked, he’d retire a happy man. “I love it,” he says. When was the last time anyone said that about the DMV? 

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