Category: Blog

There's been a surge in U.S. passports issued in the last decade Americans have historically had one of the lowest passport ownership rates in the world. In the last 3 decades, however, the rise of globalization, as well as the increased competition between airlines -- flights have dropped 50% in price since the 90s! -- has created a massive shift in demand for international travel, and thus, for passports. In 1997, around 6 million passports were issued in the U.S. Thirty years later, in 2017, that number more than tripled and 21 million more Americans got passports - the highest number in history. Believe it or not, in 1990 only 3% of Americans held passports. And now? 42% of Americans do. Despite the growth, the US still lags far behind a number of developed countries. In the UK, for example, a full 83% of the population has a passport! So why are more people getting passports? Aside from globalization, a major factor that has led more Americans to...

How to Renew Your Passport: An Introduction Getting your US passport renewed can be an intimidating and confusing experience for anyone. Even if you’ve renewed your own passport before, it was likely some years ago. Chances are, you aren’t aware of all the new online tools and services that make the renewal process far less painful. (Or, like me, you have a terrible memory and can’t remember how on earth you did it!) Passport renewal becomes even more stressful if you already have travel booked. Most of us know someone who was 5 days away from going abroad, only to notice their passport is expired! Also, a number of popular travel destinations like Mexico, Thailand, and Brazil require your passport to be valid for 6 months after your last date of travel in the country, which many people going abroad don’t realize. Luckily, it’s possible to renew your passport on any budget, no matter how tight your timeline. Contrary to popular belief, even if you’re flying...

Come take an in-depth look inside YoGov, part 1 Here at YoGov, we’re incredibly proud to be making government services more accessible for everyone. We’ve helped hundreds of thousands of people navigate confusing government information and processes in over 20 states, thanks to our virtual and in-person government services concierge team, and we continue to help more people every day. Given our dedication to transparency in the face of questions about our services and our pride in how we operate, we've decided to open the kimono and share more about who we are and how our mission defines our operations behind the scenes. As a mission-driven team, we believe there is a future where people have greater accessibility to critical government services. At the same time, we believe government strongly benefits from this too (get ready, we’ve included data below!). Just like Lyft and Lime who have added more mobility options to increase accessibility, we’re adding clear, human-friendly information and modern services to increase...

Real ID California: How many people have already upgraded? We’re releasing our first Real ID survey results for California residents today. Whether you have upgraded your driver’s license to the new federal requirement yet or not, this survey shows you that whatever camp you're in, you’re not alone. Based on our survey, only 42% of our California users have upgraded to their Real ID, so nearly 60% still need to do so. The Bay Area has the highest percentage of people who've upgraded (47%) and the Los Angeles area has the lowest percentage (37%). However, these percentages are far higher than the California population as a whole. Many of our respondents have already used us for DMV-related services, including to get their Real ID. In fact, many people in California still don’t know what the Real ID is and that it is required by Fall 2020. Be sure to get the word out to friends, family, and coworkers whenever you have the opportunity to make the transition...

Why You Need The Real ID and How To Get One In 10 States The Real ID is here and the countdown clock is ticking to get yours. Without one, you won't be able to board a domestic flight. The idea behind the Real ID is pretty straightforward - have a new form of ID that's more secure - but the details on how to get one can be confusing and they vary by state. Here we've taken 10 states that are issuing the Real ID and details the specifics you need to know to get your Real ID. The state's we've detailed in this post are: California, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and DC. Is the Real ID a Requirement? If you don't have a valid passport and plan to fly anywhere nationally, YES, you need a Real ID by 2020. According to the Real ID Act, everyone in the United States will need a Real ID in order...

The U.S. Federal Government Shutdown is affecting both government workers and people who need government services. The government shutdown is still looming, and on Friday, this will become the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. From airports to national parks to federal offices, workers and customers are feeling the strain. Here’s everything you need to know about who the shutdown is affecting and how it could be affecting you.   Essential services, like passport services and the post office, are still business as usual Services that are considered essential to public safety and security are still open for business. This includes passport and social security offices, so if you need a passport renewal or social security benefits, you won’t be affected. In addition, federal programs supported by their own fees, like the Post Office, don’t shut down. Lastly, programs that don’t rely on annual funding approval from Congress, like Medicare and social programs, are also not affected.   TSA workers aren’t getting paid during the...

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  Keys To Passing Your New York Road Test Whether you plan to drive in the bustling Big Apple, cruise the Catksills upstate or joyride through western New York, there are some basic state-wide requirements you'll need to know to pass your New York road test. Taking your road test can be nerve-wracking. Whether you're a brand new driver or have been driving for 10 years in another county, most everyone gets nervous before taking a test. We know you have better things to do than worry about your road test. We also know that it can be confusing figuring out exactly what you need to do: How do I prepare for my road test? What forms do I need to bring? We're here to answer your questions and make things clear and simple. We've scoured the DMV resources for you, so you can focus on more important things, like hitting the road and visiting family. BEFORE YOUR NEW YORK ROAD TEST Be...

5 Reasons Why You Should Renew Your Passport Early (and Check The Expiration Date)   1. Most countries require 6 months validity for your passport What does that even mean? Well, most of us know we need a passport to travel internationally, but few know your passport needs to be valid for longer than your stay. In fact, many countries require it be valid for six months beyond your expected return date (yes, you read that right!) If it’s not, you won’t make it past airport check-in in most cases. Why the 6-month rule? Basically, countries don’t want to risk having visitors overstay their passport’s validity, be unable to travel and then become their responsibility. Fortunately, the U.S. Department of State has made a really helpful map resource for you to quickly check! Simply click on the country you’re traveling to and see what the requirements are. 2. Passport offices get backed up at the beginning of the year A new year is approaching, so...

TSA PreCheck Tips for the Busy Travel Season Ahead Too frequently, people remember TSA PreCheck as they are standing at the airport heading home for the holidays, waiting in line to take off their shoes and force their laptop out of their carry-on as others stride past them. This December, expected to be the busiest travel season to date, marks the fifth year TSA PreCheck has been available for the general population to expedite the airport security process. And we all know what that means! Five blissful years of no longer showing strangers your socks as you mill through sluggish lines and hope you make it to your gate on time. Check your TSA PreCheck Expiration Date If you already have TSA PreCheck, that’s fantastic news! If you were an early adopter, be sure to check your expiration date. Those purchased when the program first launched will expire this December, five years after the program’s inception. If you’re new to TSA PreCheck, welcome! After...

The three most common things you need to get done when moving to the US from abroad for the first time.  From getting your social security number, opening a bank account, and getting your driver's license, here's the step-by-step guide to help make your relocation as easy as possible. It's our goal to make the entire process quick and painless for you. This post has been put together by the YoGov Experts team. Here's what this post covers for you: How do you get a Social Security number in the US? How do you get a bank account in the US? How do you get a driver's license in the US? We've selected the 3 most common things you'll need when establishing yourself in the US. We've intentionally left off getting a phone plan and getting wifi. There are tons of posts already covering those. Also, this post does not cover getting Department of Homeland Security authorization to work or study in the...

Here's everything you need to know to pass your DMV road test in the US! Updated September 2018: To get your driver's license in the US, you'll have to take your road test. There's no way around it. This guide will help maximize your chances of passing the test, as well as answer questions like: what is on the DMV road test, what are the common mistakes people make, how is the test scored and what are the car and registration requirements for taking the test? Let's dive in! Note: Every state has slight variations on how the road test is administered, so we hope this post will bring some clarity for you. What is the DMV road test and do I need to take it? The DMV road test is a required step in the US to getting your driver's license. Depending on what state you're in, it might be called something different, like the behind-the-wheel test or the road exam. The purpose of the...

At YoGov, we believe government services should be easy and accessible to everyone. That’s why we decided to be “your government services concierge.” We started by solving the DMV experience. One of our core services has been helping people take their road test while giving them a friendly and helpful experience. It’s called our road test concierge service, and today we’re celebrating having helped 5,000 people take their road tests! If you have a driver’s license, you most likely remember your experience of passing your road test and getting your driver’s license, even if it was decades ago. You probably remember who you were with, what your examiner was like, and what points you got marked off for, if any! Getting your driver’s license is a major life milestone and we’re beyond proud to have helped so many people. Here’s how it all started in the spring of 2017…   How We Stumbled Upon Our First Road Test Concierge Back in early 2017, YoGov...

Which California DMV should you absolutely avoid if you want to pass your road test? Wondering what the chances of passing your road test are? There's been a lot of anecdotal talk about "easy" vs "hard" road test locations. Well, we looked at the data to find out exactly which ones are the easiest and which ones are the hardest. This analytics, done by the YoGov Data Team, looked at tens of thousands of completed road tests across California in the past 16 months.   Taking your road test in the Bay Area? Here are pass rates from San Francisco to San Jose to Oakland The most important thing we noticed in our data analysis, especially in the Bay Area is this: There is no correlation between "non city DMVs" and higher pass rates. Most people come to us and ask us to book them somewhere that's not San Francisco. We'll it turns out that the SF DMV is not a bad place to...

Introducing our DMV Line Waiting Concierge service!  We're thrilled to announce our latest service aimed at helping people access the DMV! If you can afford to wait in line all-day at the DMV, our DMV Line Waiting Concierge service can help. The Lines Are Longer at the DMV Since the Real ID became available this year in California, both wait times at the DMV and wait times to get an appointment have more than doubled. All-day waits have become the new normal. Getting an appointment is even more difficult. Since April, the average number of days to get an appointment has increased from 22 days to 48 days. We've launched our DMV Line Waiting Concierge service as another solution to help people save time while also helping the DMV service more people. DMV Line Waiting Concierge is Part of Our Mission “At YoGov, our mission is to help people spend less time dealing with government services so they can spend more time at work...

Were you planning on heading to the DMV this summer to get things taken care of before you head back to school or go out of town? Good luck! In case you haven’t seen the news, the California DMV is having very long queues, with wait times exceeding 8 hours for people. We've unpacked California DMV appointment wait times right here. The California DMV, to its credit, is quickly hiring hundreds of more people and increasing their opening hours. The long waits are likely to continue through 2020. People are lining up to get their Real ID before it becomes mandatory to have one for air travel. To shed some light on the problem, we decided to dive into data and see how long customers have to wait to get a DMV appointment on average. Here’s what we’ve found.   The wait is over 2 months for the next available DMV appointment The most obvious way to avoid long wait times at the...

It's YoGov's mission to delight people when it comes to government services, and besides great technology we have amazing people helping deliver that mission. When it comes to the DMV road test, we have some truly amazing people who will help you navigate the process and pass your test - Terece is one of them. We're thrilled to honor Terece as the first YoGov Concierge Driver of the Month! Recognizing amazing service! Terece has done hundreds of YoGov concierge trips (this is our service where we help people pass their DMV road test including car access, tips, warm-up and friendly-faces). One of the things we love about Terece is she has constantly gone above and beyond to wow folks. It's amazing! More often than not, the people we help are nervous or stressed about the experience they are about to have (the DMV!). Terece has a way of helping people calm down and feel ready to pass their test while also giving...

If you're looking for a great overview to getting your Real ID card, this post is for you. By October 2020 the TSA will start enforcing Real ID card requirements to everyone in the United States for air travel. This guide helps answer all of your questions including when is the best time to get your Real ID card, are their travel alternatives to the Real ID, should I just get a passport, and does my state even have the Real ID card available yet? If you're ready to get your Real ID, you can make an appointment for your local DMV office. What is the Real ID card? The REAL ID Act of 2005 calls for states to issue ID documents that meet a higher level of security and standards. The final part of the roll-out involves the TSA enforcing REAL ID-compliant ID’s for air travel. That means that if you fly domestically eventually you will need a REAL ID or a passport, and the timelines for this...

Hate paying for that parking ticket?  Parking tickets have long been an accepted stress of urban living. The threat of getting a ticket is always looming: Where did I park? Do I need to move my car? Is today street cleaning? How much time is left on the meter? Today, cash-poor cities are increasingly issuing parking tickets in an effort to increase revenues. This can be incredibly frustrating for you and hard on your wallet. We put together a few tips to help you avoid these tickets!   Parking ticket survey: Bay Area According to a survey we conducted at the end of 2017, residents in the Bay Area get an average of 2.8 parking tickets per year. The fee for a street cleaning violation in San Francisco is now $73. That means that on average residents are paying $219 per year in San Francisco. That's a lot! We can think of  a ton of other ways you'd rather spend that money. So here are...

@media screen and (min-width: 800px) {#container{ width:60%; padding:auto; margin:auto;}} What documents do you need to get your Real ID in California? If you plan to travel by plane in the US or visit military facilities and don't want to carry your passport every time, you will need a California Real ID and the deadline for this is fall 2020, so timing is running out to visit the DMV and make the switch. To ensure you don't get turned away at the DMV without your documents, we've put together a checklist of needed documents. Review the list below, book a DMV appointment, and get a head start on everyone else in California who will need to get a Real ID. Read until the end and you can find out how to get someone to wait in line for you at the DMV.   Checklist of Documents You'll Need To Get a Real ID When applying for a REAL ID, or renewing your state ID or driver's license into...

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Here's to you! This Holiday Season, we wanted to take a minute to wish you the very best and say thank you. We hope you have a safe and happy holidays with friends and family. Thanks to you and your support we're helping thousands of people every day have easier access to the DMV and other government services. Many thanks from all of us here at YoGov, we couldn't have done it without your feedback, support, and more. As a mission-driven company, we cannot wait to continue to help you with tons more new services in 2018 (passports, visas, and licenses oh my). How can we help you in 2018?   With love, The YoGov Team   PS - Thank you to our entire team including our dozens of concierge drivers! Here's a shout-out to all their amazing help....

California REAL ID Licenses Become Available this January. REAL ID compliant California Licenses will be available beginning on January 22, 2018. As a result, we anticipate the DMV will be significantly busier in the coming months. Even if you don't need a REAL ID, you'll still be affected by the longer lines and appointment waits at the DMV. Read on to see our answers to all your REAL ID questions.   What is a REAL ID? The REAL ID Act of 2005 calls for states to issue ID documents that meet a higher level of security and standards. The final part of implementation involves the TSA enforcing REAL ID-compliant ID's for air travel. That means that if you fly domestically eventually you will need a REAL ID or a passport, and the timelines for this vary by each state.   How does the REAL ID Act impact Californians? If you have a federally approved identification already, such as a valid US Passport or military ID, you may use this as your...

Most common California road test mistakes revealed Ever wonder what the most common errors are for folks who are taking their behind-the-wheel road test in California? We’ve now helped over 1,000 people pass their road test and here’s what we’ve learned from the results. Whatever you do, avoid these mistakes and you’ll substantially increase your odds of passing on the first attempt!   California Road Test Mistakes, Number 5: Not Looking Over Right Shoulder for Bicyclists When you are taking your road test, you need to be sure you’re checking over your right-shoulder for bicyclists. This is most especially true when you are making a right hand turn, and it is true even if there is no bicycle lane present. We’ve started telling every road test taker about this as part of our concierge service. It seems as though it’s become a favorite “DQ” for DMV examiners. There are 8 disqualifying mistakes on the DMV behind-the-wheel test. Often examiners can choose to lump this...

Watch these California DMV road test videos! Here's how to maximize your chances of passing your California DMV road test on the first time. Our concierge drivers will go over all of this with you in person, but we highly recommend watching these to get comfortable. California DMV Road Test Overview, 2018 In this video, Terece explains what you need to know on the test, from beginning to end. She explains the pre-drive safety check, the hand signals, all the way to the end. This video has gone near-viral on YouTube! Important DMV Road Test Tips, 2018 In this video, one of our other top drivers Leo takes you on the road and goes over important driving tips that you should definitely know about for the test. This video compliments Terece's overview very well.   California DMV Road Test Scoring Overview In this video, you'll here more about how the test is graded, what you should look out for, and how to maximize your chances of passing the...

Need a California driver's license? Start here. If you are a first-time driver or you have recently moved to the US, this article is for you. This article is to help you get your California driver's license. The California DMV process can be complex. If you don't know how to navigate the appointments, forms, and tests, you could be waiting a few months or more to get your driver's license. This guide will help you get your driver's license in weeks, not months. Below are the 6 steps to getting your California driver's license as well as a few of our tips.   Applying for your California Driver's License Here are the basic steps for getting your California driver's license: Visit your nearby DMV office Complete Form DL44 - Driver License or Identification Card Application Show proof of your identity Pay the $33 fee for driver's license Pass the written permit test Pass the behind-the-wheel test That's it! After you pass the behind-the-wheel test, you will be issued a temporary driver's license. Then...

We recently came across an uplifting and inspirational story from the blog Self Care with Gracy and decided that it was too important not to share. Why? Everyone who's been to the DMV can in some way relate to this post. One of the powers of the DMV, for better or worse, is that it's memorable. You probably can recount one or more of your visits as well as the emotions you felt during it (frustration, anger, relief, happiness). Gracy's story cuts across the emotions of a DMV visit, suggests what about the DMV has helped it maintain its bad reputation, and how you can reframe that perception. Hint: It has to do with human interaction and it's worth reading to the end!   How Self-Care Can Create a Miracle at the DMV Published July 12 by Self Care with Gracy The Visit Last Thursday, I went to the DMV to get my updated driver’s license and registration.  Getting this done had been on my to-do list for more than...

As part of our in-depth look at who has driver licenses across the US, we've put together a map of the percent of licensed drivers across all fifty states. The results are quite interesting - from Vermont with 88% of its population having a driver license to New York with 59%. Where does your state fall in our Licensed Drivers By State analysis? If you want to see it broken down chronologically here's a chart for you too. A few of our surprises: Vermont and New Hampshire, what's up there? Well, in Vermont you can get a provisional license at 15 for one and New Hampshire you can start learning driving at 15 1/2. At the other end, Texas, only 60%? New York, at 59% makes sense (New York City has low car ownership) but Texas, you surprised us. Massachusetts was higher than expected too. With a good proportion of the state's population in Boston and accessible to good transit alternatives, we...

Student going from Los Angeles to San Francisco and looking for a ride?  There are a bunch of large ridesharing Facebook groups in California that will help you get from Los Angeles to San Francisco and beyond. We wanted to better understand just what percent of people in these groups actually had cars as a proxy for ridesharing potential. To do this, we took a sample of around 120 new members who’ve joined one of the UC Ridesharing Facebook groups in the last month. Then we crunched the numbers. Here's what we found, including a map at the end where everyone is located (by zip code).   The 4 Largest UC Rideshare Facebook Groups Have 45,000 Members Across California there are several large UC rideshare groups to help you connect with other students for rides home, rides to campus, and rides elsewhere! These are the four largest that have a combined membership of 45,000. Plus there are a few others with a couple thousand or...

Did you just realize your license is expiring and now need to make a DMV appointment fast? We charted out all the DMV locations in California so you can see how long you may need to wait for the next available appointment. Take a look and see if your local DMV is one of the 21 that has you waiting over 4 weeks. 🎈 2018 update: We've crunched the numbers. Here are the waits for an appointment at every single California DMV. 🎈 The New Trend: Making DMV Appointments Last December we collected data on wait times at Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) offices across California. This data showed us wait times when you just showed up without an appointment. As you might have expected, it did not look good. Wait times in popular urban locations were over 3 hours on average. Since then we've seen more appointments being made ahead of time. We've heard this anecdotally - from people waiting at the DMV and people using our...

Did you know there are over 170 DMV locations in California and we've helped people book appointments at near 2/3rds of them so far? When we're not getting you appointments, we also spend time writing tips and content for you, including shooting videos on site, with tips, important information   , and stories. Here are some of the latest videos with our team: Live at the California DMV: Tips on Saving Time Ryder visits the Oakland DMV in the morning to explain how to save time and beat the line.   Live at the California DMV: Getting Faster Appointments Ryder goes back to the Oakland DMV to talk about a recent blog post on when to make DMV appointments and how to get faster appointments.   Live at the California DMV: Music while you wait! Maybe you find yourself at the DMV and you're reading this. Well, I'm sure you can find some cat videos to watch or social media to scroll through or watch this video clip with did... anything to help pass...

Why is this still happening in 2017? This does not seem fun. Nearly 50 people in line before the Oakland DMV opened this morning, in light rain, hoping to beat the rush that only gets longer as the day progresses... Here are a few photos from it. Unless you NEED to go to the DMV ASAP, please please book an appointment and save yourself from this. ...

  In some states, nearly 50% of applicants who takes their DMV permit test fail on the first time. While a test can be retaken, it can be very frustrating and inconvenient. You may have to wait a few weeks or more to retake. Here are some of our favorite tips as well as a link to a California Permit Test practice exam! Instead of getting your on-the-road test you're stuck at home wondering what went wrong. Here are 6 tips to help you pass your DMV written test on the first try and help you get on the road sooner. 1) Study the Driver's Handbook ? Most new drivers who've driven with parents or friends assume that driving is just common sense. The fact is that there are many details that even driver's who've been driving for decades may not know unless they study their specific State driver's handbook. Here are a few tips when you're going through the handbook - which can all be found online some place or...

Whether you’re a new or experienced driver, here’s a brief recap on the latest Uber driving and license requirements so you can quickly make sure you’re good to go. While the basic driving requirements haven’t changed too much, we have heard recently that drivers are getting frustrated with more of the ‘basic’ requirements that have to deal with the Department of Motor Vehicles. Here’s what we suggest: (more…)...