A Cuban woman living in Indianapolis shared her frustrating experience at the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) on TikTok. According to her, she was refused service because she didn't speak English and was using Google Translate to communicate.
In her video, Susana Pérez, known as @susana_perez97 on TikTok, recounted that when her turn came, the DMV staff asked how they could assist her. "Using Google Translate, I told her what I needed. She immediately opened a drawer, took out a paper, and showed me a notice stating that they do not assist people using Google Translate or third-party help. I needed to bring someone who could speak English," she explained.
Faced with this situation, Pérez decided to go to another DMV office. To her surprise, she witnessed an unexpected scene there: "A man approached me and said he was deaf and wouldn't know when he was called. I thought there would be trouble if he wasn't helped. However, the DMV staff communicated with him using sign language and paper, assisting him with his task."
A Different Experience at Another DMV
When it was her turn, Pérez feared she would again be refused service due to her Spanish. However, the response was different this time. "The man who assisted me tried to speak Spanish, and although he wasn't fluent, with the help of Google Translate, I was able to complete my transaction without any issues," she recounted.
Pérez concluded her video with a reflection on the inconsistency in service: "Are they going to stop helping everyone who speaks Spanish at the first DMV? I was confused, but thanks to the second DMV, I was able to resolve my issue, and so did the deaf man. I don't understand why not speaking English should prevent you from completing a simple task like getting a car license plate."
Reactions on Social Media
Her experience has sparked numerous comments on TikTok, with some users sharing similar stories and reactions to what she went through. Comments ranged from understanding and support to criticism of the DMV's policies.
"Some people just don't like doing their jobs, but others are very kind," one user noted. Another shared, "I even took my driving test without knowing English; the evaluator used a translator and was very kind." Others echoed these sentiments, saying, "The same thing happened to me. I went to another DMV and had a wonderful experience," and "We are in the USA; you must make the appointment in English. They are not obligated to adapt to you. It's generous of them to have another office that speaks Spanish."
Other users expressed frustration, saying, "I had a similar experience in Charlotte; they treated me poorly because I didn't understand English," and "In Virginia, it's the same. The worst treatment I've received in this country was at the DMV." A user recounted, "Even in court, they let me use my phone for translation."