MVR Alice Springs - Stuart, Northern Territory

Happy

Visited the Alice Springs Motor Vehicle Registry (MVR) for the first time and had an excellent experience. The staff were incredibly helpful, providing clear guidance and efficient service throughout the process. I successfully registered my car and completed the registration process smoothly. Kudos to the team for their outstanding customer service—great job!

истина N.

This place is a masterclass in how to completely abandon standards, efficiency, and basic human decency.
If you’ve ever wanted to experience the slow rot of public service in real time, congratulations—you’ve found ground zero.

There is always a queue spilling out the door like it’s the local bottlo on a Wednesday at 3pm—only instead of wine, you get served soul-crushing apathy, systemic failure, and the thrill of watching your life force wither away in fluorescent lighting.

They’ve been catastrophically understaffed since before COVID. You’d think after a global pandemic they might reassess operations. Nope. They doubled down on dysfunction. It’s not just bad—it’s insulting.

And don’t even think about turning up between 1 and 2pm—they shut the entire office down. That’s right, they close. A government service centre. In the middle of the day. Because clearly, serving the public is just too much to ask. Bonus rage points: the “Closed” sign often goes up early, like a toddler pretending it’s bedtime to avoid cleaning their room. I’ve seen it at 12:45. Sometimes 12:40 and even 12:35. It’s honestly a performance art piece at this point.

Expect to lose 60–90 minutes minimum. That’s if they’re not running some mystery “system issue” or if Karen hasn’t decided she’s “not taking anyone else today.”

This place is a festering example of what happens when management gives up entirely and nobody in charge has been held accountable for years. It’s not just a disgrace—it’s a warning label for how bad things can get when apathy becomes policy. Much like the entire NT Public Service & Government!
Its Disgusting!

ACTTA

Very slow and inefficient process for anything you need to do at this service. Spend over 1 hour every time you need to do something, even picking up number plates. They also don’t update their times and close for 1.5 hours in the middle of the day. Nothing gets updated or they don’t have a dedicated receptionist or even a digital check-in system to facilitate the process like many other services around Australia. Needs a lot of improvement.

Molly M.

Fantastic, quick, efficient and friendly service.
Not something I was expecting after hearing lots of negativity.
Thankyou for your help and professionalism.

Flanders F.

It would be helpful if MVR Alice Springs were to update their operating hours to include that they are not open between 1250 and 1400.

Conrad M.

Fresh into town and have needed a few visits to the Alice MVR to organise change over of licence and registrations. It's a very busy centre and they are clearly short staffed but they are always accommodating, knowledgeable and as efficient as they can be. If your still in the line when they close they will keep going and get you served which was very appreciated and helpful to not only myself but others there too. Thanks team.

I Z.

Zero star for the Philippines lady staff, she knows nothing. Don’t know Why is she always at the inquiry counter. She always misleading and wasting my time. And very rude. Try another lady. Avoid Philippine one. By the way,I miss the purple lady. She was lovely and very helpful but she is not working here anymore.maybe retired.

kerri-anne B.

Great customer service