All done with the admin of moving (again)

[Delicia 1]

The last item on my list of things to get done as a result of moving back to the U.S. was finalized yesterday. Work let everyone go home early yesterday so I took advantage and ran the gauntlet of getting my car registered in AZ and I survived with only a bad disposition but no injuries.

Shortly after I moved back to the U.S., I contact the Arizona Dept of Motor Vehicles and asked what I needed to do to register my car (that has a current loan) in AZ. I was told to:

1) Get a notarized letter from the financing institution authorizing me to register the car in AZ;

2) Get a VIN verification completed by the inspectors there;

3) Get an emissions test;

4) Bring items 1-3 along with my title and current insurance and ID to the DMV.

So, I called the financial institution back in Sept and dictated a letter for them to send me. I waited 3 weeks and no letter so I called them again. I received the resultes of the second request in the form of a letter just days before I flew to Toronto for U.S. Thanksgiving. Of course, I couldn't find it when I got back so I called them again for another letter. I got the same lady at the Credit Union I talked to on attempt #2 and she was not so pleased to have to redo the letter, but oh well. I got that letter last week.

I trot off to the vehicle inspection, which actually is smack dab in the middle between my office and my apartment, and start the process there. Unfortunately, I forgot to remove my ON plates (which belonged to another I owned for a short time in Toronto) and replace them with my expired Minnesota plates which are the ones actually belonging to that car. The inspector asks me about the plates and tells me that I have to do this thing and the other thing to import a Canadian vehicle. I explain its a U.S. car and he starts going on about how once I have imported it to another country I have to re-import it to the U.S. Me, being blond and forgetting about the 'false' plates currently on the car, am confused for a bit. I explain that the car was never imported to Canada etc and then he asks me why its registered in ON if that is the case. Light bulb goes off at that moment and 'oh ######' goes through my head. I had to fess up and explain that the plates didn't belong to the vehicle. He tells me that as soon as I drive off the lot with those plates, he would be notifying the local authorities about my commission of a felony, as they are obligated to do that. *sigh* So, I ask him for a screwdriver and since the MN plates are in the trunk, I just switch the plates there and ask if he is happy now. He was not pleased with me. He gives me my VIN verification form and sends me on my way.

I get lost going to another location for an emissions test but finally find it and passed through in less than 30 mins. I drive back to the starting point at the DMV and wait about 45 mins to get my number called. I give the lady everything that is on my list. She asks me why I have the letter from my financial institition and I explain what I had been told over the phone. She said I received bad info and that letter is applicable only if I lease the car, not own it. I explain that it took me nearly 2 months to get that letter and what a pain the the ####### it was and she apologizes. She transferred the title to AZ, gave me a plate with 2 year stickers and I was out of there.

There, now my name is changed on everything, everything/one has my new address, and everything is finally legal and on the up and up. It's a nice feeling.

Edited December 22, 2007 by Delicia