California Car Registration

[SENKA 0]

Well, I went to DMV to register my Mazda today. In the requested form I entered the price of the car in CANADIAN dollars and they entered it in their system in USD. Automatically, I ended paying more registration fees because of the exchange rate. I specifically enetered CAD dollars, but they apparently didn't pay attention. The lady told me that there is nothing she can do since we realized that after we put the plate and stickers on. She gave us form to request a refund and who knows how long that will take. I thought this might be helpful to anyone registering vehicle that was purchased in a different currency.

One lady in DMV was pleasant, the other one yelled at me, I sort of yelled back, and my fiance told me not to, but I couldn't help it. This kind of thing normally doesn't happen too often in Canada, but I guess I shouldn't complain too much, just another experience. At least I am with the one I love now after a long process to get a K-1 visa

[Dr_LHA 3]

Ain't the California DMV grand? Getting yelled at is quite common.

Still, I'm a bit mystified as to why you gave the car's value in Canadian dollars. I can hardly blame the DMV for this mistake. Did you expect them to do the currency conversion for you?

Edited July 27, 2006 by dr_lha

[mrc 0]

Well, I went to DMV to register my Mazda today. In the requested form I entered the price of the car in CANADIAN dollars and they entered it in their system in USD. Automatically, I ended paying more registration fees because of the exchange rate. I specifically enetered CAD dollars, but they apparently didn't pay attention. The lady told me that there is nothing she can do since we realized that after we put the plate and stickers on. She gave us form to request a refund and who knows how long that will take. I thought this might be helpful to anyone registering vehicle that was purchased in a different currency.

One lady in DMV was pleasant, the other one yelled at me, I sort of yelled back, and my fiance told me not to, but I couldn't help it. This kind of thing normally doesn't happen too often in Canada, but I guess I shouldn't complain too much, just another experience. At least I am with the one I love now after a long process to get a K-1 visa

Yeah, and if you noticed, many of the workers at the DMV's won't even look at you. Years ago, violence against DMV workers wasn't uncommon. That's why you see the harshness at the DMV. Many workers are taught not to be personable with the customers.

I love CA and I grew up there, but many things I don't miss at all...the DMV is one of them. I register my car in MS in five minutes with no problem. I even get a smile afterwards.

[Boiler 45,522]

Count yourslef lucky you did not bring it in from Turkey. Or to a leesor degree Mexico.

Shame the Lira is not longer for threads like this.

[SENKA 0]

Ain't the California DMV grand? Getting yelled at is quite common.

Still, I'm a bit mystified as to why you gave the car's value in Canadian dollars. I can hardly blame the DMV for this mistake. Did you expect them to do the currency conversion for you?

Well, the reason I put the value in CAD dollars is that I wanted to be consistent with the $ number on the invoice. I clearly put down CANADIAN dollars, and these people dealing with imported cars every day should know it.

[Dr_LHA 3]

Well, the reason I put the value in CAD dollars is that I wanted to be consistent with the $ number on the invoice. I clearly put down CANADIAN dollars, and these people dealing with imported cars every day should know it.

I see your reasoning. However you've just learned a valuable lesson when dealing with the California DMV: You have to do their work for them. Their database will require the value is US$, so you will have to do the conversion for them, otherwise the stupid employee of the DMV will probably just go "CAN$, about the same as the US$ right? OK".