Adventures at the DMV
- Thread starter DoubleV
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8 years ago I had to get a duplicate title, We went to the DMV and sat there for over an hour. We finally got our number called and went up to the window. Just my luck they were training a new idiot that day. He went through the computer and printed us a title, He took my debit card and swiped it. We got our paper work and left. A year later my wife got hit by a red light runner, the cop told her that her license was suspended and wrote her a ticket. He also said there was a hold on her plate and tag and she shouldn't have been driving at all. I later found out Mine was also suspended. Long story short The trainee didn't have me sign the receipt for the debit card transaction. So instead of letting us know they just suspended everything in our name. Ha, Ha.... It took me a month to get everything straightened out, The Judge laughed and dismissed Sara's ticket when we went to court with all of our paperwork. I really hate the DMV, I now understand why the idiots work behind the bars on their windows. It's so you can't reach in and strangle one of them. That's my story and I am sticking to it.....
Here every county has one or more tag offices based on population of the location. They handle registrations, titles, etc.
Never been waiting more than 15 minutes.
Never been waiting more than 15 minutes.
Some states have pleasant, trouble-free DMVs, but those seem to be the exception. California definitely isn't one of them. Even if you have an appointment, there's still a line and a wait.
I remember Iowa, in and out with a fresh title IN MY HAND in 10 minutes, and that was if they were busy.
Here in OK, it's reasonably quick, but lots of hoops and they LOVE "fees". Here's a "ferinstance": State law requires that you have proof of insurance when you transfer or register/re-register a motor vehicle. They charge $1.50 for verifying that you have one. Don't have it insured, that's OK, sign non-use affidavit, get a black sticker. Get insurance on it and want to get a regular sticker? Another $9, even though the reg is already paid (last time I had that scenario was my 92 Vette, I printed the statute that said you did NOT have to have the colored sticker as long as there was insurance in force and reg was current) and carried it in the car "justincase". Bought a car with broken engine for deep discount? State has a formula for sale price, if your declaration of sale price is under that, you pay their determined value for year/make/model regardless of actual sale price/vehicle condition. Bringing a car in from out of state? $2/tire waste tire disposal fee, and state law mandates that there are 5 tires on a car, even if there are none on it or it was never equipped with a spare (I got over on them for $4 on my dually!). Over 30 days on a reg, $1/day penalty. Over 30 days on transfer, $1/day penalty. God forbid you buy a car that has sat a while. I bought a Mustang GT 'vert a few years back (bad control module), the title was signed/dated/notarized about 18 months prior, of course tag was out as well. $479.50 later, I was the proud owner of a paper receipt, title to follow in mail in 2-3 weeks. Buying a car that the owner can't find the title for, and they haven't driven/tagged it in years? Before they will issue a duplicate title, tag has to be brought up to date. That means 2 years back tags and penalties, plus current registration. At least they cap the penalties at $100/calendar year. Ever try to talk the owner of a $500 car into spending $300+ to get a title? No wonder CL is full of cars with no titles.
Here in OK, it's reasonably quick, but lots of hoops and they LOVE "fees". Here's a "ferinstance": State law requires that you have proof of insurance when you transfer or register/re-register a motor vehicle. They charge $1.50 for verifying that you have one. Don't have it insured, that's OK, sign non-use affidavit, get a black sticker. Get insurance on it and want to get a regular sticker? Another $9, even though the reg is already paid (last time I had that scenario was my 92 Vette, I printed the statute that said you did NOT have to have the colored sticker as long as there was insurance in force and reg was current) and carried it in the car "justincase". Bought a car with broken engine for deep discount? State has a formula for sale price, if your declaration of sale price is under that, you pay their determined value for year/make/model regardless of actual sale price/vehicle condition. Bringing a car in from out of state? $2/tire waste tire disposal fee, and state law mandates that there are 5 tires on a car, even if there are none on it or it was never equipped with a spare (I got over on them for $4 on my dually!). Over 30 days on a reg, $1/day penalty. Over 30 days on transfer, $1/day penalty. God forbid you buy a car that has sat a while. I bought a Mustang GT 'vert a few years back (bad control module), the title was signed/dated/notarized about 18 months prior, of course tag was out as well. $479.50 later, I was the proud owner of a paper receipt, title to follow in mail in 2-3 weeks. Buying a car that the owner can't find the title for, and they haven't driven/tagged it in years? Before they will issue a duplicate title, tag has to be brought up to date. That means 2 years back tags and penalties, plus current registration. At least they cap the penalties at $100/calendar year. Ever try to talk the owner of a $500 car into spending $300+ to get a title? No wonder CL is full of cars with no titles.
Az dmv messed up the bin number on my car by 1 letter (engine code) and it took months to get straightened out. The mistake happened years ago and I never noticed and they lost the record when the system was updated. Also the door sticker deteriorated so they couldn’t verify the vin to correct the mistake they made years ago. Long story short I found a blank duplicate door sticker on eBay, printed the vin correctly and stuck it to the door. 5 mins later the title was correct. Now to get the car to pass emissions which isn’t easy for a race car. Now those guys are the real idiots. I wanted to beat the guy with my valve cover breather one time.
After having lived in a number of states, I've found the best service from states that sever drivers license/state id's from vehicle services.
Not sure if it's because it creates more offices/less demand at each location, let's the clerks be more specialized and more knowledgeable due to fewer transaction types, or if license/Id functions take so much more time per customer and slows things up for everybody.
Not sure if it's because it creates more offices/less demand at each location, let's the clerks be more specialized and more knowledgeable due to fewer transaction types, or if license/Id functions take so much more time per customer and slows things up for everybody.
In Pennsylvania:
- Driver services are only at PennDOT offices
- Vehicle services can be at a PennDOT office or at any place with a notary & "messenger service" -- (AAA waives notary/messenger fees for members) I believe the "messenger service" is required due to some archaic state law that matters related to vehicles must be administered in Harrisburg "same day" as a remote location, ergo the messenger ... liquor laws are gradually being updated from the 1930s so maybe soon PennDOT will allow (gasp) computers!
I must be lucky, never had any huge problems.
MN- no inspection. Only thing that sucks is some college professor hacked the DMV algorithm that determines license numbers for fun so the main state office does everything now. Takes 2-5 months for a title. They also enacted the "book value" law regardless of what you paid for it to get their tax revenue up. My home town DMV is awesome, husband and wife contract through the state and its privately run. Can get in and out in 3 minutes, salvage inspections and missing title? No problem. Want a home built trailer inspection/title that you built 20 years ago? They do that.
ND- no inspection, print the title there for you. Gotta wait in line 15 mins but thats the worst of it.
IA- Same as ND, wait it line but decently fast. When I registered my 80 wagon the clerk thought there might be issues getting it in the system because of the non 81+ vin number, but the computer system accepted it. Happy days!
I feel back for the rest of people, wow...
MN- no inspection. Only thing that sucks is some college professor hacked the DMV algorithm that determines license numbers for fun so the main state office does everything now. Takes 2-5 months for a title. They also enacted the "book value" law regardless of what you paid for it to get their tax revenue up. My home town DMV is awesome, husband and wife contract through the state and its privately run. Can get in and out in 3 minutes, salvage inspections and missing title? No problem. Want a home built trailer inspection/title that you built 20 years ago? They do that.
ND- no inspection, print the title there for you. Gotta wait in line 15 mins but thats the worst of it.
IA- Same as ND, wait it line but decently fast. When I registered my 80 wagon the clerk thought there might be issues getting it in the system because of the non 81+ vin number, but the computer system accepted it. Happy days!
I feel back for the rest of people, wow...
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