Adventure, adventure!
So, the wee and I like our Corollas. When we met, I drove a '99 and she drove an '02. About a month ago, she bought herself a shiny new '09, and I sold my old '99 and took possession of her old '02. I had vanity plates on my '99 and I wanted to put them on the '02. And the wee wanted to take the plates from the '02 and use them on her '09. Sounds easy enough, right.
The vanity plates were in my name, so in order for them to go on the '02 my name had to be on the title for the '02. In our state, certain people that are related can buy/sell/give cars to one another without paying taxes and all that other pesky stuff. Or these certain related people may add one another to existing titles. Since we now have the same last name, we can claim to be sisters and no one will check. Thus we would be able to add my name to the title of the '02.
So, yesterday afternoon we took both cars, my old vanity plates, and a whole grocery bag full of paperwork to the MVA. The first person you meet with makes sure you have all of the correct paperwork to complete your transaction before giving you a number to wait for your turn. We stumped her. It took her 10 minutes and assistance from another staff member to conclude that we would be able to add my name to the title of the '02 with one tiny little requirement. A state safety inspection. Joy.
So, off to the inspection place across the street we went. Much to our surprise, they were able to take the car in that afternoon so we left them the '02, the wee dropped me off at work, and then drove herself back to the office. An hour later, they call me. The '02 failed it's inspection. It needs 2 new tires, a new light blulb over the license plate, and a new fan belt. Oh, and the alignment is messed up. Sigh. Their price on tires is awful, so I authorize them to take care of the belt and the bulb and assure him we'll get the tires on our own and bring it back the next morning for a free re-inspection. At 4:30 they call to say it's done and they send the courtesy shuttle for me. Upon paying the bill I see that we paid $0.80 for a light bulb and $17 for someone to install it. Home I went.
After dinner, we took the '02 to our tire place. We kinda hate them, but they are reliable and affordable. And they can give us what we need right away. We leave the car with them and take a walk and get ices. Upon our return everything is ready to go and just by doing the tires the alignment is much better.
This morning we head back to the inspection place. After a 30 min wait, the guy drives the car around the block and says we pass. Certificate in hand we then make it to the MVA by 9:15. This time, we have all our paperwork and get our number. Astoundingly, there are only 2 of our type of number in front of us. After perhaps the shortest wait in MVA history we are called to a window. 10 minutes later, we are all done. I'm at my desk at 10, with no one seeming to have noticed that I wasn't here on time.
All in all, a lot of schlepping and waiting, but it's done now and we will swap plates tonight. And thus ends my need to visit the MVA, hoepfully for a VERY LONG TIME.
The vanity plates were in my name, so in order for them to go on the '02 my name had to be on the title for the '02. In our state, certain people that are related can buy/sell/give cars to one another without paying taxes and all that other pesky stuff. Or these certain related people may add one another to existing titles. Since we now have the same last name, we can claim to be sisters and no one will check. Thus we would be able to add my name to the title of the '02.
So, yesterday afternoon we took both cars, my old vanity plates, and a whole grocery bag full of paperwork to the MVA. The first person you meet with makes sure you have all of the correct paperwork to complete your transaction before giving you a number to wait for your turn. We stumped her. It took her 10 minutes and assistance from another staff member to conclude that we would be able to add my name to the title of the '02 with one tiny little requirement. A state safety inspection. Joy.
So, off to the inspection place across the street we went. Much to our surprise, they were able to take the car in that afternoon so we left them the '02, the wee dropped me off at work, and then drove herself back to the office. An hour later, they call me. The '02 failed it's inspection. It needs 2 new tires, a new light blulb over the license plate, and a new fan belt. Oh, and the alignment is messed up. Sigh. Their price on tires is awful, so I authorize them to take care of the belt and the bulb and assure him we'll get the tires on our own and bring it back the next morning for a free re-inspection. At 4:30 they call to say it's done and they send the courtesy shuttle for me. Upon paying the bill I see that we paid $0.80 for a light bulb and $17 for someone to install it. Home I went.
After dinner, we took the '02 to our tire place. We kinda hate them, but they are reliable and affordable. And they can give us what we need right away. We leave the car with them and take a walk and get ices. Upon our return everything is ready to go and just by doing the tires the alignment is much better.
This morning we head back to the inspection place. After a 30 min wait, the guy drives the car around the block and says we pass. Certificate in hand we then make it to the MVA by 9:15. This time, we have all our paperwork and get our number. Astoundingly, there are only 2 of our type of number in front of us. After perhaps the shortest wait in MVA history we are called to a window. 10 minutes later, we are all done. I'm at my desk at 10, with no one seeming to have noticed that I wasn't here on time.
All in all, a lot of schlepping and waiting, but it's done now and we will swap plates tonight. And thus ends my need to visit the MVA, hoepfully for a VERY LONG TIME.