Long ago I grew quite superstitious about the DMV. Back when I was Mr. Suburban Man it appeared impossible for me to get anything DMV-related done in a single try. Turns out it still is.
One of the things Big Brother likes to do whenever he comes to visit is help me deal with administrative stuff, knowing that it’s not exactly my strongest thing. This past week I had two things of that nature on my mind: Actually only one, the second thing was his idea. For almost three years I’ve had the title to the Jeep in my possession but it’s still in the previous owner’s name, because the closest DMV office is in the big town about 50 miles away and logistically it’s just too much to ask of a neighbor to let me tag along on a shopping visit and add that place to the trip. So I wanted to get that title transferred while I had BB as chauffeur and hand-holder. Started to look pretty good, too, until the very end. Turns out that since the “official” address on my state ID is in one of the cities in the Valley far far away, and since those cities require an emission test before any motor vehicle can change hands, I had to get an emission test for the Jeep before the DMV would transfer the title to my name. DMV TRIP: FAIL.
So now there’s an additional step involved: I need a new ID with a plausible local address. BB and I were talking about this to a neighbor who happens to be the POA prez, and he said that the parcel I live on actually does have an address that you can put on an ID card. He opened up his tablet, tapped away for a minute, and told me what it is. I wrote it down, and now next time I work up the nerve to ask somebody to take me to the DMV I can get that done. Then the NEXT time I work up the nerve to ask somebody to take me to the DMV, I can transfer the title. Doubt I can do both things on a single trip, but who knows. Certainly I don’t.
The second administrative thing, which I actually did accomplish, was BB’s idea. I’d given up on ever getting a bank account in the crappy little town nearest where I live because both times I tried, at both the local bank and the local credit union, I got a rather rude brush-off. This time he and I walked into the bank, got smilingly ushered into chairs, and the bank lady couldn’t have been nicer. Not sure what the difference between my first try and this one was: Maybe BB just has a better “this guy would be a good depositor” face than I do. Anyway, got that done. Have to go back this coming week and add my daughter as beneficiary: I didn’t have her contact info with me at the time.
It seems to be one of the constants of the universe that this is how the DMV works. Myself, I was at the DMV (or BMV – Bureau of Motor Vehicles in Ohio) twice in 2 days. It isn’t too far, and the second trip only cost me 6 bucks, but even so.
Be aware- if they didn’t tell you- that you “MAY” need your original (or certified copy) birth certificate because of the “Real ID” (or whatever that gold star means) that’s now the Law of the Land finally catching up to 2005 when it was first enacted.
I merely note that this bank might have noted you have a regular source of income now.
I have had excellent service in the dmv in Kingman. One trip solved any problem.
You may have already traveled this path, but at least in my state a lot of DMV stuff can be handled online. A change of address seems like that should be one of them.
As to a bank that refuses to hold your money for you, well, that’s a puzzle. Glad it worked out this time.
They require an emission test to transfer title? Wow. Simple ownership of a vehicle doesn’t always imply operation on the public roads, or even any operation at all. I’d dig a little deeper into that, maybe see if there’s a way to classify its status as an off-road or recreactional vehicle, or something. I mean, do you intend to register it as well? Like with insurance and everything that entails?