First timer doing a out of state inspection I assume. A simple phone call and you would have had no problems. I've been doing out of state cars in Ohio for the better part of 25 years. My first time I made a phone call and found out what to do. Tom
Yep, I'm about to go through the process to try to secure a lost title last registered to a deceased person. I cant wait for this cluster....
I actually called 3 BMV offices about what I needed the current owner to do with the South Carolina title. The North Olmsted office said just have them sign the title since SC is not a notary state. The Parma office said it should be notarized. The Garfield office said that SC is not a notary state and to have the current owner sign the title and provide a bill of sale. I'm pretty sure that if I called more offices I would have received more answers. Also, no matter what phone number you call, it ends up at the same menu to select what office you want. My point was that it would make more sense to have a title inspection done at the title bureau, not the license bureau.
And in my case, they would usually be right The operating phrase when going to the NY DMV is- the less said the better. Just hand them the forms and STFU! My friend went to the DMV with his out of state title on his 80 T/A and got a case of diarrhea of the mouth. The clerk got all suspicious of it all and sent him packing. After I coached him, he went back and was in and out.
I have to second Jason's take on the NY DMV. I don't think I have ever waited more than 20 minutes for anything and if anything is ever wrong with the paperwork, they point out exactly what it is and how to correct it. I remember once I was there just to turn in plates and it was real busy. The County Clerk, not just some DMV worker, the actual elected County Clerk, was out asking if anyone was there to just turn in plates. I raised by hand, she came over, I handed her the plates and I think the $1 fee and I was done. Our DMV here even has a mobile bus unit that goes to the smaller towns, so every Tuesday say its parked in my town by the town hall and you can do almost every kind of transaction offered.
In some states, such as N.C., all title offices, except for Raleigh and Charlotte, all franchised to private individuals. We have 100 counties. Inspections is a law enforcement function which is not delegated to private entities. Enforcement and theft offices, which are government run and perform inspections here, have fewer offices. There are 7 district offices that divide up our 100 counties. In order to assist the public with inspections, I drafted legislation that allows the public to request an officer to make an appointment to come to your home to perform this service. This seems to be working well. Of course, there are always going to be some glitches. I have helped some car owners resolve a number.
Do any of you remember the CF I had to go through to get a car into the states from Canada and then get a Florida title? Talk about stupid F'd up series of events that had to happen in just the right order... I'll find the thread when I have more time.
I will add only this.. I too had the same stories as I see here, with long wait times and rude people at the DMV.. when I lived in a major metro area. Then I moved 60 miles north... and the first time I had to renew my tabs, or do other title work, I walked in the local deputy registrar office (what they are called in MN) and was shocked see the place empty, and to see 3 smiling faces ready to wait on me immediately. Took 5 minutes and I was out the door with my business done. My advice to you is to search out rural locations to do your vehicle related work at, if there is no prohibition against doing in out of the county that you live in, in your state. Take a day off, and take a drive, simplify your life.. Going to the DMV is an afterthought for me now I usually just stick the tab renewal paperwork in the truck, and stop in when I happen to be driving buy.. no drama, no issues, now worries.. been like that for 8 years now, JW
Jim is spot on. When I lived in Montgomery county the BMV's convenient to me were nightmares. I'd rather take a line drive shot to the giggleberries than go there. Now I live only one county away but go to more small town/rural BMV's and it's night and day different.
Massachusetts did the same thing. Folks today don't realize what a miserable experience going to the "Registry " was. Today it's understaffed, but most of the employees are semi-pleasant. Just don't go there on Monday, at noon-time, or on the first or last business day of the month. The same is true in Florida - they handle registrations by county, so all may not be the same. Here in Collier County the staffing situation is even worse then in Massachusetts, but most offices do everything except driving tests. For the most part staffers are pleasant and helpful.
Jim, exactly what I’ve done. I go out of my way to go to Rosemount city hall DMV. This is for any of the old car paperwork. Always in & out with no hiccups and no waiting. Mark
Same here. The North Mankato one has great people who actually know what they are doing and how to help you.
I think I had to pay $100 extra to retitle a car in Florida. Plus, 100 extra dollars for first time tag on the vehicle. Plus all the other taxes, fees and miscellaneous BS.
State run places like DMV love their fees. I think they just make up new ones when they need more money. The traffic courts over here have a $75 "driver responsibility fee" fee now. Don't ask me....
Update on the stupidity. I towed the car to the license bureau on 2/22 for my out of state title inspection. After I got the inspection, it was too late to wait in line at the title agency, so I figured that I would just transfer the title at a later date. Yesterday, 4/10, I went to the title agency and was told that I would need another out of state inspection since it was done so long ago! It states nowhere on the inspection sheet that there is a time limit to get the title transferred. The woman said that they usually give 30 days, but she would make an exception and transfer my title. They then charged me a $5 late fee.
I have noticed, and been annoyed by, people who go up the the counter that have nothing prepared. The clerk tells them what they need to do. They stand there asking the same questions the clerk just explained to them what they need to do about. They come back in the return line and get called back up. Again, they screwed something up. They either ask a bunch of stupid questions or argue with the now pissed off clerk. Meanwhile, those of us who listened to the person checking us in and filled everything out correctly, sit and wait.
Sounds just like I remember Mass in the 80's and 90's, pack a lunch because you are going to be there a while, but like NY I think they have stepped their game up a bit. When my mother passed a few years ago I had to turn in her plates and resolve her license, they were almost human and respectful. In Florida I just go to the local County Tax office, when you walk in they have a triage desk inside the door where a clerk reviews your paperwork. If it looks good, you get a number, usually a pretty quick and easy experience, however there is one clerk that couldn't smile if you paid her, it must be part of the DMV hiring profile.
How did this turn out? Last year I tried to transfer a parts car my dad bought (seller signed but not dated title) to my name to settle my parent's estate. I thought I would be honest and explain that it was a parts car and my dad had no intention of fixing it up as to why it wasn't dated, just needed a current title to sell for the estate. The lady at the courthouse confiscated the title as it wasn't "valid" anymore, I asked for it back and let whoever bought it worry about getting a current title. They wouldn't give it back. Had to go through the state to get a bonded title, they were actually very nice and courteous with whom I dealt with. Got the letter to take to the courthouse to get the new title and the lady (same lady I dealt with 3 month earlier) had the nerve to ask me what happened to the original title! A lot of work and some expense for a parts car.
Yes I did, but did my best to keep my language clean. My mom passed away about 6 months after my dad and they had a total of about 20 vehicles. The runaround we got was unbelievable! These 2 people died, we (sister and I are executors with the papers to prove it) ask some questions to figure out what we need to do and apparently for some of these vehicles we are to bring my dad back to life so they can figure things out. Why they didn't do this when my mom went to the courthouse after my dad died? Their answer was "she never asked". They are the one with the computer that should have showed what was under my dad's name so my mom could get them transferred to her.
