I went to my local DMV office yesterday to register my Land Cruiser - normally I'm dreading this because of the lines, screaming kids, and inefficiency behind the desks and there's usually some little snag that derails the whole process for the day and I have to come back.

This time I thought it was gonna be different: I had all my paperwork in order with all the little bits and pieces neatly stacked together for quick processing. Turns out I was only half right - I was told that in order to title the vehicle I need to have my VIN verified. They do this free of charge here, but not when anything is coming down from the sky - they have strict rules and policies on this, so because it looked like a sprinkle she could do the verification even though the vehicle was no more than 30ft away from the building. I understand not going out in the rain, but it wasn't even a noticeable sprinkle and she threw a hissy-fit.

Pathetic... - so as per usual I will need to go back again when the skys are clear so these folks don't melt during this 3 minute ordeal outside....

Very cool indeed: not only do they impose strict rules, they also make it inconvenient to comply with those rules - because of their own internal rules and regulation.

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1987 Mercedes 300SDL; SOLD
1985 Mercedes 300D; SOLD
2006 Honda Pilot - wife's ride; 122K;
1995 Toyota Land Cruiser - 3X locked; 182K

The DMV makes me think of a forest of Kafka's...

or the Seven Bridges of Königsberg






...and I have to go there today, too, about some new license plates for the Mercedes.

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

The DMV folks at the little office in my part of town are usually very helpful, I've never had a problem or had to wait very long. You might want to try some of the small suburban offices.

I've been there, in CT you have to take it to a certified emissions testing station and pay $10...then go back to the DMV with the paperwork. Its a 3 day ordeal, not very convenient when you live out of state...

__________________
TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

Really? Normally I just do the test and mail the paperwork in.

Thankfully it's like that, i've had to stand in line far too many times at several different DMV offices. (The smaller ones aren't always better then the big one in Wethersfield)

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1982 300GD Carmine Red (DB3535) Cabriolet Parting Out
1990 300SEL Smoke Silver (Parting out)
1991 350SDL Blackberry Metallic (481)

"The thing is Bob, its not that I'm lazy...its that I just don't care."

2x. I've found the extra time driving is made up with the short lines and great service.

-J

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1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

You are supposed to REGISTER your car in the state where you LIVE.

Military personnel sometimes are exempted, though.

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

I have changed addresses at least once a year for the last 6 years...Its much easier for me to register the car from my "permanant" address than have to jump through hoops every 8-12 months. Moving is big enough of a headache! Have to again in August

__________________
TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

Buy a car in CT, and you can't drive it away from the point of sale until you go to DMV and get a temporary tag (tag stays with the owner, not the car - unlike CA).

So the process (as I recall it from an 18 month stint in CT):

1) Hand nice seller person a wad o'cash. Take the keys. Walk away from the car.

2) Go to DMV. Hand over another wad o'cash. Take the lovely paper temp tag.

3) Go back to the car, hopefully still sitting where you left it. Tape the temp tag to the inside glass (front or rear, can't remember).

4) Go to a smog check place. Hand over another (small) wad o'cash. Hopefully pass test. If so, walk away with certificate.

5) Go back to DMV. Hand over certificate, another wad o'cash. Get your permanent tag. Swear beneath your breath as you walk outta DMV and vow to never, ever register another vehicle in CT (note - you WILL repeat this swearing every year when CT collects PROPERTY TAXES on your vehicle).

3, 4, 5 - as much as 6% in some counties: the taxes you get to pay against the value the fine state of CT assigns to your vehicle each and every year.

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1961 220b: first project car - sold.
2000 CLK 430: first modern Benz - sold.
2001 CLK 55: OMG the torque!!! - sold
1972 280SE 4.5: Baby Gustav
1991 300TE 4Matic: Gretel the Snow Bunny - sold
1978 300SD: Katz the Free Man - given away
1980 Redhead: Darling Wife

Had to do steps 1-3 in NJ recently, thats where I bought my car...NJ temp tag was 20 days for out of state resident, then head up to CT DMV and get ANOTHER temp tag to go get it smog checked ($$$) that is onyl good for 10 days. All adds up to buying cars out of state being a royal PITA

__________________
TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

Wow, this must be how come HatterasGuy drinks so much booze.

Vermont is even worse.

In law school we read about this case in Constitutional Law class about a man who hated the State Motto ("Live Free or Die") on his Vermont license plates.


So he scraped off the "or Die" on them.

He got cited, arrested by the Police and prosecuted and CONVICTED for the criminal offense of defacing and altering his license plates.

Appealing the conviction to higher courts got it into the law books and case law where we had to read about it.

Ridiculous.

Not *ALL* the nuts are in California. Even though there are PLENTY.



Live free !!!


bua hahahahahahaha

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

I hear "DMV" and the first thought I have:

"What does the yellow light mean?"

The best way to get a car registered in CT is to buy it from a dealer, than the plates magically appear on it when you pick it up.


Plus if the dealer is your friend they can write a bit more reasonable sale price on the bill of sale so you don't have to pay as much in taxes.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

If you think the car dealer is EVER your" friend " then I need to talk to you RIGHT AWAY about a bridge in Arizona I'd like to sell you.

Don't delay !! Call NOW !! Operators are standing by !

Signed,

Your friend,

Jim B.

/s/

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

I have friends all over, I saved a few bucks on my tuck thanks to one. I could still sell it at a profit and I have owned it over 2 years.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200