Unnecessary Complications

[thistlechaser]

I left my apartment to go to work this morning, and noticed the registration on my car had expired. (In California, you get stickers with the month/year that you have to put onto your license plate, so it's very easy for you (or the police) to see if it's expired.)

I know I paid for the registration (because I was happy at the thought of never again needing a smog test since my car is a hybrid), so why didn't I get new stickers?

While collecting information so I could talk to the DMV, I discovered my car insurance paper said my insurance expired back in 2013.

Sigh.

All this was caused because I moved and failed to update my address with these two groups. As I had to update my address in 32478234738341923401278 different places, I'm not kicking myself that I forgot two.

The insurance was easy to solve -- just log into the company's website and print a new ID card.

The car registration, not so easy.

Step one: Try to change my address on the DMV website. No-go. For some reason, it thinks my car isn't owned by me. (I paid for it in full when I got it, so there wasn't even a loan that could be causing that confusion.)
Step two: Call the DMV. They have a handy thing where you can leave your number and they'll hold your place in the queue and call you when it's your turn to talk to someone. Worked well!
Step three: I have to go in to the DMV office or supposedly I can get this done at AAA since I'm a member there.

I'm going to head to AAA after work and see if that works out. I'm so paranoid now, since the fact that it expired is right there on the back of my car for anyone (POLICE) to see.

Hopefully it will go fast and smoothly. This isn't how I had wanted to spend my Friday evening.

Comments

[changeling72.livejournal.com]

Good luck! We've got to spend part of tomorrow trawling round the banks changing our address.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Turns out it was pretty painless.

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

Wow, the DMV. Sorry anything has to involve them.
I hope you get it straightened out quickly!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Turns out going to the AAA office instead was wonderful. Maybe five minutes total and $19 to get my address changed and replacement stickers. Would have taken me hours at the DMV!

[bacchuslives.livejournal.com]

Ouch... I've heard that car stuff in California is expensive and annoying (my brother lives in San Clemente). That's interesting, all hybrids are exempt from smog testing in CA? They recently started doing emissions testing in NY and there are no exceptions for hybrids. I'm on my third hybrid (2 Priuses and a Camry)! Fortunately, I haven't failed yet. Though there really isn't any reason why a hybrid couldn't fail spectacularly if something was amiss with the IC engine...

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

As of right now, all hybrids are exempt, yep. I hope that doesn't change! It might, since originally hybrids could use the HOV lanes and now they can't.

Yeah, cost a darned lot around here. One day I'll move somewhere cheaper.

I did wonder about it being able to fail. Right now my car is new, but the day will come when I'd have to worry more. My previous car was 15 years old, so every test was a worry.

[ani-mama.livejournal.com]

There are so many things to take care of when you are moving! I hope things got sorted without too many issues.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Seriously! And thanks, it went better than I could hope. AAA office instead of the DMV, I got my address changed and replacement stickers in about five minutes and $19. The fee was unexpected, but $19 isn't so bad and at least I got it all done.

So happy! I'll go to AAA instead of DMV as much as I can in the future.

[spike7451.livejournal.com]

Hope you manage/have managed to get it all sorted out.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I did, thanks!