It’s been a long day – mostly consumed by three trips to AZ’s Motor Vehicle Division.
I had been reading and re-reading their website over the last couple of days trying to figure out what I needed in hand to get the motorhome titled and registered. But the more I read, the more confused I got. Nowhere was there a clear description of what was needed for a motorhome purchased out of state from a private party. In fact, I only found one brief mention about a possible inspection that may be required but was only done is certain places. So I gave up and decided to just go to the MVD and ask in person. Then come back when I had all the right stuff.
So this morning I was down there when the doors opened at 8am. After a wait in line to get to the gatekeeper – the one who hands you a ticket so you can go inside and wait some more until your number is called – I found out I needed an emission test on the motorhome. OK, I expected that. But then I needed to get a three day temporary plate so I could legally drive the motorhome to get the test. So I sat around another 20 min to get that. Note, that wait was my fault; I could have come home and gotten the temporary tag on line.
At home I wait for Ken to get back from his appointment. He then guides me safely out of the RV gate and I’m on my way to the emission testing station. It wasn’t too bad a wait, maybe only 20 minutes. I briefly thought about going directly back to the MVD but decided to go home for lunch. Besides, it’s easier to drive the car in their parking lot.
I come home, Ken directs me safely back in through the gate, and I have some lunch. Back to the MVD. It’s definitely more crowded now and it’s nearly an hour before I get my ticket and it’s called. The lady starts in on my application and then asks me if I had driven the vehicle here. Of course, I hadn’t. It appears that I need a “Type I” inspection done here at the MVD before they can proceed. I whined a bit about coming earlier that morning to find out what I needed to do and that particular inspection never came up. She said the need doesn’t show until the VIN # is typed into the system and the body type is determined. I politely refrained from saying what I thought about *that*!
At least she said that if I could get it done and be back there before 4:30, I could just wave her down directly and not go through the ticket line again.
So I went home and had Ken direct me out through the RV gate again. Then back to the MVD and the inspection station behind it. Where I waited another 20 minutes or so before someone came along and did the inspection. Which seemed to consist of looking at the odometer, asking me how many cylinders, and deciding how to describe the make and model. But it was done and entered into the system.
Back around to the front part of the building where I caught my lady’s attention and was told to wait until she finished with her current customer. After that, it went relatively smoothly. The only kink was the amount of time it took for her to dig out the original list price for the motorhome. (AZ is another one of those states that base the registration fee on the vehicle list price.) But she finally found it, I paid, got my plate and sticker, and left.
FINALLY, home and through the gate one last time. It’s about 3:15 now and I just want to sit back with a nice hot cup of tea. So I do.
