Saturday I woke to find a text message on my phone. Seller was feeling “ripped off” because it had cost him $500 to change his US dollars into canadian. Given that the two currencies are at parity this left me with a loss for words. He paid more than 5% to change money? Where was he? A race track? A casino? The gist of the message was that because it had cost him so much to change money he didn’t want to spend $30 to pay to have the registration re-printed.
I’d texted him the day after I bought the car, asking him to mail the top part of the form that the vehicle ownership certificate had come from. He’d said he’d do it, now more than a week later he’s telling me he can’t. Or he can’t without more money. Sort of feels like being held hostage but still I feel sorry for him if he lost $500 of my money to a stupid bank. Gah. Still angers me. In seattle there are all sorts of places that will change us dollars to canadian for a fee of between 4 and 6 percent. I ignore them and go to the Wells Fargo Forex Desk where they will sell currency at the bank’s commercial rate for a $25-$100 fixed fee. I would be surprised if there wasn’t a similar place in Vancouver, but I guess you need to know to look. I assumed he’d be savvy to changing money since he lives so close to the border.
I tell seller not to worry, don’t spend any money, I’ll happily pay if that is required but I’m sure the requirement is a misunderstanding.
Monday morning bright and early I reappear at BelRed Auto License. Truck is driving particularly well after changing out 13 liters of nasty gear oil with 13 liters of the finest synthetic.
BelRed Auto is a private office that handles state licensing. They are the people who gave me my temporary plate on the day after I got the car, and the ones that said I needed the top half of the form. I show up, take a ticket and wait in line. When called I ask if they are sure that I need the top half of the paper because it won’t be so easy to get. I mention that it seems odd to me that washington is requiring something that is contrary to the law in british columbia. The certificate I have is the proof. How can washington require a portion of a document that is supposed to be kept by the other party? The desk clerk tells me she is sure and if I can’t get the paper I will need to apply for a lost title, which takes two years, costs lots of money and requires a state patrol inspection! I am fuming but thank her.
I go to washington state licensing web site and find a questions number. After 5 attempts to get through I am put into the wait line, 15 minutes of terrible Muzak and I get to speak with a real person: “Mary”. After hearing my story and speaking with her supervisor who says the certificate is sufficient we work out the steps that I should follow:
- Go back to BelRed Auto Licensing fully armed with all paperwork and ask to speak with Supervisor.
- Entreat supervisor to call his supervisor for advice, they have a phone number for situations like this.
- Permission should be granted and plates issued.
- If this doesn’t work, go try a different Licensing office!
- Or, just drive to the County Auditor in seattle who knows the rules and will issue the plates.
At lunch I drive back to BelRed and follow Mary’s steps. The supervisor calls his supervisor. There is some faxing. I get to read the weekly and the stranger. After 35 minutes the supervisor returns and my plates are issued. The application has a memo attached to it with a number in Olympia to call if there are any questions.
Yay!!
Check the glare from the plexiglass! DMV Clerk took this photo of the Happy BJ60 Owner and his New Plates
Sure enough, right then and there my plates are handed to me along with a real registration. I carefully check all the numbers and also that vehicle is listed as a Diesel. Sweet!
They take my precious customs document and also my certificate of ownership. The title should arrive in less than 10 weeks.
CanadianBJ 