When reading about importing Canadian cars to the states, some jurisdictions apparently make a big deal of proving the vehicles origin. I’d think the vin would be sufficient but maybe not. There’s a tiny sticker on the doorframe that is difficult to photograph. I captured this in case folks have questions.
Category Archives: Paperwork
O.M.G. – Plates!
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!!
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.