Waaaaaaayyy back in May, like a WHOLE month ago now, I sent the application for a duplicate title for the Tucson to the DMV (after we discovered we’re unorganized losers). I sent it after multiple phone calls to their title office to make sure that I was including everything they needed. I was assured that, despite the very clear instructions on the form, I do not need to include the lien release (because we never had a loan on the car in this state), and I do not need to get the application notarized (because of the virus and the shutdown). They told me the turnaround time is 2 to 3 weeks.
Two weeks after I mailed the application, I got my self-addressed envelope returned in the mail. For a minute, I was impressed at how quickly they sent us the title. That lasted until I opened the envelope.
No, they returned my application and check with a letter listing what was wrong with it. What was wrong with it? It wasn’t notarized.
Something else weird: the letter was dated 5/6/20. I signed my application on 5/14/20. That’s probably just an oversight – it’s a form letter. But still.
I called the DMV again and sat on hold for half an hour waiting for someone in the title office. Then I spoke to Rosa, dear wonderful SUPER helpful Rosa, who was appalled, APPALLED I SAY, to hear that someone returned my application saying it had to be notarized. Of COURSE we’re not requiring docs to be notarized right now! How awful that I have to go through this delay! Whose initials are on that letter? When I told her there were no initials on the letter, she was practically sputtering with outrage. “I will CERTAINLY be speaking with my manager about this!”
I certainly appreciated her outrage, over the top though it felt. Of course, if we hadn’t already gotten rid of the car, I might have been right there with her. She apologized all over the place and asked me to send it all back in, including the form letter, to her attention, and she would take care of it. So maybe MAYBE we’ll actually get the duplicate title so we can actually sign it over to the mechanic so we can actually no longer be responsible if it were to turn out the car wasn’t junked and is evidence in a murder or something.
Momma Betty
I think a lot of things will be delayed or overlooked because of the virus. In the shower tonight my mind kept fretting about our visa which is due for renewal in September. Although we’ve been reassured via postings from immigration that no one will have trouble because of expired visas, I really don’t have a lot of faith that Mexico will be so forgiving. Plus, our transfer from 4 years of temporada to permanente also means the car must be registered in Mexico, a process we started in January. Still waiting……
Zannah
Yikes!