Okay, thus ends my saga.
Went to MVA (Motor Vehicle Administration) yesterday to get licenses and plates. Got lost twice, first time showed up at an emissions inspection station. Showed up at the actual MVA at 4:05, realizing that they close at 4:30. Had birth certificates, lease agreement, old licenses, and two proofs of residency (bills, etc., addressed to us at our new house). Got through licenses in ten minutes, no problem. Except $46 for myself and spouse, each, for a five year license. Wife asked why I didn't smile; I said it's because we're not done yet. Went to write a check for the licenses. Problem: the checks had our OLD address on them, not our "current address".
"Oh, we can't take that check; it doesn't have your address on it."
As if we were trying to pull the wool over their eyes or something. So by now I'm livid, but I actually anticipated this, and brought a book of newly-imprinted checks with our Maryland address on it. Music swells, I write the check, birds fly down from the rafters...
Now for the fun part: got to the title, registration, and license window. First of all, we are paying on our car, like about
99.99999% of America. The MVA should assume this, but they don't tell anyone that you need a copy of your title from the lienholder before they can issue you a new title in the new state and mail that to the lienholder! BWWWAGH! So I call my auto loan place, on hold and through the awful voice response for 15 minutes (by now it's well after 4:30, and the counters are vacating...).
They agree to fax it to me
at the MVA (
EXTREMELY nice of them). As I am waiting for the title to arrive, I have to fill out several more forms. They take the title (hot off the fax machine) and... ummm...
compute the blue book value of my car?
They proceed to charge me
Maryland state SALES TAX for my car! I already bought my car! In Texas! Last year! Paid Texas state sales tax for my TEXAN CAR!!
| Remember the state motto of MD: If we can tax it we will! |
So they rolled up the sales tax into the two-year registration for the van. $232 for the pleasure of getting lost on under-construction Maryland roads.
FINAL GRAND TOTAL: $660
And the Metro is still licensed in Texas. Welcome to the People's Republic of Maryland.
