alternate titles: how to get a new license plate in Mexico, the power of the missionary kid...Last week, Mike set out to get new license plates for our minivan. Since we moved to a different state last year, Mike needed to switch plates from the Mexican state of Coahuila to the state of Guanajuato. He knew this would be a longer process.
Mike recorded a journal of the event, which I'm listing below. As Mike reminded me, there's nothing terribly unusual about the experience. It's simply part of the daily bureaucracy most citizens deal with in a developing nation. It's also why you'll often hear us say that things take longer in Mexico.
So without further ado, here's how Mike got new license plates last week:
Tuesday, Jan 18, 8:15 a.m.
I drop Trinity off at school; then drive to the DMV downtown. My goal: begin the process of getting new license plates for our van. In my briefcase, I carry the following documents:
- Passport and Mexican FM2 visa (proof of ID)
- Original title of the vehicle
- Receipt of when the vehicle was sold to me
- Receipts from taxes paid on the vehicle since it was manufactured in 2002
- A copy of my cable bill and bank statement (proof of residence)
- Current license plates
- Vehicle registration slip
At the DMV I get in the first line: the Information line. This is the line to get information and check to make sure I have the correct documents. After two and a half hours of standing and waiting, I make it to the front of the line.
The lady tells me I need to make two copies of the following: my FM2 visa, the original title of the vehicle, the receipt from when it was sold, the receipts of taxes paid on the vehicle dating back to 2007, and the copy of my cable bill.
She says that after I get these copies made, I'll need to get in the Verification of Documents line. She also gives me a slip with an address on it, explaining that after I go through the Verification of Documents line I'll have to take my vehicle to the Vehicle Verification Module located at the address on the slip.
Fortunately, there are a couple of copy shops outside of the DMV. I make copies quickly. I also stop at a taco stand for a fast breakfast: four suadero (beef brisket) tacos.
I get into the Verification of Documents line. This is a shorter line, but it moves slowly and I stand another two hours before I reach the front. The lady in charge of the line checks my documents, takes some of the copies I've made, and asks me to take a seat in the waiting area while she verifies my documents.
After waiting 10 more minutes she calls me up and says everything looks good. She instructs me to drive to the Vehicle Verification Module where they'll make sure the title correctly matches the vehicle I'm driving and check that the vehicle has not been reported stolen. After doing this, she says I'll need to return to the DMV and get back into the Information line where they'll give me a number for the Turn in your Old License Plates line. She also gives me a slip of paper (one-half inch by one-half inch) with the number 18767 hand written on it. She says I'll need this number when I return.
By now, it's 1:30 p.m. and Trinity is done with school. I pick her up and go home for lunch. (Mexico has different meal times than the U.S. - lunch, or comida, is typically eaten between 2 and 4 p.m.).
After lunch I put both of the girls in the car and head out to find the Vehicle Verification Module (note from Rachel: I wasn't feeling well that day, which is why Mike had the girls with him).
The address on the slip of paper I was given indicates that the Vehicle Verification Module is on the far southern outskirts of town. However, the street isn't on the map, which means it's either a new street or has been renamed. After driving around and asking people I eventually locate the street.
The Vehicle Verification Module is nowhere to be found on the street. I ask more people and finally realize why the address is so hard to find. The module is located in a small unmarked warehouse behind a large pipe factory. The ordeal has taken me two hours.
I get out at the Vehicle Verification Module and speak to a young man at the desk inside. He says that since it is now 5:45 p.m. they can't inspect any more vehicles today. He also says that before coming tomorrow I'll need to pay for my vehicle to be verified. I can pay for this at the Vehicle Verification Module cashier office located next to a grocery store on the southwest side of the city.
I decide to drive to the cashier’s office right away. Even though it'll be closed this late in the day, I want to make sure I can find it. This way, I'll be able to get an early start tomorrow.
Wednesday, Jan 19, 8 a.m.
I leave early. Rachel borrows the Krause's car to take Trinity to school. I drive to the Vehicle Verification Module's cashier office next to the store and get in line. The line is moving slow - slower than usual. A gentleman waiting in line next to me explains why: "No hay sistema. Bienvenidos a México" (The system is down. Welcome to Mexico). It turns out that the system isn't actually down, it's just running very slowly. Three and half hours later I make it to the front of the line and pay 115 pesos (just under $10 USD) to have my vehicle verified.
By this time it's noon and I'm hungry. I'm also chilly, because it's cool outside today and I just finished standing in a line outside for nearly four hours. I duck in the grocery store and grab some rice and pork from a Chinese restaurant inside the building. I get it to go; then jump in our car and drive to the Vehicle Verification Module.
When I arrive at the Vehicle Verification Module I speak with the same young man I had seen behind the desk on Tuesday. He wants to see my original title, FM2 visa, the receipt of sale, my 2010 taxes receipt and my cable bill. He takes copies of these and tells me to unlock my vehicle and pop the hood. Three hours later the young man informs me they've finished verifying that my vehicle matches the title and that it has not been reported stolen. He also says that the DMV is no longer accepting vehicles today (it's nearly 4 p.m.), and that since Thursday is a holiday, I'll have to wait until Friday to get my license plates.
Thursday, Jan 20
Happy Founding of León Day! All government offices are closed. Trinity has the day off school.
Friday, Jan 21, 8 a.m.
I don't see much point in getting to the DMV early, so I prepare to drop Trinity off at school and then head over. Shortly before I leave, Mari (our nanny) calls in sick. She has a cold and fever and won't be able to take care of Noelle in the morning. This gives me an idea. I decide to take Noelle with me. I had seen many other parents with young children at the DMV on Tuesday. I also think that Noelle might help grumpy DMV workers be more friendly.
Noelle and I drop off Trinity, then drive to the DMV. We head back to the Information line as we had been told. When we get there, I see that the lady who had helped me in that line on my first day is still working the same line. I walk up with a big smile and sit Noelle on the counter. I quickly tell her I have all my documents and ask if I really have to wait in this line again (the first time through this line it took me two and a half hours, and today the line is longer). A big smile from Noelle and the lady says of course not. She offers to check my documents and send me on.
After looking over my documents, she says I need one more copy of my FM2 visa. We go to the copy shop and come back. The lady puts all of my documents in order; then staples them to the small yellow slip of paper with the number 18767 on it. She gives me another slip of paper, this time with a 16 on it. She explains that I'll need to go to the Turn in your Old License Plates line and wait my turn.
Fortunately, this line is serving number 12. Noelle and I only wait 30 minutes...this time in chairs! When it's our turn, I hand over my documents, copies and my old license plates and registration. The lady looks them over and informs me that I'll need two more copies: one of my bank statement and another of my 2010 taxes receipt.
Once more Noelle and I run to the copy shop and return. The lady looks everything over and tells us we're now ready to get into the last line. This is the Pay for your New License Plates and Registration line. She says that after we pay, the cashier will give us our new license plates and registration!
After grabbing a quick breakfast of four beef brisket tacos at a nearby taco stand, Noelle and I get into our last line. This line moves pretty fast; after only one hour it's our turn. The lady in charge of this line gets copies of our documents from the lady at the Turn in your Old License Plates line. She looks over our vehicle title and charges us approximately $300 USD. We pay and she hands over our new license plates. However, as she is about to print the registration slip, her computer freezes.
After waiting five minutes, she calls over a technician who looks it over and declares, "Everything looks like it's working normally to me." We wait some more.
Ten minutes later and still nothing has happened. Fortunately, Noelle decides that this would be a good time to take a little cat nap. The lady calls over the technician again. Apparently it is just her computer that isn't running properly. They try a number of things. Finally they call for a second technician. He comes, gives the printer a whack on the side and the printer roars to life!
After four days and approximately 20 hours of waiting I finally have my new license plates and vehicle registration! Noelle and I happily drive home. I'm excited to make it home by noon, a full hour earlier than I had estimated! Today’s a great day.
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