My title/license experience

[OhBuoy]

I decided to use the new laws to title my Cobra. I trailered my car to Naperville for the NSRA inspection. The car did not need to leave the trailer, and the inspection took all of 10 minutes. The guy who does the inspection is a great guy and very into cars. I ended up spending another 30 minutes talking to him.

I tried getting the plates and title at a Currency exchange. For the $35.00 that they wanted to collect, they were less than helpfull. In fact, because they were not sure if I could get temporary plates or not, they wanted to do the paperwork and then send me to the SOS office to get the temps. Even though I had everything organized, they wanted to pull it all apart and do it their way, which in my eyes would have raised red flags at the state.

So, Tuesday night, I head out to Joliet to the Secretary of States Office. Keep in mind that I had everything organized. I had a copy of the law from the website, all of my bills, with a spreadsheet totalling the taxable and non-taxable items, my certificate of origin, my safety inspection and pictures just in case. I was given two forms when I go there and told to fill them out, which I did. When I brought them back to the counter, I was given number 43, with 40 being the current number served. After about a 10 minute wait, it was my turn to see an Auditer (I wish they would call them something else!). The lady that I got was very helpfull. She did not want to take the safety inspection, but I pointed out that it was required under the new law. She read over my printout from the website. She was very happy that I had my own photo copies of everything and the spreadsheet. She was extremely helpfull. They gave me the wrong tax form, so as I filled that out, she browsed their computer to see if she could get me any information on the NSRA plates to see if there were any benefits or restrictions. I told her that I did not think they were available yet, but she looked anyways, just in case they were less money without less benefits (on her own without me asking).

In all, I was out of the SOS in about 35 minutes with a temporary plate. It was very painless. I think my organization helped alot, but the friendly helpfull people along the way helped as well. I could have been out 10 minutes sooner if a lady did not sit there and argue with them because she wanted to put her husbands car in her name without having a title signed over to her. The bank had transfered the loan to her name, however, nobody processed the title transfer. She tied up two "Auditers" for about 10 minutes. I did not get too angry because I figured I was going to tie at least one up for a while.

Now, if I could only get insurance. When I originally checked with State Farm, it sounded like it was gong to be no problem. Now there are a lot of questions and requests for brochures and pictures!

Tom

[GOCATS]

Tom:

Sounds like everthing went very well. I read the stories about the guys in CA and feel very fortunate about what I had to go thru. I have found that when dealing with front-line state and county employee's it does not do any good to get upset when things are not going your way or as quickly as you had hoped. Cool heads always prevail I have my insurance thru state farm as well. I have a great agent and the insurance is greatl. One thing, I do probably not a news flash is in the winter months we you can't drive it I "withdraw from use" the full coverage portion of the insurance and just carry liability as it is parked in locked garage and not going on snow & ice. When it is "driving season" I just call my agent and put the coverage back in force when ever that is. Saves some bucks!

J.A.

[RichMusson]

Tom
Congratulations!
I too feel the SOS office was great - very helpful people really trying to be of service. (I think they are afarid of loosing their jobs to a computer).
As for State Farm, yea, I feel your pain. I am in the same boat. Let me know how you make out. Can't wait to see your car on the street .
Again congrats,
Rich Musson