nummish (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} nummish) wrote,@ 2006-01-25 16:20:00 |
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Consolidation
This week I paid off my car. Not totally, but adjusted the payment scheme to have myself debt free in 3 months. Although I now officially own my car. Totally.
This all happened because my insurance company told me I needed to get a Texan driver's license. So, I called the people who issue that (DPS not DMV) and they said I needed to have proof of insurance and have my car registered in Texas. The registration people are a different office. I called them, they said I needed an inspection. I took the 2.5 hours to get it inspected. I called them back and as I was hanging up the phone, they asked me if I had customs papers for it.
At this point I remembered that I wasn't technically supposed to leave the country with the car I didn't own outright. I set in motion the plan to have the car paid for by the time I made it to customs. Unbeknownst to me, the payment hadn't arrived by the time I went to the customs people. The customs people didn't notice. Not because they didn't check. No. Because they took one look at my plate ownership form and said:
"Your VIN starts with a J, that means Japanese. You need your car to be EPA and DOT certified before you can import it. Bye." I told him that it was Canadian, and the laws there are more strict, he wouldn't have any of it. He just kept pointing to the J.
Later that day, the payment made it to the financing company. Although Mazda has yet to contact me back about how to prove my car is ok.
On a side note, I've been told I pronounce Mazda wrong before this. I pronounce the 'a' like in cat or happenstance. Down here everyone pronounces it "Mahzda".. so when I was showing the customs agent the form (despite the fact it says right on there what brand it is) the exchange went like this:
"What make is your car?"
"Mazda"
"What?"
"Mazda"
"uh.. what?"
"Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazda"
"uhm.. is that some weird brand?" (note: They are common everywhere, even texas)
"No. It's a Mazda Protege. Mazda. It's common"
"uh.. do you mean Mahzda?"
Seriously people, even if I have an accent, it should be obvious. GUESS THE CAR COMPANY: M*zda
fucking hell.
It's paid for. That's the point. And by 2008 I should be legally allowed to drive it here.
This week I paid off my car. Not totally, but adjusted the payment scheme to have myself debt free in 3 months. Although I now officially own my car. Totally.
This all happened because my insurance company told me I needed to get a Texan driver's license. So, I called the people who issue that (DPS not DMV) and they said I needed to have proof of insurance and have my car registered in Texas. The registration people are a different office. I called them, they said I needed an inspection. I took the 2.5 hours to get it inspected. I called them back and as I was hanging up the phone, they asked me if I had customs papers for it.
At this point I remembered that I wasn't technically supposed to leave the country with the car I didn't own outright. I set in motion the plan to have the car paid for by the time I made it to customs. Unbeknownst to me, the payment hadn't arrived by the time I went to the customs people. The customs people didn't notice. Not because they didn't check. No. Because they took one look at my plate ownership form and said:
"Your VIN starts with a J, that means Japanese. You need your car to be EPA and DOT certified before you can import it. Bye." I told him that it was Canadian, and the laws there are more strict, he wouldn't have any of it. He just kept pointing to the J.
Later that day, the payment made it to the financing company. Although Mazda has yet to contact me back about how to prove my car is ok.
On a side note, I've been told I pronounce Mazda wrong before this. I pronounce the 'a' like in cat or happenstance. Down here everyone pronounces it "Mahzda".. so when I was showing the customs agent the form (despite the fact it says right on there what brand it is) the exchange went like this:
"What make is your car?"
"Mazda"
"What?"
"Mazda"
"uh.. what?"
"Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazda"
"uhm.. is that some weird brand?" (note: They are common everywhere, even texas)
"No. It's a Mazda Protege. Mazda. It's common"
"uh.. do you mean Mahzda?"
Seriously people, even if I have an accent, it should be obvious. GUESS THE CAR COMPANY: M*zda
fucking hell.
It's paid for. That's the point. And by 2008 I should be legally allowed to drive it here.
