Car Registration

Getting the car registered in Ivanovo has proven to be a challenge this year. It is usually a little difficult, but this year it has taken 2 1/2 months!!!

First of all we had to re-register the engine that was changed out last year. This is where the problems began.

• First problem was that the place that sold us the engine, did not give us the special sheet of paper -- a passport -- for the engine -- this took about 2 weeks to get.
• Next problem is that by the time this paper was received, the inspection of the car was expired.
• After 2 days of waiting in line at the car inspection place, 20 hours total, the car was inspected again.
• Back to the DMV -- this time another document was needed -- an explanation of why the model number of the new engine was one letter different. This took 2 weeks to get.
• Then Chris went out of the country for 2 weeks and our friend who is the owner of the car was out of the country as well.
• Chris gets back -- gets the document that explained the difference in the two engines and takes it to a Russian friend who is supposed to speed the process along. Three days later, there is no answer. We have to have Chris's passport back and they give us the whole packet of documents back.
• On Monday, the Russian friend says that he can't help us.

Here is where it really gets interesting!

• Tuesday morning at 7:00 am we left for the DMV. There about 15 people ahead of us. Everyone is just sort of circling around. Usually in Russia you ask "who is last" and remember the color of their shirt and fall into line behind them.
• At 7:45, the man who was first makes his way to the front door. As if on cue, the crowd of people all turned and followed him to the front door -- the "who is last" thing was out the window and it was basically a free for all.
• 8:00 the doors open and we were second in line for the window we needed to be at.
• 8:15 the lady tells us that our inspection that Chris waited 20 hours for has expired. He tried to explain the situation, but to no avail.
• We drive over to the outside of town to get the car inspected at where it was done before, hoping that they would show us mercy and just reprint the paper.
• The inspector hears our story and has compassion, but we still have to have it re inspected.
• We wait -- right by the gate keeper (a 60+ security guard who only lets his friends through). BUT our friendly inspector, keeps asking him to let us through -- and he does after 2 hours!!!! (better than 20)
• The inspection (actually no inspection just printing the document) is done!!!

Now we have to take it back to the DMV. Now it REALLY REALLY gets interesting.

• Chris has to pay two fees -- about $1.50 total. Stands in line at the cashier and she closes for lunch -- so we go have lunch.
• He gets back, pays the fees and goes to stand in line waiting again at window number 2.
• Hands her the documents -- has to go back to pay another fee for printing out a new "passport" for the car with the new engine number written on it.
• "Why did you not tell me I needed to pay this fee?" Answer -- "It's not my responsibility."
• She takes all the papers, then comes back to say that the inspection for the engine has expired -- a signature from the engine inspector.
• Chris goes to the engine inspector -- he inspects it. But says he is not the only one that has to sign off, he is only an inspector, the EXPERT has to sign off too.
• Expert says to come back tomorrow at 10:00
• Chris goes back to window number 2, lady says to go ask the expert again since he has signed it once already.
• Chris goes back again and PTL the expert signs it again!!!
• Takes all the papers back and gets the registration of the engine done!!!!!!

As he was leaving and reflecting on the experience, pleased that he did not go "postal" during the whole process, he remembers seeing the lady at window #2 give him a ever so slight smile.

I just got word from Chris this morning that he now has a 2009 registration card for the van!!!!

WAHOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lesson learned -- Don't procrastinate -- begin registering your new engine the day it gets put in your car. Oh yeah, DON'T drive through high water after a flood and you won't have to replace your engine!!!!