Thanks Washington! (sarcasm)

"Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo" (akioohtori) 07/10/2019 at 16:19 • Filed to: TQ Adventures, TQ3

0

25

There have been some changes to the plan for our AlCan cheap car challenge, but at least we’re still moving forward.

Turns out Washington has some... lets say inconvenient laws around vehicle purchasing and we became unconvinced the we could still buy cars in Washington, cross an international border, and travel 2000 miles in a foreign country with an acceptable level of risk.

Something had to give.

The tl;dr of our research is that Washington state does not appear to issue temporary licence plates and they only allow 15 days to register a vehicle after purchase. They do issue 3-day trip permits, of which you can purchase up to 3, but that is it. We considered just registering the vehicles, but apparently without a Washington State ID and address, that wasn’t going to happen.

Basically, they’re fucking us.

Actually they’re just doing what they think is best for the state and fucking us is an unhappy side effect.

Our options as we saw them were thus:

Ship the first road trip cars (which we all still own) to Seattle and then ship them back from Anchorage. I was probably the biggest cheerleader for this option as I think it would be delightful to finish the trip that we’d started in those cars back in 2015. However, the logistics and expense of shipping three cars across the continent, twice, was a bit much for the other two and I respect that.

Then there was the option of re-planning a totally different trip to take place at the same time. We have a lot of trip ideas available so it wouldn’t be a huge stretch to pull one of those out of mothballs. That said, all of us are pretty much in love with the idea of this trip so... that option is off the table.

That leaves us with our two leading options:

Option 1: Find an adjacent state with more favorable laws to purchase cars in. This basically meant Vancouver or Portland. Vancouver had the benefit of halving the number of border crossings we needed to make in these cars, but made getting those cars into the US... interesting. Portland we have been unable to determine the applicable laws, but have some feelers out to see what our options are.

Option 2: Buy cars at home, title and register them, and ship them to Seattle. This has the benefit of being 100% legal and above board. It does add to the expense of the trip a little, but considering the car market in Oklahoma at least is pretty cheap, we’re thinking it might be a wash.

Option 2 is the one that appears to be capturing our imaginations the most as it has some pretty strong benefits. First off, cars don’t rust here. Also AWD cars don’t command a premium like I assume they do in the PWN. All this means that I assume if we wanted to and chose correctly, we could... well not make money but lose less money than usual. Or at the least should be able to pick cars that are easy to sell in Alaska. Also option 2 gives us the opportunity to take a look at riskier cars that we wouldn’t ordinarily look at.

Option 1.... well it doesn’t have a ton going for it. It better preserves the manic hunt for a car, but doesn’t reduce the risk much and adds a lot of miles.

If I were to guess I would say we’ll end up with option 2.

E90M3 > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 07/10/2019 at 16:26

0

MA doesn’t do temp tags either, so when ORLG bought the IS-F he had to get a temporary Tennessee tag in order to drive it off the lot. That was an ordeal as in his county you also need an emissions inspection. 

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > E90M3 07/10/2019 at 16:33

1

I just assume the dealerships are to blame. I don’t know why I think that, but I do

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 07/10/2019 at 16:35

0

One more benefit of Vancouver is a near 30% discount on the dollar. used car values don’t differ too much on either side of the border. You’re dollar would go further.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 07/10/2019 at 16:40

1

You sure about that? https://app.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=308-56A-140

Before you make any decisions, call a AAA or dealership in Washington and see if they can confirm how long temp tags are good for. And/or see if Oklahoma will give you some before your trip. 

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 07/10/2019 at 16:57

1

Trip permits are easy peasy in Oregon. IIRC you can get 30 and 90 day. The Oregon DMV website isn't terrible to navigate.

DipodomysDeserti > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 07/10/2019 at 17:19

0

Option illegal: bring a plate from one of your other cars with you and don’t get pulled over.

Mid Engine > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 07/10/2019 at 19:01

0

I had a temp on my Taco when I bought it, it takes WA st ate about a month to send you the plates.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind 07/10/2019 at 19:32

0

Hmm I'll have my people look into it.  We've contacted the DOL and some agents directly and they've all told us to get fucked.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > DipodomysDeserti 07/10/2019 at 19:33

2

Super-duper illegal. Not worth the risk of having our plates scanned and the uncomfortable questions that would follow.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 07/10/2019 at 19:50

1

It is mostly to hinder mass residents from illegally registering their cars in NH. 

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > E90M3 07/10/2019 at 19:52

0

It is due to the high number of illegally registered NH cars by mass residents. 

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 07/10/2019 at 20:07

1

That’s just weird...like, certainly it’s not uncommon for people from out of state to come and buy a car there. 30 days is the universal standard for temp registration; most states give you 60 or 90... 

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind 07/10/2019 at 23:56

0

I think it would be fine if we weren’t crossing into Canada. In fact it would probably be fine even then, but if we, or even one of us, did have a problem the impact would be large.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 07/11/2019 at 01:34

0

If you want, I can stop at a title office in person and ask a real person... In person. I feel you're infinitely more likely to find someone that will actually help you, if you corner them at their place of work where they can't blow you off.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 07/11/2019 at 01:35

1

That sounds like something to work out with the border. I personally don’t see why you can’t cross the border with proper ID, a bill of sale/proof of purchase and the torn title stub from the seller in hand should you be hassled by law enforcement. The VIN on your car will match the title when pressed.

Here’s another idea: go into the DMV/title office, physically. (Note: DON’T go the DOL*, they can’t and won’t help you, they don’t deal with car titles, just driver licenses and sometimes other vehicle for some reason... It’s awful). Approach the nice receptionist with your story.

“Hey, we’re from Alaska and we just bought a car down the street at a lot (don’t be shy about producing your ID), finalizing the payment details, but I wanted to stop in and ask... Is there something I can get from you guys like a temp of a window sticker so that I can just make it home?” Someone will give you something that represents an actual answer.

E90M3 > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas 07/11/2019 at 07:32

0

Ah, that makes sense. Still doesn’t make buying a car from that state long distance any fun. 

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 07/11/2019 at 11:30

0

Yeah we’re pretty sure that we could get across the border and indeed Canada, without too many troubles.  After the border the next biggest concern was Yukon Territories, which can impound your car for not displaying a plate.  Again, we think it would be fine, but the impact of any one person in that system deciding to be a dick would be very large.  (heyo?)

RPM esq. > DipodomysDeserti 08/01/2019 at 13:17

1

This would be an insane risk to take with an international border crossing involved, where the plate will be scanned.

RPM esq. > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 08/01/2019 at 13:17

0

They scan plates at the border. Do not do this.

RPM esq. > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 08/01/2019 at 13:25

0

Washington has 60-day temporaries in the event that you need extra time to get all the documentation required to fully transfer title and register it . There’s one on my car right now while I wait for plates. You still have to pay tax and license fees as if you were registering it, though.

https://app.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=308-56A-140

In pertinent part:

(1) What is a department temporary permit? A department temporary permit consists of a system-generated permit and a cardboard temporary “plate” which may be issued in lieu of a registration certificate and license plates when:

(a) The vehicle is not currently licensed in Washington; and

For the purposes of this section, a vehicle may be considered unlicensed if the current license expires within sixty days of application for the department temporary permit, or the vehicle’s license plates are missing or unreadable; and

(b) Appropriate vehicle documentation to title and license the vehicle is not immediately available but is likely to be available within sixty days; and

(c) The vehicle was purchased from someone other than a licensed Washington dealer or is scheduled for inspection by the Washington state patrol.

RPM esq. > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 08/01/2019 at 13:30

0

The key piece of advice Zoidberg is offering, which may not be clear, is that in Washington you have a choice of going to a county agency or to private licensing agents who get to collect a small fee for providing these services. Because these are small businesses, they are incentivized to provide good customer service and will find a way to solve your problem. As Zoidberg says, I would not hesitate to show up, buy a car, drive it to one of these places, and explain that you don’t live in Washington and won’t be registering it here, but you need the car to be legal for a long road trip home. They will fix you up.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > RPM esq. 08/01/2019 at 13:50

0

We called a couple, explained the situation, and they told us no way.

RPM esq. > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 08/01/2019 at 15:22

0

Interesting. Out of curiosity, I called the one I usually use, and they confirmed more or less what you heard: the only real option is the 3-day trip permits, and even those are technically only good in Washington. That said, dealers can issue 60-day temps while waiting for plates, like the one I just drove 2000 miles through three states with.

She had an interesting alternative suggestion: if your home state offers temp tags, get one there since that’s where you would presumably register the vehicle ultimately, if you were to keep it long enough to get it home.

I think I’d be willing to take my chances with something legal but expired and a promise to register as soon as I get home.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > RPM esq. 08/01/2019 at 15:35

0

If we were staying in the US we would (and have) take that chance. But throwing in two border crossings and a lot of rural driving in a foreign country.... it wasn’t worth the risk.

RPM esq. > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 08/01/2019 at 15:48

0

Fair enough.