Yes, I have been back twice. Ugh. On Tuesday, I went to the DMV after work to take the written test and finish everything. It really didn't take me that long. I had to stand in a short line to check in for the test. When I got to the test part, I met the first unpleasant DMV worker in my experience so far. She was CRABBY. I took the test, made a couple stupid mistakes--reading the questions all the way usually helps--but still passed. I went back to the window and they gave me my permit and info about the driving test. Yup. Didn't process that information until I got all the way home when I read on the permit that I needed to have a licensed California driver with me whenever I drove. Yeah right. I did a little research to make sure I didn't actually need to take the driving test and decided to go back again to fix it.
Today, I went back. To start with, there were parking spots in the parking lot. What?? When I got my car verified, I circled for 10 minutes trying to find another space. Today, there were like 5 completely open right away. Awesome! I went in, a little nervous that I was wrong and I would have to take the test. There was one person in line. When I got up to the window, I told her that I already had my license and just wanted to clarify that I could get my license and not my permit. I must have missed the place where it said to put previous license or whatever on the application, but I showed her my license and a few minutes later, walked out with my paper California license. My actual one comes in the mail. My South Dakota license was invalidated, but I do get to keep it. Yay! It was so easy.
When I was done, I realized that it took me a much shorter amount of time than I was planning so I should probably go do something more productive today. I went to get my smog test. South Dakota and Nebraska, the other places I've registered cars before, do not require a smog test so I had no clue what to do. I had asked someone where I could do it. The answer was not extremely helpful (smog test only centers), but it wasn't expected to be helpful. It gave me enough information to research it.
I love Yelp. I looked up smog test centers, found one really close to my apartment that had good reviews. I found it easily, parked my car, and went "um, now what?" I went into what I assumed was the smog test center and told the guy I had no idea what I was doing. He was super nice, went and got my car and did the test. I knew how much it was going to cost going into it, so I wasn't worried about them trying to charge me more. He did whatever the test does and my car passed. It wasn't too scary. :-) Now, I have to go back to the DMV for a FOURTH time. I made another appointment for just over a week from now (the earliest they had for 4pm) so I can turn in my South Dakota plates and get California ones. Until then, I have a temporary registration to go along with my temporary license. It will be nice (but a little weird) for it to be permanent when that actually happens.
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