Discussion: hm, since I brought my car ...

hm, since I brought my car up from TX, I can't help with the buying, but I remember that the order of things was convoluted. I *think* it was:

1. Insurance. This was instantaneous from geico and was required to drive the car home from where it was shipped to storage. (It was a reactivation/transfer of my TX policy though.) I suspect that this is less of a problem for most people because they already have insurance from another car, which would let them drive the other one.
2. License. You already have this one.
3. Registration. Emissions test and stuff, then back to the DMV to get new plates. There is something on my registration certificate about having to inform the DMV within 48 hours of a sale.

I vaguely remember when I bought my car in Houston, I decided on which one I wanted, went to the insurance agent to line up the insurance, then went and got the car. You could maybe visit/call a dealer and ask them how such a process would work.

One thing you could do is visit

Thanks Claire! 48 hours makes sense - so you would put down a deposit, sort out insurance, print out a card, drive it away, then register it on Monday morning when the DMV opened, if we were to buy this weekend for example. Does that work?

I think that would work but like feet said, check w insurance company.

Avoid the DMV if you can though they may have improved - slow is the word.

I know...I have spent a long time at the DMV thanks to having to do the Driving Test, and I would rather avoid them if possible!

driving test lines were worse than the rego lines when I was there.
Though it's a legitimate avoid-your-supervisor-activity.

I know! We're going to go see a car tomorrow, so maybe I'll get Monday morning off after all!