Registering a car in Massachusetts (is not fun)

In order to become official residents of the commonwealth (and who doesn't want to--it's a commonwealth!), we needed a driver's license and license plate for each of us. We made our way to the Registry of Motor Vehicles (don't call it the DMV, they don't like that) and filled out the necessary paperwork. Jay, as usual, is not smiling in the new photo for his driver's license, although they still look cool with the semi-high-tech graphics. I successfully registered my car, but Jay has to wait until a copy of his title is sent from Minnesota. He is excited because he gets to keep his Minnesota plates a little longer--this allows him to drive as poorly/slowly/erratically as he wants and people will just forgive him as a crazy out-of-state driver.

After putting the new plates on my car (and saving one of the Minnesota plates to hang in my office) I took it in for the required inspection. The commonwealth requires all registered vehicles to pass a safety and emissions inspection once a year, and you have seven days to complete this task once a new registration is entered. I, of course, waited until 4 p.m. on the 7th day, only to find out that my beloved (and well-maintained!) Saturn had failed. Actually, to avoid damage to my car's self-esteem, I don't like to say that it failed but merely didn't feel comfortable passing the first time around. The problem was with the exhaust system and according to Massachusetts law I was not allowed to drive the car until the problem had been corrected and the car passed inspection. Apparently spewing toxic emissions into the air is a no-no in the commonwealth.

There are three car repair shops in South Deerfield--one was busy getting all the school buses ready for the start of the school year and one was closed until Sept. 5th because the mechanics were on vacation, so that left me with Fischer's Garage. They have proudly been in business since 1912 (I don't think people around here trust a business less than 50 years old) and still have full-service gas pumps, complete with the little hose you drive over to make a chiming noise in the shop so someone will come out and pump your gas. After two days and $395.22, my car has a new exhaust system and proudly displays a "passed inspection" sticker (see right). As Jay's car has not yet been registered or inspected, expect a "Part Two" of the car saga soon...

-hbc