Titling and registering in Virginia

[Abram80]

All,
I am hoping someone can offer some good tips or advise as I’m drawing a blank. Here’s my situation:
- I finally received the SF97 and a title reissue supplement from Govplanet.
- took it to one of the DMVs here in VA… the clerk at the counter was confused and it looks like it was her first time dealing with something like this. Anyway, once she understood that I’m applying for a military surplus plate, she started processing. All was going well until she pointed out that the govplanet address on the SF97 shows the state as NE, where as the reassignment title shows the home state as CA. She said these should match or they won’t title it.

so I called Govplanet back this morning and they tell me that this is how they have been doing for all their sf-97s and never had a problem. They can’t change the reassignment to show NE address, and they can’t ask military to fix sf-97 now. They say this is not their problem and suggested two options:

1. try my luck at another dmv location
Or
2. Send them the sf-97 back and pay an extra $200 to have them issue a title, which can take another 30 business days.

They just shifted the burden on to me even though this is their mistake on the documentation. And I’m now having to pay additional $200 for an issue I didn’t cause.

anyway, at this point I just want to get through the titling. Any suggestions from folks who had been through a similar situation titling in Virginia? Any recommendation on dmv locations for NoVA area that won’t make a fuss?

TIA,
Abin

 

[Bulldogger]

Welcome to the fun. I can't recommend a NOVA DMV, but in my opinion if all it takes is $200 to fix it, I'd just pay and be done with it. The negativity towards HMMWVs in Virginia isn't likely to change soon. Avoiding conflict seems the best course, but I acknowledge it's not my $200!

 

[Abram80]

Thanks for the inputs Bulldogger! I’m at the line at sterling DMV. It’s 405 and I did a walk in. Keeping fingers crossed. If I run into the same experience then I’ll just pay the $200 and get the title. I wish I knew that getting the title directly was easier. It feels like I got the sf97 for nothing

 

[Abram80]

Just got done with the second DMV and unfortunately, I don’t have a success story to report. That said these guys are a little more open minded than the previous one. They pointed out the discrepancy between the SF 97 and the title, reassignment addresses rather than rejecting it. They scanned my documents and have sent it to the head office in Richmond for additional verification. I will have to come back tomorrow to find out the results. Hopefully the Richmond office has more knowledge off how this works and well provide the approvals to proceed.
Separately, the DMV also pointed out an error in the SF 97. It looks like the military has fat fingered and put the shipping weight at 65,000 pounds. This is another discrepancy that they pointed out. I hope I’ll not be asked to get the updated SF 97 for that clerical error,

 

[Abram80]

Update: heard back from the DMV main office at Richmond. They say that since the shipping weight says 65,000 pounds I need to register this as a motor carrier. WTF? Anyway, I prompted the call center agent if I could provide some evidence that this was incorrect , like a weigh station station receipt , etc. And she said that might help. Again, I don’t get any clear assertive answer so now I’m left with trying to figure out how I can get my HMMWV trailered to nearby weigh station to get the receipt.y

Any other ideas or suggestions on how I can legitimately prove the weight? Will a print out of them specs from gov planet site hold any validity?

 

[Bulldogger]

Update: heard back from the DMV main office at Richmond. They say that since the shipping weight says 65,000 pounds I need to register this as a motor carrier. WTF? Anyway, I prompted the call center agent if I could provide some evidence that this was incorrect , like a weigh station station receipt , etc. And she said that might help. Again, I don’t get any clear assertive answer so now I’m left with trying to figure out how I can get my HMMWV trailered to nearby weigh station to get the receipt.y

Any other ideas or suggestions on how I can legitimately prove the weight? Will a print out of them specs from gov planet site hold any validity?

Going to a State scales isn't a half bad idea. If you do, I'd recommend dropping into the office first before getting in line with the tractor trailers and speaking with them about it (I'm sure you thought of this, but point it out for others). Most scales have State troopers present. It may be you'll meet a kind hearted trooper who agrees with the silliness and will sign your tare sheet. That's what I'd try to do. If you bring a State-run scales tare sheet signed by a trooper, how can they argue?
Thank goodness DMV let me fill all that out myself when I registered mine 8-9 years ago! This was well before the retired MV laws against HMMWVs and mandatory antique plates. I doubt whomever title transfers my truck after me will have as good an experience.

BDGR

 

[booose]

Just got done with the second DMV and unfortunately, I don’t have a success story to report. That said these guys are a little more open minded than the previous one. They pointed out the discrepancy between the SF 97 and the title, reassignment addresses rather than rejecting it. They scanned my documents and have sent it to the head office in Richmond for additional verification. I will have to come back tomorrow to find out the results. Hopefully the Richmond office has more knowledge off how this works and well provide the approvals to proceed.
Separately, the DMV also pointed out an error in the SF 97. It looks like the military has fat fingered and put the shipping weight at 65,000 pounds. This is another discrepancy that they pointed out. I hope I’ll not be asked to get the updated SF 97 for that clerical error,

If the SF-97 has information incorrectly stated, I would personally ask Govplanet to have the form revised or a new one created at no cost. It is not your fault or your problem to solve as they supplied you with an incorrect form.

I am not sure how long it originally took you to get your SF-97, but when I purchased a vehicle from Govplanet earlier this year it took about 4 weeks for me to receive my form after the sale was completed.