I love having a somewhat reliable car, it means I don't have to go into the inspection process expecting to have an expensive repair on top of it. Oh, wait, not all states require a vehicle safety and emissions inspection as part of registration.

In California, I used to get a business envelope with my renewal information. In Colorado it is a small postcard. Way too often I miss the card or get it and put it in "a safe place". Now I try to look at the month on my plate whenever I walk up to my car. Though at the moment, I sure couldn't tell you when it will renew.

I do need to go to DMV and get my address updated and HOPEFULLY get a new picture. My current picture is beyond hideous.

We have it every other year. The downside of the old car is I have to get a more comprehensive emissions check, but the Toyota has come through just needing a minor adjustment, not a costly repair, every time so far.

ETA: I'm SO GLAD they put all that stuff (including my car's current status and due dates) on the internet so I can look it up when I get worried that I've forgotten part of the process.

Oh good lord. I thought I just barely screwed on the lid of my lunch after I took it out of the microwave but now I can't get it open. Sigh.

Renewing driver's licenses has become a huge pain now that we've got to have all these damned identifying documents. I had to get my birth certificate and marriage license to prove my existence and justify the name difference between current DL and birth certificate.

I had to do that this week. My license actually expired in February; I know bad girl. So I gathered all the stuff (been married 3 times yo!), and went and got the new license. Good till 2022 now.

The oddest part was I had my contacts in and they are mono-vision so one column was totally blurred. So I have a restriction that I can't drive without side view mirrors. I guess I shouldn't close my far eye when driving.

We don't get any notification at all. And using a DC driver's license for ID is kind of iffy ... not only are they not in compliance with the more stringent ID requirements to get one, but some people (TSA, I'm glaring at you) don't recognize DC as being a valid part of the U.S.

but some people (TSA, I'm glaring at you) don't recognize DC as being a valid part of the U.S.

What?!

At least one person had a TSA security person tell them that their DC driver's license wasn't good enough to allow them to board a plane. It's actually happened at least twice that I've heard of.

In other news, I think I'll refrain from going any further south than ... Virginia, perhaps.

I went to renew registrations and realized I hadn't read the notice and needed a smog check. Got it done but, man, some years I can't help but miss Oregon's multiyear and cheap car registration.

Trader Joe's had (oh, please, don't be past tense)