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Any thoughts on the process for converting out of state licenses and vehicle registrations to New Mexico? Is this a one-day process (i.e. you walk out of the DMV with your new license) or do they issue you a non-photo temporary?) Also what documentation is required? I would think out of state license, lease on condo to show NM address, SS card, passport, etc. would be more than enough? Just asking because this is different in every state and we are wondering if we can get this chore out of the way when we come out to sign the condo papers in March, in advance of the "big move" in early April. Thank you!!
Any thoughts on the process for converting out of state licenses and vehicle registrations to New Mexico? Is this a one-day process (i.e. you walk out of the DMV with your new license) or do they issue you a non-photo temporary?) Also what documentation is required? I would think out of state license, lease on condo to show NM address, SS card, passport, etc. would be more than enough? Just asking because this is different in every state and we are wondering if we can get this chore out of the way when we come out to sign the condo papers in March, in advance of the "big move" in early April. Thank you!!
I think that's pretty much it for ID.
It isn't a one-day process, however, since they verify vehicle titles here before issuing registrations and that can take a week or so.
I always used MVD Express up in albuquerque as it never took longer than 15 minutes for any services and costs an extra $15.00 which to me was well worth it by getting in and out of the MVD office by 15 minutes.
Thanks! We are moving to Santa Fe but as ABQ is only about 1:15 away by car that may be worth it for the "express" option on our last day there for the March trip. Doubt there's anything other than the traditional full-service DMV in Santa Fe.
There IS a MVD Express location on St. Michael's Drive in Santa Fe.
They were VERY quick ... if you get there early in the morning. I think it backs up later in the day.
We did get temporary driver licenses and had to wait for several weeks to get our permanent licenses in the mail. They told us this is because added security features required that the applications go to Washington DC for processing now.
Using MVD Express adds a few dollars to the cost of the services there (license and registration) BUT it is well worth it in time (and hassle) saved.
(They laughed at us when we picked out our license plates. I chose the traditional Zia plate for my car and my husband chose the balloon plate for his truck. I told the woman, "I have been waiting 40 years to get one of these Zia plates for my car!" )
And ... I really can't say enough about how nice and friendly and professional the people at MVD Express were.
Should be fairly simple UNLESS you have a CDL license. Then you jump through more hoops than a million circus dogs ever did.
Took my husband 7 trips to motor vehicle to get his license. They neglect to tell to bring something different each time you go. Grrrrrrrr. The medical paperwork sent to Santa Fe was lost by the office there, luckily RR had a copy of it.
Then they mailed it out and he never got it because they put down the wrong zip code. So that meant having to go through the whole BS again.
This has been our old bad experience with NM.
To get my car registered I had to bring it in and they do a vin inspection. They told me they'd call when it was ready. I waited a month before I went to the MDV office and the paperwork was never submitted. I would recommend that you follow up within a week because it only takes a few days to get a vin verification. After that little mixup everything went smoothly. Hope all goes well!
Thanks to everyone for the info. So what I think we may do is get the insurance switched first (we have State Farm so I would expect we could go into a SF agent's office in Santa Fe, switch policies over, and get a new card for our car with the Santa Fe mailing address on it), and wait until the first electric and cable bills arrive with our names and new address on it, and then approach DMV sometime after the "big move" in April. We have a clear title to the car so that should be fairly easy to turn into a NM title.
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