What's the process (and it is a process) of getting a vehicle purchased, registered, and licensed in Nevis? Well, since I've done it now, I'm pretty much a professional, so let me tell you!
Step One: Find a car! This is honestly the hardest part! Unless you're super lucky, plan on looking at several vehicles, and expect most of them to be pieces of junk. They may be missing parts like tail or head lights, have holes rotted in the interior or rusted in the body, will probably have bald tires, and may die several times on a test drive. Also, expect all of them to cost about the same price (expensive), regardless of their year or condition. Just remember that living on an island is an adventure, and your car hunt is just part of it!
Step Two: Once you find a car you like, your next step is to find a mechanic who can check it out for you to make sure it runs well or doesn't have any major issues. This step can be tricky. Tip: Ask around for recommendations from people who have lived here longer than you. Stay away from mechanics named Surprises. Mechanics named Zwang are good, and very nice and helpful.
Step Three: Purchase the vehicle. It will take several trips to the bank ATM because of your daily withdrawal limits. Once you have all your money together, arrange to meet the seller at his bank of choice to make the transaction.
Step Four: The seller must sign a "change of ownership form" to sign the car over to you. This is done at the police station. Note- this process can apparently take up to an hour and a half. Only after you sit there patiently for that long will an officer finally explain to you that the reason it took so long is because they've been trying to find a license plate number for you that isn't already in use, and the computer system is extra slow because it needs to be updated. Thank you, sir.
Step Five: Insurance. Pick an insurance company, wait some more while the girl helping you reviews your papers several times and writes you several quotes. Don't expect to have a conversation with her, as she's busy singing along to the radio, and she'll talk to you when she needs information. She'll also let you know that your policy cannot be finalized because your missing the "safety inspection form." What safety inspection form, you ask? The one that no one told you you needed, even after you asked several times at the police station if you had everything you needed and were assured you did.
Step Six: Safety inspection. There is a gas station on the outside of town that will do this for you. It's pretty painless. A less than friendly lady sitting outside will walk around your vehicle, ask you if the AC and the horn work, charge you some money and give you the filled out form stating that your vehicle is safe.
Step Seven: Return to the Insurance company with your completed safety inspection form and interrupt the girl's singing to have her finalize your policy. (My favorite part was that when I asked her how her day was going, she sighed real big and answered "BUSY!")
Step Eight: Take all your paperwork to the Inland Revenue Office to pay all your fees. Once you accidentally go the wrong way down a one way road, cause a ruckus, and finally find a parking spot, the hardest part is over. The ladies in the office are for the most part friendly. The nice lady named Sharon will review all your paper work, click around on her computer for a few minutes, then inform you that the number the police station gave you for your license plate is already registered to someone else. Don't worry, after a phone call to the police station to inform them of their error, a little more clicking, and only about two minutes, she'll find you another number. She'll also let you know that you didn't need a safety inspection, as those only have to be done once a year, and your vehicle already had one this year. Thank you insurance girl.
Step Nine: Get your license plate made! There is an old man with a little shop on the opposite side of town who makes the plates. (Everyone has gotta get a piece of the action) He has a fancy machine that cuts out the numbers, then he sticks them on a metal plate, cracks some jokes, charges you some money, and voila!
Now, just make one more stop at the insurance place to let her know your license plate number changed, and then YOU'RE DONE! The whole process from start to finish should only take about 5.5 hours. Reward yourself with a coke! :)
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