The rest of the story……..

venerdi, 26 maggio 2017 (posted on Saturday -from the wi-fi bench.)

Happy Birthday Mom!

My mother would be 99 years old today.  She is on my mind a lot lately as I  wonder what she would be thinking with my recent move to Italy. I hope she is smiling and happy with my decision.

I’m sure many of you have seen my Facebook post of my new car.  Well here is “the rest of the story”.  

Last night (Thursday) was another eye opening experience.  Nothing I wasn’t prepared for but another of those - are you kidding me? moments.

I had a few more steps to complete before I could buy my car.   I went to a place to transfer the registration or what we might consider transfer of title.  It is a private business - not run or controlled at all by the government.  They were very helpful and efficient.  The office had pictures of New York City on all of the walls.  The workers told me the owner is either from New York or lives in New York. I thought that was interesting.     This part completed and pretty pain free the next step would try my patience.

When buying car insurance in Italy you better save your money!!!!  A cousin’s son-in-law is an insurance agent.  I thought I was prepared - bringing a letter from State Farm about my driving record and insurability - even translated into Italian.   When I showed Giovanni the letter he shook his head and say “No”.   He proceeded to explain that in Italy and (possibly other European countries) you need a “certificate of risK”.  It gives a % of insurability and if high enough your insurance can be a lot cheaper.  The problem - our insurance companies in the U.S.  don’t provide this certificate.  After a few calls back to the states to talk with my past agent I learned that the best they can do is provide a letter of experience but no risk certificate.  But that is not acceptable in Italy.  The end result is I am spending more money - alot more money. OMG!  Insurance is expensive in Italy.   But it is a bit of a tradeoff - many things are much less expensive than the U.S.  - but auto insurance - not so much!  I also learned they will not accept a credit card for payment.  So I must bring a check.  

This morning (Friday) Angela and I are at the bank bright and early at 9:00 a.m.  We get right in and are helped again by the same young man that has been helping me this past week.   He confirms my account now has the money transferred from the states.  That’s a good first step!!!  I then provide the detail, vendor and amount of money needed for a bank check to buy the car.  He goes away and comes back with a check for the car.  He also provides a book of checks.  I wasn’t sure I would need them earlier in the week but just like in the states you do need checks occasionally.  So he now provided a book of checks for me to use.  The first one will be to pay for the car insurance.   The check book contains 10 checks.  It is similar in appearance to ours and the basic information is the same.  So now with my bank check and regular checks in hand it is off to the insurance agent, Giovanni, to pay for my insurance.  

I write Giovanni a check with the only challenge  - making sure I spell all the information on the check correct in Italian.   He provided a packet of information that will now remain in the car.  He also provided a device we will have installed on the car.  After one year’s time it will track the kilometers I have driven.  Based on that information next year I may be able to get cheaper insurance.  One can only hope!!!

So NOW we can go pick up my car.  We arrive at the dealer and there she is - sitting in the show room just waiting for me.  I provide all the required documents and the check.  He gives us instructions as to where to go to have the “kilometer reader” installed.  A few more instructions, a few photos and I am on my way.  A total of 2 hours from when I left my house this morning.  Not bad at all.   

A quick stop to have the “reader” installed and then I stop to fill the tank - yes it was almost on empty.  $56 dollars later and my tank (31 liters or a bit over 8 gallons) is full.   Yes gas is expensive in Italy. It calculates out to more than $8.00/gallon.  Thank goodness I bought a hybrid. Will be interesting to see how it performs.  I will report on it later. 

So another big task completed.  But with it some smaller, just as important, tasks have been completed as well - and less than 3 weeks into my residency.  Now if I could just get my internet fixed!!!   But what better way to end the week than sitting on my front porch with Oscar and enjoying a glass of wine!  

Best wishes for a safe and happy Memorial Day!  

Fino a lunedì