The Joy of Car Shopping

Car Shopping...

Now that the tears have stopped, the frustration is over, and I can look back and (sort of) laugh at our attempt to purchase a car for me, I have decided I will fill you all in on our experience.

Once our house sold, we were able to finally look for a car.  Ryan and I wanted to be able to pay cash for the car and we wanted a good, safe, CHEAP, used car.  I am primarily driving to and from the grocery and the girls' school.  I wanted a SMALL car, something easy to park.  This sounds do-able, right?  WRONG!

We started our search with looking online.  We also went to dealerships that others had recommended.  We quickly learned that you had to have an appointment to see a car and what you saw wasn't necessarily the truth.  We spent a few hours for a couple of weekends driving around and looking at certain lots.  Finally, we realized we were just going to have to take a Friday and make a ton of appointments and go look at the cars.  With appointments made and our trek mapped out, Ryan, Chloe, and I set off the moment the girls got on the bus for a day of car shopping.  One goal in mind.  Walk away today with a car.  We went to every one of our places and when we got there either the car had more damage than the dealer let on, or the car was not there.  Even though we had made the appointment, they didn't bother to tell us the car was gone.  We decided to stop for lunch and regroup.  We went back to the Internet, found 4 more cars to take a look at, called and made appointments.  

Two of the cars listed online as available, were actually sold.  We were on the way to look at the next car when we got a call stating it had been sold.  At our last choice Ryan test drove a car, but we saw another one we liked a little better.  SUCCESS!  As we sat down to fill out paperwork on the car we just verbally agreed to purchase, the salesman takes a phone call.  Apparently, another couple had been in last week to see the car, and were willing to pay full price so the salesman took our paper and told us we no longer had a deal.  To say Ryan and I were frustrated would be an understatement.  Furious, some words were shared and we walked out.  We stopped off at a dealership very close to the house and saw a car we liked.  The dealership was actually selling it for a friend so he had to call to see if they would take the price we offered.  After waiting for a few days, we found out the owner had already sold the car to someone else.  

Ryan and I were both at our breaking point.  I was sick of walking two and a half miles at least one time a week to buy groceries and cleaning supplies for a family of five.  It was no easy task or a safe one.  The girls were missing out on school activities because I couldn't pick them up after school and when they are trying to make friends, it makes it very difficult to be missing out on things.  Ryan was SWAMPED at work and adding this to his plate was stressful for us both.  

Ryan had decided he had enough and went to a Ford dealership by our house.  He was there to see a car for sale he had seen online.  Once he got to the dealership, he found out it was already sold.  (Are you seeing a theme yet?)  Frustrated, he told the salesmen to show him what they DO have for sale.  Ryan ended up purchasing a car that he hated the color and didn't even test drive.  It takes a week after you purchase the car to get to have possession.  The car must go through an inspection and the owner must have proof of insurance before getting the keys.

I took on the adventure of insurance shopping.  No easy task, I assure you.  I ended up going through our bank and the lady could not have been more helpful.  She was WONDERFUL to work with.  After purchasing our outrageously expensive insurance I was sent to Brussels License Branch to get plates.  My insurance lady called them to ask about what I needed and she prepared everything for me just as they had stated.  Normally, the place you get  your insurance from gives you your plates, but because I still don't have my Belgian Residence Number, I had to get temporary plates.   I drove the next day to get my plates.  Once I got there, I found out they told my insurance lady the wrong information.  I called her to let her know and she was furious.  She called the License Branch and told them since it was their mistake they are going to do what they originally said they would do.  I went back up the next day and I got my temporary plate.  

One would think all is well with the world.  We have plates.  We have insurance.  We have a car.  But...you need front plates for the car to be able to drive legally.  No problem, I called the car dealership to confirm they would be able to make front plates and they said they could.  Perfect!

Ryan wanted to be the there to pick up the car, but his car had to be serviced before we left (the next day) for our fall break trip.  I dropped Ryan off to pick up my car and drove his car to Mechlen to be serviced.  He would pick Chloe and I up as soon as he got my car.  Another perfect plan, right?  WRONG! The dealership couldn't make the front plate because mine is red.  They can only make normal plates.  UGH!  Fuming, Ryan called me and I told him the insurance lady told me we go to shoemakers to get duplicate plates. (logical, right?) He very carefully and illegally drove to the shoemakers.  Yes, actual shoemakers but they do make duplicate plates,of course they were all out license plates.  So, Ryan ended up at home and Chloe and I got to sit at the dealership service department for 6 plus hours.  At least one of the workers took us to a place to get a sandwich for lunch.  

After Fall Break, Chloe and I once again took Ryan to work (when we did this, Chloe and I spent about 4 hours total in the car the whole day) and set out to get RED duplicate plates for my car.  I called a place that assured me they did duplicate temporary plates.  When I got there, they told me they don't have red plates.  I went to three other stores that did duplicate plates, but none of them did the temporary ones.  FINALLY, the fourth store I went to, did make red, temporary  plates.  I have never wanted to hug a strange man so badly in all my life.  

I finally was able to drive my car!!  Chloe and I took off the next day for some fun!  My temporary plates only get me through November 30th, then I get to go back to Brussels (I hate driving there) and get my real plates. (If I have my Belgian Residence Number by that time.)  Oh Joy!

I am finding things that are relatively simple in the US, are very frustrating and nearly impossible here. I  just keep asking myself, if I didn't have this task to do, what else would I do?   I am learning lots about how to survive and do the day-to-day tasks.  I have often stopped to wonder if this is how people who move to America feel.  Do they find our daily tasks confusing or cumbersome?  Getting things accomplished here is always tougher than it sounds, but I am determined to find the humor in it all.  I would rather laugh than cry; some days are easier than others.  I'll have to update this post once we get the permanent plates.

UPDATE:

With the holidays and family visiting, I never got around to getting this posted to the blog.  It is now January and all seems to have settled a bit.  Here is the update on the car.

I would love more than anything to say when November 30th came around that all my paperwork was taken care of and I could get my permanent plates for my car.  But, as the way life seems to go here it wasn't that simple.  Ryan got a message stating we needed to head to the commune for some final paperwork.  We were under the impression we would be getting our Belgium ID numbers that day and we could proceed with getting the license plate for my car. In anticipation of such fantastic news I contacted our bank to arrange the proper paperwork for my license plate.  

In the typical Belgian way, the commune was not ready for us to get our Belgium ID.  Ryan could get his, but the girls and I could not.  It was going to be a few more weeks.  Needless to say I was not a happy woman and I left Ryan to handle his business and I went to sit in the waiting room.  Luckily, the poor lady felt sorry for my situation and arranged to get my numbers filed as quickly as she could.  By the end of the next week I had my new (temporary) Belgium card and Chloe and I set off for the License Branch once again.  The very kind lady at the Branch knew I was coming and I was in and out of there in about five minutes.  ( I will have to fill in the details about where I had to park to get to the branch and Chloe's quick education about the Red Light District another day.)  

Of course it would be too simple to give us the license plate while we were at the branch so, we had to wait for the postman to deliver the license plate to our home. They told me it would be 3 days before it would arrive.  For the first time ever, something arrived early.  The day the postman arrived to deliver my plate, I had forgotten my purse in Ryan's car.  I made the poor postman stand at our door while the girls and I found all the change we had in the house.  I needed 30 euros.  I don't know how we did it, but between all the chore money, tooth fairy money, and coins left in dishes and the couch; we had enough.  It only took us 20 minutes to count.

I am finally "legal" with my white plate and orange paper card.  I can't leave the country, but I can drive and right now, that is all that really matters.  No more 4 hour daily car rides for Chloe and me, the girls can participate in after school activities and visit with friends, and no more treacherous walks to the grocery store in ever changing weather.  This was ultimately a very frustrating situation, but I have learned to be resourceful, and more patient.  Most importantly, I learned to lean on God a lot more.  I am still working on patience (I think this will be a never ending lesson for me) and remembering there are some things in life totally out of my control.  I need to let go and trust God has a plan. Now, off to get more milk.....