Kyle Smith

For the computer scientists in the audience that miss Tino’s exams:

I used to live in Vermont, The Green Mountain State. As of October 1, 2005, I now live in New York, The Let’s-Fuck-You-Over-With-Stupid-Regulations State. I purchased a vehicle in December 2004 which I financed (so I’m still making payments). Now that I live in New York, I would like a NYS driver’s license and I would like to register my car in NY. I would also like to refinance my vehicle to lower the monthly payment.

Notable facts and constraints:

• NYS requires a NY-based insurance policy. You must have a policy before attempting to register your car.
• In order to purchase a new policy, you need a NYS driver’s license or proof of address (i.e. a copy of a signed lease, a utility bill). Keep in mind that I have been in my new residence for 12 days.
• To trade in a driver’s license from another state for a NYS license, you must show your old license and your Social Security card. You must also provide 2 additional points of identification (1 if your license from another state is still valid).
• As I discovered today, if your SS card has been altered in any way, the NYS DMV will refuse to accept it as proof. “Altered” could include covering the card with clear mailing tape in order to help preserve it, as I did (it is just lightweight cardstock, after all).

Refinancing the vehicle produces additional questions: do I register my vehicle, then refinance and update the title? Do I refinance first and register the vehicle later? Both involve paperwork at the DMV at a minimum.

Additional complications:

• My car registration in VT expires at the end of this month.
• Monthly payments for my existing (VT) car insurance policy are processed at the beginning of each month.
• NYS requires residents to trade in their out-of-state licenses no more than 30 days after becoming a resident.
• Refinancing a car requires an insurance book for the vehicle with the appropriate coverages and the new lender’s name.
• The new lender (in my case), Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union, requires the title and a letter showing the payoff amount to complete the refinancing process
• Most lienholders (who hold the title) do not relinquish the title until the lien is paid in full.

Design an optimal algorithm that accomplishes all of the goals outlined above given the aforementioned constraints that is both time and cost efficient.

Am I missing something?

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