Registering Your Car and Getting Your License in Laredo--Learn from MY horrible experience

We had put it off long enough.  I HAD to get my Texas driver's license because we needed to give our bank our new address, so we could order checks to pay bills, and we could ONLY do that by showing them a driver's license with the new address on it.  I dreaded doing it because I had heard what a pain in the butt it is.  Luckily, my sister-in-law had already done it and was able to fill me in.  I'm grateful for her sacrifice because I imagine that yesterday would've been much more frustrating without her help.  I'm also grateful that she and my other sister-in-law watched my kids for me while I did it because... well, it was just ridiculous what all I had to do and adding kids into the mix would've been pure... heck.  :)

I started out that day confident that I had everything I needed and would be back by lunch time.  Instead I left at around 10am and didn't get back until after 3pm.  *sigh*

I don't know if I want to go into full detail about what all happened that day because it's just plain ridiculous.  What I DO want to do, however, is help out all you other new people by telling you EXACTLY what you need to do to ultimately get your license here in Laredo.  I don't know if the process is the same in all of Texas, but I would assume it is.

So here ya go, in an easy-to-read bulleted form--how to get your freakin' license in Laredo if you've moved from out-of-state.  Oh, and I should mention that this is how you do it if you own a car.  If you don't own a car, I think the process is different, but we didn't do it that way.

Registering Your Car

• FIRST STEP:  Important!  Get your car insurance changed over to Texas insurance.
• You can't do anything else until you do, so do this as soon as you can
• Get your car inspected
• Items needed: Proof of insurance, license, approx $15
• List of Inspection Stations in Laredo
• Make sure there are NO flaws or alterations on your inspection report.  (I had to go back to the inspection station because they wouldn't accept my inspection report at the DMV. Learn from me!  Double check!)
• Don't go if it's raining or has been raining.  They'll tell you they can't do it.  (Happened to me.)
• Get your tags and title
• Items needed: car title, proof of insurance, inspection report, license, cash or local checks, change for parking meters
• If you don't have a local bank, be SURE to bring cash.  (I had to leave to go to the bank and get cash. )  Our mini-van cost around $170 to give you a rough estimate of what you'll need.
• Go to the Webb County Tax Assessor's office - 1110 Victoria St, Laredo, TX 78042-8128
• If you want to add a spouse to your title, they must sign the paperwork, too!  Either bring them with you or pick up the form and go have them sign it.
• TIP:  Go in the morning.  It was much less crowded and hardly a wait when I was there early.  By the time I finally had everything I needed, it was after lunch, and the wait was really long.
• TIP: If you're not sure where to go, there should be some guys in red shirts walking around that can direct you.  

Getting your Driver's License

• Items needed - Registration, proof of insurance, driver's license, birth certificate, social security card, $25 cash or local check
• Go to the Texas Department of Public Safety - 1901 Bob Bullock Loop, Laredo, TX 78043-9771
• TIP: Double check the information on your temporary licence before you leave because they can mess it up
• TIP: Make sure you look nice because no one wants an ugly driver's license picture.  :)

I hope this helps at least one person avoid the frustrating day that I had.  Oh, and I have one more tip... listen to some calming music while in the car because I know I sure needed it.  I suggest Brahm's Waltz in A Flat Major... ah, so calming.  :)

Oh, and P.S. to Texas... why are the temporary licenses a 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper?  How am I supposed to fit that in my wallet?  But I guess as my sister said "Everything IS bigger in Texas."  But if you're going to make it that big why not, as my sister-in-law suggested, make it in the SHAPE of Texas?  That would be infinitely more awesome, and I would proudly carry that thing around.  :)