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Home » Planning

Obtaining My Certificate of Title For a Vehicle

Modified: Jun 6, 2020 · Published: Oct 15, 2007 by Dave Lee |

My Jetta's Title

It took me six days to obtain the title to my Jetta from VW Credit.

I got a cashier's check from my bank for the remainder of my loan, printed a payoff quote from the website, overnighted them both to VW, and paid extra for them to send the title back via FedEx.

I now have the pleasure of owning the first car I've completely paid for on my own and will bask in this anti-climactic feeling for a full five weeks before I sign it over to a new driver!

I'm completely debt-free at this point, for probably the first time in 13 years. 

Saving for my backpacking trip around the world has taught me to be financially disciplined, a trait I hope to carry with me for the rest of my life.

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About Dave Lee

Dave is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Go Backpacking and Feastio. He's been to 68 countries and lived in Colombia and Peru. Read the full story of how he became a travel blogger.

Comments

  1. Mike says

    October 15, 2007 at 2:53 pm

    Congrats, Dave! I'm admittedly jealous of anyone who has zero debt. I was still in puberty the last time I had the feeling.

  2. Kirsty says

    October 16, 2007 at 3:39 pm

    Nice news Dave! Congrats! I tend to break into cold sweats these days anytime I go into debt, even if just on my creditcard. I would think that saving to travel would be tough with a big debt hanging over your head because even though you're stashing money away in a savings account you're still digging to get out of that hole. It must feel great to know that all the money you earn will be going towards your trip from here on in.

    • Dave says

      October 16, 2007 at 5:14 pm

      Yes - I'm really raking in the cash now! I was a little nervous about pegging so much of my savings on the final few months, however everything is going according to plan! :smile:

  3. Dave says

    October 16, 2007 at 10:14 pm

    Yes - I'm really raking in the cash now! I was a little nervous about pegging so much of my savings on the final few months, however everything is going according to plan! :smile:

  4. Stu says

    October 17, 2007 at 12:39 pm

    Very nice job!! We are closing our auto loans. We just traded joys hopelessly dead rodeo in for a 0% saturn ion. 13k for a new car on 0% finance really rocks. This is a very manageable debt which is nice as far as debts go! lol.

    Nice work on being debt free, its a serious weight off isnt it. This time next week we will completly own our subaru forrester and be paying peanuts for our new car. Always said I'd never own a new car. Times are a changing.

  5. RBL says

    October 17, 2007 at 8:29 pm

    Well done!

    I'm glad you were able to get title so soon!

  6. RBL says

    October 17, 2007 at 8:29 pm

    Well done!

    I'm glad you were able to get title so soon!

  7. Keith R says

    October 18, 2007 at 12:18 am

    Oh man, I am doubly jealous of you! Debt-free and about to back-pack around the world! Two key dreams of mine! I might get the former once my twins get through college, but doubt the second unless I get divorced, as my wife would never go for backpacking...

    Hey, I recognize the title format -- you must live in Virginia as I do. :smile:

    • Dave says

      October 18, 2007 at 12:43 am

      Hey Keith -

      You called it, I've lived in northern Virginia for the last 15 years...specifically Arlington for the past 5 years. It's grown on me - the Marine and Army helicopters flying to/from the Pentagon as I'm driving to the grocery store or work - the proximity to the best soccer team in MLS (DC United) - and the wealth of things to do in and around the city. :)

  8. Keith R says

    October 18, 2007 at 6:23 am

    Dave, that makes us practically neighbors. I've lived in Northern Va since 1979 -- well, except for 3 yrs during the 1980s in NYC and 4 yrs during the 1990s in Santo Domingo. Funny you should mention the copters. When I used to live over in Rosslyn I'd see all those jetliners coming in so low to National that they would almost hit what was then the USA Today tower, and I hated the noise, their shadows passing and such. Nowadays I'd almost trade that for all these military copters buzzing the Shirley Hwy daily...keeps me feeling like we're under military maneuvers...

  9. Alla says

    September 29, 2010 at 1:03 pm

    Normally I wouldn't comment on posts but I felt that I had to as your writing style is actually good. You have broken down a tough area so that it easy to understand.

Dave at Ahu Ko Te Riku on Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Chile.

Hi, I'm Dave

Editor in Chief

I've been writing about adventure travel on Go Backpacking since 2007. I've visited 68 countries.

Read more about Dave.

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