# Mystery mail from DMV coming today, should I be worried? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 11, 2023, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mail-from-dmv-coming-today-should-i-be-worried/979631 "2023-02-11T17:54:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ASanders](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asanders/32/3367_2.png) [@ASanders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASanders)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2023, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mail-from-dmv-coming-today-should-i-be-worried/979631/1 "2023-02-11T17:54:11Z")
I get the USPS Informed Delivery email every morning so I know what’s going to be delivered in the mail that day. This morning’s notice included a very mysterious envelope coming from the DMV. The mysteries: –It’s addressed, in handwriting, to a name I have not used in almost 30 years (my prior married name) –When I did go by that name, briefly in the 1990s, I did not live at my current address –I can’t remember if I owned or registered a car under that name in this state. I did get a license in that name though. –I married again and legally changed my name three years later, and got a new license in 1995. But we lived at a different address at that time. Someone did some legwork to match up that old name with my current address! What could possibly be in this envelope? Should I be worried? ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2023, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mail-from-dmv-coming-today-should-i-be-worried/979631/2 "2023-02-11T17:58:15Z")
Nah. Don’t mourn losses you haven’t lost yet. There’s time enough for that later, if it’s ever justified. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2023, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mail-from-dmv-coming-today-should-i-be-worried/979631/3 "2023-02-11T18:29:20Z")
I have never gotten a letter from _any_ government agency that was hand addressed. I would be very suspicious. Are you absolutely positive it’s from the DMV? ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2023, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mail-from-dmv-coming-today-should-i-be-worried/979631/4 "2023-02-11T18:58:44Z")
This is why I canceled “informed delivery”. I found that when I got notice about a worrying delivery, I’d fret all day until the mail came. Then it usually turned out to be not that bad. Now I only fret between the time I pick up the mail until I open it. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2023, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mail-from-dmv-coming-today-should-i-be-worried/979631/5 "2023-02-11T19:08:57Z")
We got a letter from a Texas DMV once. (Live in Ar) Someone acquired a truck from a wrecking yard. Got it running. It was formerly a truck we owned The person drove this truck. Apparently it broke down on a highway and was abandoned. The last vin registration was us. They asked if we wanted it. They were gonna tow it to impound. We didn’t respond… ---
**Author:** ![ASanders](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asanders/32/3367_2.png) [@ASanders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASanders)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2023, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mail-from-dmv-coming-today-should-i-be-worried/979631/6 "2023-02-11T20:18:07Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > I have never gotten a letter from _any_ government agency that was hand addressed. > I would be very suspicious. > > Are you absolutely positive it’s from the DMV? Well, it’s in a DMV envelope and has meter postage (not a stamp). Amazingly both my first and (former) last names are spelled correctly, which is kinda unusual. So I’m thinking whoever wrote this was copying from official records. > [@suranyi](#): > > This is why I canceled “informed delivery”. I found that when I got notice about a worrying delivery, I’d fret all day until the mail came. Then it usually turned out to be not that bad. Now I only fret between the time I pick up the mail until I open it. LOL! I actually have thought about cancelling it but have found it helpful from time to time. Recently an attorney communication was supposed to be coming that day but it wasn’t delivered. I reported it as non-received and it turned up a day or two later. > [@Beckdawrek](#): > > We got a letter from a Texas DMV once. (Live in Ar) > Someone acquired a truck from a wrecking yard. Got it running. > It was formerly a truck we owned > The person drove this truck. Apparently it broke down on a highway and was abandoned. > The last vin registration was us. > They asked if we wanted it. They were gonna tow it to impound. > We didn’t respond… If this does have anything to do with the 1993 Honda Civic I _might_ have owned under that name, I sold it privately way back when. I am 99% sure I turned in the plates… 😟 Any chance someone found money that belongs to me and this is some kind of a refund? 🤞🏻 ---
**Author:** ![ASanders](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asanders/32/3367_2.png) [@ASanders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASanders)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2023, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mail-from-dmv-coming-today-should-i-be-worried/979631/7 "2023-02-11T20:41:46Z")
Mail arrived, and mystery solved. At least, I know what’s in the envelope. We turned in plates a week or so ago from a car we sold. Here in our state you drop them in a drop box and the DMV mails you a receipt. So this was the receipt, but I have no earthly idea why my actual name didn’t come up in their records. The car we sold was titled and registered to me with my current details. Something didn’t get entered correctly in their database when we acquired the car that was just sold, I guess. In any event, I’ll call them on Monday and see if I can straighten this all out. The last thing I want is for that name to be following me around in anyone’s database! ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2023, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mail-from-dmv-coming-today-should-i-be-worried/979631/8 "2023-02-11T20:49:35Z")
In many states, there is a form you need to fill out to notify DMV of a sale. It’s more or different than merely returning the metal plates. In states that require the form, the consequences of not doing that are that you’re still legally the owner until the new owner re-registers the vehicle. For an old or raggedy vehicle now in the hands of folks who’re generally not real good at government bureaucracy that can reach back to bite you years later. Lots of anecdotes about that on SDMB, and one already upthread. Your state may be different, and the plate turn-in you did may be the only requirement. But best to double-check.