PSA: Buying Tesla from 3rd party

[kingtizzy007]

Buying a Tesla from a 3rd party dealer and trying to get ownership transferred is taking an act of GOD. I have never, ever experienced such incompetence when purchasing a car. Tesla is claiming a balance is still owed so they won’t transfer ownership to me but it is clear the previous loan was paid in full as seen from the attachment the 3rd party dealer provided. Customer support and Tesla finance cannot seem to get their act together. Why on earth is this so hard?!?!?!

Customer Support response:

“Once I get the confirmation from our finance team counterparts that the VIN has been released I will get that done ASAP.”

Regards,

Kevin B | Tesla Support Specialist

Customer and Product Support | Tesla Support

Find answers and learn about our products, home charging installation, warranties, leasing, lending, trade-ins and more.

www.tesla.com

 

[Yelobird]

Just because the third party car was paid off doesn’t mean the account tied to it was. They could have a past due charging bill due or a lien from the previous owner. Sounds more like a third party seller problem to me. I bought a used Tesla and it was transferred in an hour. Plus if the selling party didn’t actually release the vin from their app they have to verify which is something that dealer 3rd party should have done.

 

[kingtizzy007]

A Tesla customer support manager told me on our phone call the payoff was short by a few hundred dollars but the 3rd party provides clear documentation from Tesla themselves the previous loan was satisfied. Which part of Telsa is lying? The manager/customer support/finance or the Tesla that sent confirmation email loan was satisfied.

 

[Yelobird]

A Tesla customer support manager told me on our phone call the payoff was short by a few hundred dollars but the 3rd party provides clear documentation from Tesla themselves the previous loan was satisfied. Which part of Telsa is lying? The manager/customer support/finance or the Tesla that sent confirmation email loan was satisfied.

Did the third party seller provide you the title and actual payoff letter noted in that screen shot? Still say you should be barking and calling the 3rd party seller to resolve or take car back.

 

[DerbyDave]

I am surprised the final owner was able to "sell" the car to a 3rd party. The payoff notice clearly states that a clean title with the lien released will be sent shortly. Most reputable 3rd parties will not take possession of a vehicle without a clean title in hand, not one in the mail. They had no right to sell you the car, since they didn't own it yet.

 

[atikovi]

Buying a Tesla from a 3rd party dealer and trying to get ownership transferred is taking an act of GOD. I have never, ever experienced such incompetence when purchasing a car. Tesla is claiming a balance is still owed so they won’t transfer ownership to me

What do you mean, 3rd party dealer? If you mean, used car dealer, then they are supposed to have a clear title at the time of sale to give to you. You didn't get that?

 

[kingtizzy007]

Did the third party seller provide you the title and actual payoff letter noted in that screen shot? Still say you should be barking and calling the 3rd party seller to resolve or take car back.

Taking the car back is a ridiculous suggestion. Titles in FL are held electronically. I signed title paperwork for both the Tesla and PoA for my trade in. This is total incompetence on Tesla’s end in my estimation. I know most fanboys think Tesla is above criticism but they are not.

 

[kingtizzy007]

What do you mean, 3rd party dealer? If you mean, used car dealer, then they are supposed to have a clear title at the time of sale to give to you. You didn't get that?

Yes, used car dealer. Ford dealer in Miami. I’ve conducted numerous purchases/trade-ins. In FL, you almost never get a paper title because it is held electronically unless paper copy is requested. If this were a private party sale then yes I would have demanded seller furnish paper title.

 

[DerbyDave]

Taking the car back is a ridiculous suggestion. Titles in FL are held electronically. I signed title paperwork for both the Tesla and PoA for my trade in. This is total incompetence on Tesla’s end in my estimation. I know most fanboys think Tesla is above criticism but they are not.

You couldn't have gotten transferred to you a clean title, since Tesla has not mailed it yet. Electronic or not, you do not own the car and cannot sell the car to another. Your insurance will not sell you insurance on a car you don't own. You were in too much of a rush. Leave the car at the dealer, and then it is their problem. Buy it when you can legally buy the car, not before.

This should not be your problem, you have made it your problem. Show us a copy of the electronic registration and title for your car.

 

[kingtizzy007]

Taking the car back is a ridiculous suggestion. Titles in FL are held electronically. I signed title paperwork for both the Tesla and PoA for my trade in. This is total incompetence on Tesla’s end in my estimation. I know most fanboys think Tesla is above criticism but they are not.

And if they want to keep dragging this on, I will keep getting ‘free’ supercharging off of someone. This ownership transfer process is pure idiocy.

 

[Yelobird]

Taking the car back is a ridiculous suggestion. Titles in FL are held electronically. I signed title paperwork for both the Tesla and PoA for my trade in. This is total incompetence on Tesla’s end in my estimation. I know most fanboys think Tesla is above criticism but they are not.

An irrational buyer could also be the issue.

From the Fl.gov
Additionally, for a sale to be legal in Florida, the seller must transfer the title to the buyer. If the title was paper, and it has been lost or misplaced, the seller must apply for a duplicate title before selling the vehicle. To obtain a duplicate title, the seller must complete form HSMV 82101 and submit with the duplicate title fee to a motor vehicle service center. Expedited service is available in some locations. For counties offering “fast title” expedited service, a $10 fee will apply in addition to the standard title fees.

In Florida, a vehicle cannot be legally sold in a private sale if there is an existing lien. For the vehicle to be legally sold, the lien must first be satisfied. Once the lienholder reports to FLHSMV that the lien has been satisfied, the title can be transferred.

Consumers can trade in a vehicle with an existing lien at a dealership. The dealer will have 10 days to satisfy the lien prior to selling it to another customer.

 

[kingtizzy007]

You couldn't have gotten transferred to you a clean title, since Tesla has not mailed it yet. Electronic or not, you do not own the car and cannot sell the car to another. Your insurance will not sell you insurance on a car you don't own. You were in too much of a rush. Leave the car at the dealer, and then it is their problem. Buy it when you can legally buy the car, not before..

I can assure you I own the car. My carrier has it covered on my policy. A temp registration has been issued by the dealer until my plate transfer processes. The issue is simply showing my ownership in the Tesla app. It’s okay if Tesla screwed up. I just expect them to resolve their error.

 

[kingtizzy007]

An irrational buyer could also be the issue.

From the Fl.gov
Additionally, for a sale to be legal in Florida, the seller must transfer the title to the buyer. If the title was paper, and it has been lost or misplaced, the seller must apply for a duplicate title before selling the vehicle. To obtain a duplicate title, the seller must complete form HSMV 82101 and submit with the duplicate title fee to a motor vehicle service center. Expedited service is available in some locations. For counties offering “fast title” expedited service, a $10 fee will apply in addition to the standard title fees.

In Florida, a vehicle cannot be legally sold in a private sale if there is an existing lien. For the vehicle to be legally sold, the lien must first be satisfied. Once the lienholder reports to FLHSMV that the lien has been satisfied, the title can be transferred.

Consumers can trade in a vehicle with an existing lien at a dealership. The dealer will have 10 days to satisfy the lien prior to selling it to another customer.

Since we’re doing that. A Tesla blowhard can be wrong. If you have nothing useful to add, why bother.

 

[Yelobird]

And if they want to keep dragging this on, I will keep getting ‘free’ supercharging off of someone. This ownership transfer process is pure idiocy.

And right there MAY be the issue! The car did not Come with free supercharger option. So the bill is going to that cars Vin and therefore not clear as nobody is paying the Bill! Hence you are Adding to the lien on the title release. lol. Amazed that you do not see fault with the dealer you Paid and for some reason fear going back to make them responsible to complete the sale. Tesla does many things wrong but this isn’t one of them.

 

[kingtizzy007]

And right there MAY be the issue! The car did not Come with free supercharger option. So the bill is going to that cars Vin and therefore not clear as nobody is paying the Bill!

Maybe?!? I really don’t care who is at fault here, be it used car dealer or Tesla. I’ve already chewed out both parties and more ass chewing to come as long as this continues.

 

[atikovi]

Yes, used car dealer. Ford dealer in Miami. I’ve conducted numerous purchases/trade-ins. In FL, you almost never get a paper title because it is held electronically unless paper copy is requested. If this were a private party sale then yes I would have demanded seller furnish paper title.

From: https://us.dealertrack.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/08/ELT_FAQ.PDF

What happens when an Electronic Lien is satisfied? When a lien is satisfied, the lienholder releases it electronically through their service provider. At that point, the state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) prints and mails the lien-free title to the vehicle owner.

Somebody should have gotten a paper title, most likely the original owner after it was paid off. Did they take the car in as a trade or buy from auction? Regardless, they should have gotten a physical title.

 

[kingtizzy007]

This should not be your problem, you have made it your problem. Show us a copy of the electronic registration and title for your car.

Why would I show you or anyone else I don’t know private paperwork?!?! To prove something I already know. That is not happening. The point of this post is to alert, the non-Tesla cult, customers thinking of buying from 3rd party dealers to be aware of ownership transfer issues.

 

[kingtizzy007]

From: https://us.dealertrack.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/08/ELT_FAQ.PDF

What happens when an Electronic Lien is satisfied? When a lien is satisfied, the lienholder releases it electronically through their service provider. At that point, the state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) prints and mails the lien-free title to the vehicle owner.

Somebody should have gotten a paper title, most likely the original owner after it was paid off. Did they take the car in as a trade or buy from auction? Regardless, they should have gotten a physical title.

Yes, it was taken in as a trade or so I was told. Used dealer Finance Mgr informed me Tesla is very difficult to do biz with - they don’t communicate in a timely manner, etc. All these folks are on my ongoing email thread with Tesla customer support/Tesla finance..

 

[DerbyDave]

Why would I show you or anyone else I don’t know private paperwork?!?! To prove something I already know. That is not happening. The point of this post is to alert, the non-Tesla cult, customers thinking of buying from 3rd party dealers to be aware of ownership transfer issues.

It wouldn't be a problem for me.

 

[kingtizzy007]

From: https://us.dealertrack.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/08/ELT_FAQ.PDF

What happens when an Electronic Lien is satisfied? When a lien is satisfied, the lienholder releases it electronically through their service provider. At that point, the state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) prints and mails the lien-free title to the vehicle owner.

Somebody should have gotten a paper title, most likely the original owner after it was paid off. Did they take the car in as a trade or buy from auction? Regardless, they should have gotten a physical title.

Also, here in FL, once a lien is satisfied the DMV does not send a paper title. You have to go and request a paper copy if so desired either online via their portal or in person. I’ve paid off countless cars over the years.