Texas Delivery - What docs should I expect?

[Needsdecaf]

So the delivery date for my M3 LR AWD is tomorrow (yay!). I'm in Texas and I requested that Tesla not include any doc fees, registration fees or taxes on my MVPA. The reason is they couldn't figure out the trade in discount situation since my trade in was a lease. I don't mind going to the tax office to register it myself, it will allow me to transfer my specialty plates anyway.

I know that Tesla needs to sign a 130-U application for title / registration form. I've sent my DA the link to that. Also, I will need a title to register the car.

Should I expect these things in the mail or at time of vehicle handover? I paid by a combination of a loan check and an ACH and my account shows paid in full (required to buy in TX) so I don't expect any of the "where's your payment" questions to be forthcoming. I would assume that since I've had payment to them since last week that they could put these documents together however I've seen the threads on here about waiting forever for the required documentation.

If I don't pay the tax within 30 days there will be penalty, so time is of the essence in getting these documents, which I will let Tesla know. I made that mistake once and it cost me several hundred dollars. Won't do that again.

Appreciate your help.

Thanks.

 

[brkaus]

I’d just do the standard process. Doing something different (even if common) is asking for trouble at this point.

My plates arrived in 53 days. I’ll have to look if Tesla paid any penalty.

Lease trade are common. Why do you feel they will do it wrong?

 

[Needsdecaf]

I’d just do the standard process. Doing something different (even if common) is asking for trouble at this point.

My plates arrived in 53 days. I’ll have to look if Tesla paid any penalty.

Lease trade are common. Why do you feel they will do it wrong?

I'm not feeling anything, they weren't giving me any credit whatsoever for my trade in on the taxes. When I pushed back, they said "that's what their processing specialists say". I know that's incorrect.

I didn't have time to monkey around if I wanted to take delivery this year. My delivery specialist was very poor at getting back to me timely, and I had zero confidence that the issue was going to get resolved in time for them to re-issue the MVPA and for me to fund. As it was, I funded what I thought I would need to provide 3 days before getting the MVPA so that they would ship my car.

Regarding the taxes, it was either lose a $1,500 benefit (tax value of my trade in) or do it myself. I've registered several used cars purchased here and it's not a big deal. Just didn't know the paperwork procedure of when to expect docs from Tesla. I would rather roll the dice and deal with it myself for $1,500.

The penalty is for not paying taxes within 30 days, nothing to do with when you get plates.

 

[brkaus]

The penalty is for not paying taxes within 30 days, nothing to do with when you get plates.

True. But I’ll look at all the dates in my registration form. I do not have it with me.

 

[jjrandorin]

I am not in texas and certainly not in your situation OP, but I have done a lot of reading here on TMC recently. One thing that comes through loud and clear, is that Tesla as a company is not good at anything related to "back office" work (by not good, i dont mean ill intentioned, I mean unorganized). Maybe its different in Texas, but I seem to remember threads where people were waiting for the title to their car for weeks after delivery.

I am going to guess that you will end up in a situation where you will not have title in hand timely enough to make the 30 day deadline you said you need to make in order to not pay a penalty. I suggest you look into how you can avoid that penalty (maybe pre pay taxes at dmv or something?).

If tesla was registering it for you, if they mess up, they would pay whatever penalty (or maybe there is some sort of grace period for businesses / dealerships etc? I have no idea). Anyway I really hope I am wrong, but if I were you, I would plan for a "plan B" or prepare yourself to not be too upset when your paperwork doesnt arrive on time and you have to spend hours / days / possibly weeks trying to find the right person to track it down.

I love the car, and my personal experience has been excellent. My delivery person was nice, helped me go through the car on pickup, even identified some issues I missed when looking over the car, and finally when I had to reject the car because of multiple due bill issues (7+) worked with the manager at the delivery center to assign a car with the same build they had there to me, including redoing all the paperwork.

I bought my car on 12/04 with a combination of bank loan using a bank draft check, and cashiers check. They handled this fine. I just received my actual California DMV plates via priority mail from the USPS (! not regular mail) on 12/22, which is almost unheard of speed for processing of license plates here by a dealer here. On my last BMW It took 7-8 weeks for example, not the 3 weeks this took.

Everything about my transaction was "simple" though, so easy for them to process. Anything that is out of the norm and requires additional handling / adds complexity will normally make things longer, but I think that is magnified in Tesla's case.

Anyway, good luck.... Hope you dont need it.

(*On different note, your user name looks very familiar to me. By any chance are you or were you a regular poster on any BMW message boards?)

 

[brkaus]

True. But I’ll look at all the dates in my registration form. I do not have it with me.

Tesla paid a $178 penalty on my behalf.

 

[Needsdecaf]

(*On different note, your user name looks very familiar to me. By any chance are you or were you a regular poster on any BMW message boards?)

Yup, I'm the same guy. New car, new forum!

Tesla paid a $178 penalty on my behalf.

Interesting. I will let them know when I hear back. Thanks.

 

[jjrandorin]

Yup, I'm the same guy. New car, new forum!



Interesting. I will let them know when I hear back. Thanks.

Cool! I notice a few different user names I recognize from over there... my user handle is the same as well but you likely guessed that lol.