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Texas registration issues and steps to navigate them

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Excellent! Things are pretty much as we suspected.

BTW, is the temporary tag a Texas sticker?

John

That's new I guess. I just got that slip of paper from California (registration paper) which isn't valid here so glad they fixed that.

Great place for the registration sticker. Why can't they simply put the regular sticker there? I never understood why Texas demands both large stickers be put directly in front of the driver.
 
... On Tesla's Charging page it says "Your Delivery Experience Specialist will offer you a choice of 240 volt outlet adapters when you take delivery." I'm sure there are many ways for them to handle this, but it would be nice to know how this is handled these days.

I received a response from Tesla that said "... With your Model S, you will receive a Mobile Connector (cord that connects to the wall outlet and Model S), two adapters, and a J1772 to Model S converter. The two adapters that you will receive for the Mobile Connector are a NEMA 14-50 and standard wall outlet adapter. ..."

So I guess if you want something other than the NEMA 14-50 adapter you should let them know.
 
I never understood why Texas demands both large stickers be put directly in front of the driver.

And the funnier thing about that is ... if you look at statute and code, you are not allowed to put ANYTHING on the front drivers window except the registration and inspection. Which is interesting because you have your EZPass/Tolltag there, some people have GPS mounted, some dash cams (on patrol vehicles). I guess each state has their quirks. But, I will take many of the quirks in favor of our state income tax percentage.
 
Excellent! Things are pretty much as we suspected.

BTW, is the temporary tag a Texas sticker? (My guess is not. You probably won't need it anyway.)

John

No, the temporary registration is from the California DMV. I doubt that it would be valid here in Texas. So now I wonder when you receive registration from Texas. Do you get registration along with the license plates? If not, I will ask the tax assessor when I should expect my registration papers and will let everyone know.
 
Do you get registration along with the license plates? If not, I will ask the tax assessor when I should expect my registration papers and will let everyone know.

Generally when you fork over your $5K+, you will get a set of Tags, a receipt for the transaction which, on the bottom left, will have the Calcomania de parabrisas (or the windshield sticker) ... same as what comes in the mail when you send your VTR-39-A in with that yearly check. Again, this is my experience when bringing in a car from South Carolina and having to do the same thing as a walk in.
 
No, the temporary registration is from the California DMV. I doubt that it would be valid here in Texas. So now I wonder when you receive registration from Texas. Do you get registration along with the license plates? If not, I will ask the tax assessor when I should expect my registration papers and will let everyone know.

I waited until after I got my car so what you are doing is much better. Thanks.
 
Unless new cars are different from out-of-state used cars:
You legally have a few days after purchase to go to the tax office, but the sooner the better.
You have to get the car inspected before you go to the tax office. The inspection includes a VIN verification if not already registered in Texas.
An insurance certificate from another car you own will be accepted by the tax office and inspection station as proof of insurance for 20 or 30 days after your purchase of the new to you car.
The tax office will issue plates on the spot. You will get a registration receipt at that time also.
(But, police in Texas rarely ask to see a registration certificate, only driver's license and insurance certificate.)
Title will come in the mail fairly shortly.
 
Unless new cars are different from out-of-state used cars:
You legally have a few days after purchase to go to the tax office, but the sooner the better.
You have to get the car inspected before you go to the tax office. The inspection includes a VIN verification if not already registered in Texas.
An insurance certificate from another car you own will be accepted by the tax office and inspection station as proof of insurance for 20 or 30 days after your purchase of the new to you car.
The tax office will issue plates on the spot. You will get a registration receipt at that time also.
(But, police in Texas rarely ask to see a registration certificate, only driver's license and insurance certificate.)
Title will come in the mail fairly shortly.

They are different. As noted previously, no inspection is necessary prior to registration.
 
I got my license plates! They do issue the license plates, window sticker and registration at the time that you pay the taxes.
It was pretty simple and almost straightforward. They had never heard of Tesla and wanted to know why I "went all the way to California" to get my car.
Now I'm just waiting for her to arrive home. Any day now.
 
@STxTesla: I would have had a hard time refraining from saying something like "Texas law forced me to do it!" But would have only said that if they had already completed my paperwork to avoid additional scrutiny. :)

Re: Inspection Issue, inspection and registration always have to be separate processes. If not, it would be impossible to buy a non-working car that you planned to fix up.
 
I got my license plates! They do issue the license plates, window sticker and registration at the time that you pay the taxes.
It was pretty simple and almost straightforward. They had never heard of Tesla and wanted to know why I "went all the way to California" to get my car.
Now I'm just waiting for her to arrive home. Any day now.

OK! I think we now have a pretty complete picture of the process. Your next task will be an actual inspection. Being the first in your area you will be "educating" some unsuspecting inspection station. Good luck! :biggrin:

BTW, would anyone in the Austin area who got or gets an inspection, please post from whom and how it went. Thanks!
 
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No...didn't get her phone number...lol.

I'm sure that it's going to be an odd inspection for them. I think I will give them a call, ask their hours on the weekend and then tell them about how I plan on bringing my car directly to them just after it is delivered. Maybe a heads up about the car will get them ready ahead of time.
 
OK! I think we now have a pretty complete picture of the process. Your next task will be an actual inspection. Being the first in your area you will be "educating" some unsuspecting inspection station. Good luck! :biggrin:
I cannot speak re the Model S, but inspections of the Roadster are painless, and cheap. The biggest issue I have ever had was that I once had to show the inspector how to find the car's mileage. (I did not have it displayed on screen below the speedometer.) They just check the obvious items -- that the lights work, tires have tread, etc. In smog control areas, the fee for a gasoline car is about $40, for an electric car about $15.
 
I cannot speak re the Model S, but inspections of the Roadster are painless, and cheap. The biggest issue I have ever had was that I once had to show the inspector how to find the car's mileage. (I did not have it displayed on screen below the speedometer.) They just check the obvious items -- that the lights work, tires have tread, etc. In smog control areas, the fee for a gasoline car is about $40, for an electric car about $15.

In TX it would be a safety inspection for the Tesla (similar to 25+ yr old collected vehicles) and no emissions.

Mileage is not an inspectable item in TX. That is, you cannot fail mileage.