The Texas Delivery & Registration Process

[brkaus]

My final statement from Austin for delivery tomorrow includes taxes and registration fees.

 

[TexLaw]

This morning, I received a notice from FedEx that a delivery was coming from Tesla and that it required a signature. As it turns out, it was my registration and license plates! Didn't see that coming!

So, keep your eyes peeled, folks, if you got to handle all the paperwork at delivery and without going to the courthouse. Your plates are coming via FedEx!

 

[cbdream99]

My statement also include tax and registration, Today I received the first FedEx package with CA registration and CA temp plate. My DS said they can handle everything now and expect the plates in 4-6 weeks in the mail, scheduled for delivery next Friday.

 

[DriverOne]

4-6 weeks?! The temp registration only lasts 4 weeks. Mine's getting close to expiration.

 

[brkaus]

I was told to put the CA temp tags back on if the plate didn't come in time and the Tx temporary expires.

They are hiring a Dallas company to deal with the registration. I don't recall the name. It was on the power of attorney that I had to sign at pickup.

 

[ACExpress]

4-6 weeks?! The temp registration only lasts 4 weeks. Mine's getting close to expiration.

My delivery was 3/14, expiration on temp tag was 4/7, and my plates were delivered on 3/31. I was getting a little antsy being a week out, but they arrived with the week to spare. The title showed up this week on 4/10.

 

[cbdream99]

My delivery was 3/14, expiration on temp tag was 4/7, and my plates were delivered on 3/31. I was getting a little antsy being a week out, but they arrived with the week to spare. The title showed up this week on 4/10.

Thanks ACExpress, My DS hasn't answer my question yet but I am glad to find the answer here.

 

[mozart626]

I honestly wasn't thrilled with the Texas plates process at the Austin SC. When we showed up for delivery on 3/18 the DS (who wasn't the one we had worked with) seemed confused when I said that they were doing the Texas registration. He finally just put the sticker on the back (no temp plate) which I wasn't all that comfortable with, since you can't see it through the tint. He also didn't put the front plate holder on, so I had to bring it back and have that installed. It took another week to get the temp plate which they emailed to me, so I had to laminate it. It also took them over a week to figure out that the guy had us sign the power of attorney form in the wrong spot, so our DS had to email us another form which I had to FedEx back to Tesla in CA. The temp plate expired 4/22 and we got the plate and registration sticker on 4/20. It seems like Tesla didn't do a great job of training their Texas delivery specialists on the process.

 

[brkaus]

I honestly wasn't thrilled with the Texas plates process at the Austin SC. When we showed up for delivery on 3/18 the DS (who wasn't the one we had worked with) seemed confused when I said that they were doing the Texas registration. He finally just put the sticker on the back (no temp plate) which I wasn't all that comfortable with, since you can't see it through the tint. He also didn't put the front plate holder on, so I had to bring it back and have that installed. It took another week to get the temp plate which they emailed to me, so I had to laminate it. It also took them over a week to figure out that the guy had us sign the power of attorney form in the wrong spot, so our DS had to email us another form which I had to FedEx back to Tesla in CA. The temp plate expired 4/22 and we got the plate and registration sticker on 4/20. It seems like Tesla didn't do a great job of training their Texas delivery specialists on the process.

That's a bummer. They had no problem on 3/25 delivery - Texas temp plate taped to window, paperwork ready.

I bet you were one of the first.

 

[TexLaw]

I honestly wasn't thrilled with the Texas plates process at the Austin SC. When we showed up for delivery on 3/18 the DS (who wasn't the one we had worked with) seemed confused when I said that they were doing the Texas registration.

I had no problem at all with my 3/11 delivery at Houston-North, and I think that was the first day they were doing it the new way. I had an experienced DS who also is pretty sharp, so that had to help. He commented about how much easier the process was on him and would be on me. I'm willing to bet that you had a DS that was more than a little wet behind the ears.

 

[JasJ]

What do they do If you have a custom plate on 'order'?

 

[TexLaw]

What do they do If you have a custom plate on 'order'?

Basically, you go to the courthouse and trade in the basic plates when you pick up the custom ones, and you work it all out then. At least, that's what I did five years ago.

 

[kash]

i got my plates, my temp tags expired.. don't want the new car-ness to go away when u get real plates on it ... just haven't put them on

 

[Firewired]

I was surprised to see both registration and taxes show up on the Motor Vehicle Purchase Agreement.

 

[RachH]

Hi! Since you just mentioned tax incentives in TX, I was hoping you could help with my question. I am in a bit of a quandary. I primarily live in LA but have a place in Texas as well. I work for a Texas based company and due to this (since their benefits program is TX only based), I have a TX drivers license and my car is registered in Texas- not CA.

So question is, with incentives, is it better to do tax/title and license in Texas or do it in CA due to the extra $2500 tax break? I know CA taxes are insane but wasn't sure if it was worth it or not. Thoughts? Any special tax breaks I am not aware of in TX?

Thanks for the insight!! I have a car on order now and still waffling on where to deliver and do tax/title/license.

Jagwease,

Really appreciative for the detailed info! I pick my Tesla up this Saturday in Austin, TX SC. I researched the forum to see if I could register my EV prior to picking it up for the reasons a few mentioned, but more importantly, to get ahead of possible headaches with lines, at the DMV and the LAW. Anyway, I've emailed the Tesla folks for my UserID and password to my SlackerRadio acct, and they replied back very fast! I am applying settings per my preference and also adjusting premium sound output (Got that info from the forum as well).

Is there any information in Texas if one wanted to order customized plates for EV's? Wonder will the DMV allow me to do this without the vehicle being physically in my custody? I understand the 6.25% sales tax, but I don't like the run around with State Tax incentives for Tesla in TX. - WHEW! Texas legislatures really need to stop playing around with EV's, and allow a free market.

THANKS AGAIN! for the detailed info. BTW.... Kristal was my DS as well! Alliant was the bank I chose with 1.99% APR w/ Jon being the loan officer! These two people really are professional - and have their smart hats on helping consumers!

Finally, I will be driving back down to San Antonio (Stone Oak area) on Saturday with my new TOY! I will use the same folks you mention above for car detailing!

Best Regards,
D. Upshaw

 

[namlio]

Hi! Since you just mentioned tax incentives in TX, I was hoping you could help with my question. I am in a bit of a quandary. I primarily live in LA but have a place in Texas as well. I work for a Texas based company and due to this (since their benefits program is TX only based), I have a TX drivers license and my car is registered in Texas- not CA.

So question is, with incentives, is it better to do tax/title and license in Texas or do it in CA due to the extra $2500 tax break? I know CA taxes are insane but wasn't sure if it was worth it or not. Thoughts? Any special tax breaks I am not aware of in TX?

Thanks for the insight!! I have a car on order now and still waffling on where to deliver and do tax/title/license.

I do not know the detailed rules, but I would suggest caution. I do know that you would have to have a valid California address to register the car at delivery. I’m not sure if you will have to prove that is your residence through some type of ID. Then, the car will be licensed in California, an issue if you will use the car full time in Texas. Once you claim the rebate, you will be on the radar of the California tax office. No big deal if you already pay state income tax there, but a potential problem if you aren’t. If you are considered a California resident and pay state income tax, full steam ahead. If not, you open yourself to a lot of potential liability. You might also want to find out if there is a minimum length of time the car must be registered there to claim the full rebate. Remember, this advice was free, and you get what you pay for.

 

[Jagwease]

Hi! Since you just mentioned tax incentives in TX, I was hoping you could help with my question. I am in a bit of a quandary. I primarily live in LA but have a place in Texas as well. I work for a Texas based company and due to this (since their benefits program is TX only based), I have a TX drivers license and my car is registered in Texas- not CA.

So question is, with incentives, is it better to do tax/title and license in Texas or do it in CA due to the extra $2500 tax break? I know CA taxes are insane but wasn't sure if it was worth it or not. Thoughts? Any special tax breaks I am not aware of in TX?

Thanks for the insight!! I have a car on order now and still waffling on where to deliver and do tax/title/license.

There is a lot to unpack here. First, one needs to establish which state you are a domiciliary of at the moment. If you are military, this is easy, but it seems you are not and that makes things a bit dicier. If not, then it can get complicated. Depending on what advantages you take from California, you very easily can become a California resident vice a Texas Resident. That is a mess I will leave up to you to sort out.

All that being said, there are really no Texas tax incentives for owning a Tesla (Thank you very much, TADA /sarcasm off). Sales tax can be quite high here depending on county of residence. Returning to Texas, you will have to pay any difference in the sales tax where you purchased and Texas (although it does not work in reverse). My time in San Franciso with the Army showed me that, nearly 30 years ago, California renewal registration was pricey, but so much time has passed to make that info obsolete. Texas renewal registration is cheap, but does require an inspection. Military stationed outside of Texas were exempt, but I have never bothered to see what the case would be for those not covered by a military exemption

There are a few that ventured on a fool's errand (at best view) or tax fraud (at worst view) to have their Tesla classified as a "Hydrogen fueled vehicle" or some such. As an criminal law attorney, the saving of a few thousand dollars is simply not worth the not insignificant criminal liability for tax fraud. Each person does what they wish and I don't advise them on their quest one way or the other( except at my near larcenous hourly rate).

Cheers

 

[TexasEV]

Sales tax can be quite high here depending on county of residence.

But not for cars— there’s no local sales tax on cars, just the 6.25% state sales tax.