Expired temp tags, ugh we're one of them

[alarmguy]

Wow. I work at a car dealership. Vehicles can be bought and licensed, title in buyers name, same day. Everything needs to be good in the process for same day. Next day is easy.

yes, we had a similar experience. We bought a new car for my wife one week before Thanksgiving. We received the tags (license plate) in the mail yesterday. The temporary tag still had until December 17.

Definitely seems like the OP had a bad dealer experience. We literally did nothing and have had no contact with our dealer. They just automatically took care of everything.

 

[TiGeo]

How didn't you have plates the day you bought it? Temp tags are typically for smaller dealers that don't have DMV services. I've titled/reg'd several vehicles by mail (private party used cars purchased during COVID) here in VA and it only took a few weeks to get the plates.

 

[Chris142]

How didn't you have plates the day you bought it? Temp tags are typically for smaller dealers that don't have DMV services. I've titled/reg'd several vehicles by mail (private party used cars purchased during COVID) here in VA and it only took a few weeks to get the plates.

Not all states do that. All plates are handled through the DMV. In California it takes 6-8 weeks for the state to send out plates.

 

[wander2039]

How didn't you have plates the day you bought it? Temp tags are typically for smaller dealers that don't have DMV services. I've titled/reg'd several vehicles by mail (private party used cars purchased during COVID) here in VA and it only took a few weeks to get the plates.

Insert the word.. "Kansas"... they want to be ahead on certain things but way way behind on what matters.

 

[TiGeo]

Not all states do that. All plates are handled through the DMV. In California it takes 6-8 weeks for the state to send out plates.

Go VA I guess?

Another VA DMV win...there is a super top secret DMV office...like tiny in a little old '80s looking office building...you know..the kind that look kinda like a house but have accountants and attorney offices in them? Only for registrations. It's more for indy dealers but they have to take anyone. One person. My son and I went to title/reg is new-to-him Audi S3 last month..in/out in 15 min. Amazing!

 

[alarmguy]

I think the thing is if the dealer does their job properly and promptly there is no issue.

 

[eljefino]

The ‘check clearing’ excuse might be valid for 3 days, but not as long as you describe. Makes one wonder if the dealer is having issues and dont have it/cant get it from BMW.

Distinct possibility-- the internal finances for this dealer could be a house of cards and they're using your payment to keep some other bill paid with BMW and hoping to keep "kiting checks" until your temp tag is a day from expiration.

Dealers should be bonded with the state, if your state had a competent DMV you could ask them where the holdup is.

 

[Merek]

Go VA I guess?

Another VA DMV win...there is a super top secret DMV office...like tiny in a little old '80s looking office building...you know..the kind that look kinda like a house but have accountants and attorney offices in them? Only for registrations. It's more for indy dealers but they have to take anyone. One person. My son and I went to title/reg is new-to-him Audi S3 last month..in/out in 15 min. Amazing!

We have one of those in the next county over about 30 min away. I've never used it but supposedly most of the dealers in my area all use that specific one. MY dad just bought a new Bronco earlier this year and they did everything and installed new plates right there before we took it off the lot. It seems VA is shifting away from the temporary tags, I know there of tons of fraudulent ones around and Texas seems to be the most copied and people were selling them online.... no way I'm falling for that.

I had an issue recently where 2 vehicles were racing through traffic on the local highway and passing on the right which is now against the law in VA, I generally let things go but they were so bad that I called it in. I was able to get pictures and one of the trucks had a temporary tag, it was beatup so I doubt it was even legit, you generally don't see beaters like that being sold even on the used lots. I really didn't mean to go off topic but this is just one of the many reasons they are largely going away from temporary tags.

 

[TiGeo]

We have one of those in the next county over about 30 min away. I've never used it but supposedly most of the dealers in my area all use that specific one. MY dad just bought a new Bronco earlier this year and they did everything and installed new plates right there before we took it off the lot. It seems VA is shifting away from the temporary tags, I know there of tons of fraudulent ones around and Texas seems to be the most copied and people were selling them online.... no way I'm falling for that.

I had an issue recently where 2 vehicles were racing through traffic on the local highway and passing on the right which is now against the law in VA, I generally let things go but they were so bad that I called it in. I was able to get pictures and one of the trucks had a temporary tag, it was beatup so I doubt it was even legit, you generally don't see beaters like that being sold even on the used lots. I really didn't mean to go off topic but this is just one of the many reasons they are largely going away from temporary tags.

While a good rule to follow I wasn't aware that this was actually illegal.

 

[JayhawkRoy]

Re: temp tags. Kansas has chosen to go the opposite way and issue even more temp tags. You don't get a real license plate, but a temp tag as all metal tags now are printed individually and sent from a private contractor in Wichita. So, wander will be getting another temp tag before he gets his metal plate.

It takes about two weeks to actually get the metal tags after the paperwork is processed.

Unfortunately, wander is dealing with an incompetent dealer (one that due to other reasons I would never deal with, ever) as well as a relatively incompetent local DMV/county treasurer's office. I have deal with offices in Leavenworth, Crawford & Sedgwick (Wichita) counties and spent no more than one hour getting a purchased car registered and titled in my name.

 

[AutoMechanic]

That sounds like my state when you paint a vehicle it takes a whole big process like it’s hard for them to do or something. My friend went to the DMV at 8am and left at 2pm trying to get the color of his vehicle changed on the registration and had to pay a huge fee too on top of the ticket he got for not changing the color. They are like well we have to find the vehicle in the system then go in and edit it and make a note about how the paint code won’t match the original now and then we have to print you a new registration card and review it and then we have to verify you changed the color and had to sign paperwork saying it was a real thing and this and that and whatever. I’m like that sounds like they are living in the 1990s lol. At the dealership I work at they will give you actual plates and complete the registration and titling same day. If they are out of actual plates they give you temporary ones and your others get sent in the mail.

 

[wander2039]

Re: temp tags. Kansas has chosen to go the opposite way and issue even more temp tags. You don't get a real license plate, but a temp tag as all metal tags now are printed individually and sent from a private contractor in Wichita. So, wander will be getting another temp tag before he gets his metal plate.

It takes about two weeks to actually get the metal tags after the paperwork is processed.

Unfortunately, wander is dealing with an incompetent dealer (one that due to other reasons I would never deal with, ever) as well as a relatively incompetent local DMV/county treasurer's office. I have deal with offices in Leavenworth, Crawford & Sedgwick (Wichita) counties and spent no more than one hour getting a purchased car registered and titled in my name.

Yeah was hoping to get that temp tag this week. Guess you had issues with service? Wonder if Hendrick is any better since this might not be the last BMW. I never planned to use the service so didn't look at that aspect. It is good to hear you had good luck with all those KS counties, I'm about to write off KS. We were looking at MO (lower Cass, Bates) real estate, but wouldn't mind Miami, Lynn.

 

[JayhawkRoy]

Yeah was hoping to get that temp tag this week. Guess you had issues with service? Wonder if Hendrick is any better since this might not be the last BMW. I never planned to use the service so didn't look at that aspect. It is good to hear you had good luck with all those KS counties, I'm about to write off KS. We were looking at MO (lower Cass, Bates) real estate, but wouldn't mind Miami, Lynn.

Not a fan of Hendrick dealerships, either. Their dealer admin fees were some of the highest in KC area at $799 a couple of years ago, so I won't be buying a Lexus or BMW from them, either.

Brother in law owned property in Linn County for some time, and had no issues with their county treasurer's office that I know of.

If you are still working, Missouri offers lower income taxes and generally lower property taxes compared to Kansas. I am staying in Kansas due to the tax benefit of not paying taxes on the two family federal pensions we receive. This situation beats Missouri by more than $12K per year.

 

[MrJayhawk]

Yeah was hoping to get that temp tag this week. Guess you had issues with service? Wonder if Hendrick is any better since this might not be the last BMW. I never planned to use the service so didn't look at that aspect. It is good to hear you had good luck with all those KS counties, I'm about to write off KS. We were looking at MO (lower Cass, Bates) real estate, but wouldn't mind Miami, Lynn.

I haven’t had any real issues at either location with service, but once warranty expired I have been taking mine to European Motorsports. It did seem Hendrick service dept was less busy.

 

[wander2039]

I haven’t had any real issues at either location with service, but once warranty expired I have been taking mine to European Motorsports. It did seem Hendrick service dept was less busy.

Interesting, didn't know that place existed. I was thinking Autobahn Motorwerks since it's a couple blocks from work, alot of BMW's in and out.

A bit of update.. the registration was processed today. Took a week since I dropped it off Sunday night, but that's still better than fighting for a spot for weeks on end or waiting for appointment. Might just do that going forward. What I didn't know was they send you a bill you don't have to include payment. Now see how long before everything arrives.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Maybe it's because I'm just used to it - but NY seems to do the DMV thing very well compared to other states.