Problems Registering a new car
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8th Gear
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 8
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From: NY
Problems Registering a new car
Bought a car in November in NY. Brand new 2022 RX. The temporary registration sticker expired and I never received the permanent one by mail. So I called DMV to ask what the problem is, they tell me the car is not registered to my name and have to go to the dealer. I go to the dealer and they tell me the company who does the DMV work for them somehow messed up. The plates are still registered to the dealer and the car is registered to someone else. It's been 3 weeks and still can't get them to fix this. Has anyone experienced this before? what did you do? how long did it take you to get the car to your name? what did Lexus do for you to compensate for this? The car is financed (Lexus financial)and I have been paying for the last 2 months. Any advise will be appreciated. Thanks.
Last edited by fvguevara; Jan 12, 2023 at 07:14 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 1,246
Likes: 459
From: NY
This is a strange one. Did you ever receive the title for the car? Usually in NY, you would get the title with the lien holder's name listed. Sounds like you need to prepare to have a lawyer contact one of the managers at the dealer.
if the dealer won't help immediately, i'd call lexus. if no help, call a govt consumer office to complain because ultimately if you bought a car have no title or registration, it's fraud by the dealer (even if unintentional).
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 1,246
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From: NY
NY titles take a while to come - usually 30 days at least in my experience. Of course, that's only if the dealer files the correct paperwork for the title - and since they don't even seem to be able to register the car correctly, who knows if they did that. From your post, it sounds like they used a third party plate service company instead of their own employees. I doubt a Lexus dealer would be involved with fraud.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 13,296
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From: WA
Maybe it's different in NY, but here you wouldn't receive the title if it's financed. You only get it after you've paid off the loan, but you definitely should at least get a copy of the registration that would have your name and the lien holder's name.
How recently did you follow up with the dealer and what did they say?
How recently did you follow up with the dealer and what did they say?
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Instructor
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 1,246
Likes: 459
From: NY
It's different in NY - I have my titles and the liens are recorded on them, the lender may or may not have a copy of it. When the loan is paid off, I get a notarized letter of satisfaction from the lender which allows me to clear the title.
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Lexus Champion
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 13,296
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From: WA
That's very interesting. Thanks for the info.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Apr 2011
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From: Las Vegas
NY titles take a while to come - usually 30 days at least in my experience. Of course, that's only if the dealer files the correct paperwork for the title - and since they don't even seem to be able to register the car correctly, who knows if they did that. From your post, it sounds like they used a third party plate service company instead of their own employees. I doubt a Lexus dealer would be involved with fraud.
Third party or not, the dealer is still responsible. They need to make it right and then once the customer is made whole, they can choose to go after the third party for damages.
I'd go in and refuse to leave until I have my registration sorted out.
I came close to reporting a dealer to the state of Nevada. When I bought my truck, the dealer collected the sales tax and was supposed to remit it to Nevada. When I went to the DMV a month later to register it, they wouldn't allow it to be registered because the taxes had never been remitted. I called the dealer and they fessed up that they hadn't sent the money. I had to pay the sales tax a second time to get it registered. Took about 15 minutes of verbally abusing the dealer's employee over the phone until she agreed to send me a check.
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