BMWFS requires the paper title for vehicles from CA… I’m on week 3 and counting… waiting for DMV. They did say it’s delayed beyond the usual timeframe but 
ohh wow, when did they submit the request. Mine was submitted Dec 1.
Is yours CA to CA transfer? Also I am assuming your stage 2 hasn’t completed?
Request submitted 11/19. Still in Stage 2… all docs available except title. If this transfer doesn’t go thru, the next applicant will be lucky coz BMWFS will already have the title in hand haha
wow, 11/19. process time has to be in 60days correct? so your still in that window. Jan 19th would be the cutoff?
this is a CA to CA transfer correct?
Has anyone in WA executed a transfer recently? Curious the timeframe. BMWFS is telling me to plan for 8 weeks…
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Adding this post to track my experience. I am the transferor.
Stage 1: Transferee Credit App
Applied: 12/21. Instant Approval.
Stage 2 : Transfer Documents
Documents Email Received: 12/21
Completed & Sent:
-Transferor Sent (UPS 2nd Day): 12/21, Received: 12/23
-Transferee Sent (UPS Overnight): 12/22, Received: 12/23
Stage 2 Received:
-Transferor: 12/23
-Transferee: 12/23
Stage 2 Complete: 12/31
Stage 3: BMW Processing
Stage 3 Completed: 1/8/2021
CA to CA transfer - 21 days total
12/2 - Credit Application
12/4 - Credit Decision
12/5 - Stage 2 Documents mailed
12/14 - Stage 2 Documents received
12/18 - Stage 2 Completed
12/23 - Stage 3 Completed
In my case, BMW requested the title of the vehicle 3 months ago, when I called the customer service to ask an assumption question, which at that point we were entertaining the idea, and didn’t even ask to initiate a transfer.
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Just to close this data point out for others…
CA to NY (5 weeks)
11/17 - Credit Application
11/19 - Credit Decision
11/19 - Stage 2 Documents emailed
11/30 - Stage 2 Documents received
12/14 - Stage 2 Completed
12/22 - Stage 3 Completed
Good luck everyone!
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Crazy how you guys are transferring cars cross country… a lot of long distance transfers here…
How are you guys handling the logistics of these transfers?
Sorry final question, once the transfer is complete and the transferee takes the car, do you get an official letter (as a transferor) from BMWFS that your financial obligation has ended? How long did it take for your account to show as “paid in full” or “closed” on your credit report?
Ship it. Transferee’s cost.
Yes, the letter comes after a week or so but your account shows closed pretty much as soon as you get the stage 3 email.
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You have to ship figure shipping cost into the deal, and then if you want to confirm the cars condition, the use of a remote car inspection service (like Carchex).
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Here’s how things have gone so far:
PA to NY
12/28 - Credit Application and Credit Decision (immediate approval)
12/31 - Stage 2 Documents emailed - sent out an hour later
1/4 - Stage 2 Documents received
1/13 - Stage 2 Completed
1/14 - Stage 3 Completed
Things seem to be moving along nicely, hopefully it stays that way!
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Hey guys,
Currently stage 2 completed, pending Stage 3…
Assuming a car out of state , shipping it to NY
What was your process with DMV and transferring plates ? I am in a current BMW lease returning as soon as I receive the transfer car. Did you go to DMV and request plate transfer, add the car to insurance and get temp registration? Should I transfer plates or get new? How did you return the existing car back to dealership?
also any shipping company recommendations ? do they take pictures before shipping?
From my experience in NJ. The person that assumed my lease received what necessary authorization from BMW FS to register the car and get plates at the DMV. When he came to pickup, he has those in his hands. Plates won’t transfer especially for an out of state transfer.
Once completed, the new owner, added the car to his insurance then I removed it.
Final timeline for us:
Adding this post to track my experience. I am the transferor.
Stage 1: Transferee Credit App
Applied: 12/21. Instant Approval.
Stage 2 : Transfer Documents
Documents Email Received: 12/21
Completed & Sent:
-Transferor Sent (UPS 2nd Day): 12/21, Received: 12/23
-Transferee Sent (UPS Overnight): 12/22, Received: 12/23
Stage 2 Received:
-Transferor: 12/23
-Transferee: 12/23
Stage 2 Complete: 12/31
Stage 3: BMW Processing
Stage 3 Completed: 1/8/2021
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Got it thank you for your reply
So my best way to register the new car with new plates, and return the old back to dealership and surrender those plates?
It seems like a timeline has come down to 10 business days now. So thats a very positive note.
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The BMW FS transfer timeline seems a LOT quicker in 2021 than it was in 2020. Below are examples for two pending transfers I’m doing right now:
FIRST TRANSFER (Total Time - 11 days start to finish)
Stage 1: Credit App
1/4 - applied and received decision in 1 minute
Stage 2: Transfer Docs
1/5 - email received with Stage 2 docs
1/6 - transferor docs mailed out to BMW FS
1/7 - transferee docs mailed out to BMW FS
1/8 - BMW FS received both sets of docs
1/12 - Stage 2 Complete
Stage 3
1/15 - Assumption Complete
SECOND TRANSFER (Total Time - 16 days start to finish)
Stage 1: Credit App
1/12 - applied and received decision in 1 minute
Stage 2: Transfer Docs
1/12 - email received with Stage 2 docs within one hour of credit approval
1/12 - transferor docs sent out
1/13 - transferee docs sent out
1/14 - transferor docs received
1/22 - transferee docs received (he used snail mail)
1/26 - Stage 2 Complete
Stage 3
1/28 - Assumption Complete
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Awesome… they must be caught up or have cleared the bottlenecks.
Side note: you’ve got way too much practice with this lol 
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You have no idea lol
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