CA taxes the monthly payment and it isn’t due or collected at signing.
2 Likes
CA to FL Transfer
2/9 - Contacted BMW to start the process
2/9 - Transferee completed the application - and was instantly approved
2/10 - PHASE 2 paperwork submitted - Transferor
2/11 - PHASE 2 paperwork submitted - Transferee
2/16 - PHASE 2 Transferee paperwork rework
2/25 - PHASE 2 paperwork confirmed received from both parties (inc. title from DMV)
2/25 - PHASE 2 complete
3/1 - PHASE 3 complete
CA to CA Transfer (I am assuming the lease on an X2).
Currently at stage 2:
Stage 1
2/15 - Contacted BMW to start the process
2/15 - Completed application - instantly approved
Stage 2
2/16 - Transferee paperwork submitted
2/17 - Transferor paperwork submitted
2/24 - Transferee paperwork received (USPS delays)
2/25 - Transferor paperwork received (USPS delays)
3/2 - Received email confirming receipt with notice that “an error or a piece of information is missing.” Called BMW and they confirmed what’s missing is the CA Title. They submitted a request on 2/16.
3/10 - Stage 2 completed
Stage 3
3/10 - Stage 3 complete! Final registration documents sent via Fedex
They are required to quote this. I have done many transfers for CA registered cars and the average time has been about two weeks to receive the paper title from the CA DMV. Longest it took was three weeks and that was during the height of the pandemic. Shortest it has taken is 10 days. Unfortunately they use USPS to mail the title to BMW FS (CA to OH), which sometimes delays things depending on how backed up USPS is.
Based on your timeline, given they order the paper title after credit approval (in your case, 2/16), I’d say they should receive the paper title by this Friday. Of course, that’s just a guesstimate based on my prior transfers. Let us know how it goes!
This is probably the most annoying quirk in their system. Rather than generate an email that simply says “both sets of paperwork are accurate and complete, we are just waiting for the CA title to arrive,” their email makes it sound like the Stage 2 docs you sent in have something wrong with them. I’ve complained about this numerous times and they just don’t fix it. Always good to call and confirm, which you did!
Thanks for providing some additional context on the title transfer, I wasn’t aware they start that process after credit approval. I’m currently in the process of assuming a lease (CA to CA) and sitting at Stage 2 “docs have been received”.
1 Like
Thanks for the insight! I experienced the USPS delays first-hand when sending my Stage 2 docs, so hoping the title isn’t affected too much by that.
Looks like we’re both CA to CA and in Stage 2. Keep me updated how yours progresses.
@chkw13 I am in the same situation as you. Currently waiting for the CA DMV and it has been painful waiting. Here is my current timeline:
Stage 1
2/8- Contacted BMW to start the process
2/8- Completed Credit Application–approved
Stage 2
2/9 - Paperwork Submitted (sent 2 day UPS- delayed due to weather)
2/15- Transferee and Transfer Paperwork received
2/16- Issue with the Date signed from Transferor
2/16- Transferor resubmitted (sent over night UPS)
2/22- Confirmation of all paperwork complete. Notification of paper title requested. Email indicated it was requested 2/9.
3/1- Called to get an update and they are unable to track DMV processing. Asked the agent to provide an idea of what process times they’ve been seeing from the CA DMV and it is averaging 21-28 business days. 
I will update when my process closes out. Hoping it is soon!
I just started a potential transfer from NJ to NY
Just received my NJ plates/registration over the weekend. Took nearly 3 months to receive them from an out of state dealer. NJ DMV is awful fyi.
I called BMWFS and they cannot mark the account assumable without the NJ paper title on file (they dont have it yet). Apparently the dealership just received it recently (along with my plates/registration) so the title is enroute to BMWFS. The title clerk at the dealership provided a certified USPS tracking number but Im unable to actually track it online (nothing comes up). Going to wait a day or two to check in with them so I can get the process moving.
For anyone else reading this, keep in mind BMWFS will need the title to begin the lease assumption/transfer process.
2 Likes
That’s correct. They either need the paper title in-house for states like NJ or they need to have the electronic title on file for states like CA in order to begin a transfer. In the case of CA, because the title is held electronically, you can begin a transfer much faster (typically as early as one month of having the car) because they’re not waiting for the physical paper title to arrive from the DMV. But the flip side is, once you start a transfer, they need to then request the paper title and that usually takes a few weeks to get to BMW FS. So either way, they’re waiting on the paper title from the DMV, just at different points in time depending on the state you’re in. The good thing is, once the paper title is in, the transfer should go pretty quick. They’ve been much faster after the New Year.
1 Like
Yes, thank you.
Got off the phone earlier with the title clerk at the dealership. The title was sent to BMWFS on 3/4 and sent via USPS certified mail. I’m hoping they get it today/tomorrow so I can get the process underway.
Just curious - any updates on the status of your transfers?
1 Like
Very nice! When did you begin your transfer?
I submitted the credit app (and received approval) on 2/19. Looks like the longest part was waiting on the DMV to mail the title, which BMW said they received on 3/4. Judging from the replies here, it seems Stage 3 moves along much faster when the transfer stays in the same state.
Nice!
When did BMW receive your docs and started Stage 2?
I just called BMW. They said the title was received yesterday. Given that, I’m expecting an email update about Stage 2 soon!
1 Like
I got the “stage 2 docs received” email on 3/1 so looks like it took just over a week to process the transfer.
1 Like
Doing a new transfer myself (CA to CA). Thought I’d share my progress so far:
Stage 1
3/3 - Called BMW FS to begin transfer and had credit app emailed
3/3 - Completed Credit App and instantly approved
Stage 2
3/3 - Received Stage 2 Documents by email
3/4 - Sent Completed Stage 2 Documents to BMW FS via FedEx
3/8 - Stage 2 Documents received by BMW FS (from both parties)
3/9 - Stage 2 Rework email received (actual issue with the date on our docs; apparently it looked “tampered” because my pen was weak and I had to go over one of the numbers more than once)
3/9 - Resent my Stage 2 Documents via FedEx. Confirmed they are also waiting for the paper title from the CA DMV (requested on 3/3)
I will update as it progresses. Interestingly, I called the CA DMV on 3/8 and they were able to tell me they pulled the title on 3/4, but had not mailed it out yet. They said it usually takes a week to mail out (so sometime this week). And hopefully BMW FS gets it a week or so after that.