I recently did an out of state lease for a Volvo XC60 from a MD Darcars. I am based in MA.
It’s been almost 2 weeks since the lease started. The car has been sitting in my garage because the dealers still haven’t initiated the tag and title process in MA. They sent temp tags from MD that I know I cannot use.
All through the buying process, I’ve talked to them about this given the unique regs in MA. I volunteered to get it done myself but they said they’ll do it. I gave them the details of a local agent who they said is on their vendor list already and so they can work with.
Issue is that nothing has moved. The dealership says that the tag and title is done by Darcars corporate and it’s a 6 week process. They are “trying to move it faster because my state is backwards”. Supposedly there’s some 2 week process (after they receive the file from the dealer) they have to do with Volvo before they are paid and can even initiate the title and registration. I don’t understand why the customer who has paid for the car, has to wait for the dealer to get paid before they will move on registration. Nobody is giving me a direct contact for Darcars corporate.
I feel like I’m getting the run around here and I’m incredibly frustrated. I’m sure MA dealers aren’t asking a lease buyer to wait for 6 weeks. I’d love any advice on how to get myself out of this situation fast.
This is the reality you have chosen to take on buying out of state for MA.
I specifically use an RMV runner for MA deals out of state so we can try to get plates within about 5-7 days, but most dealers will not move this expeditiously, whenever we do an MA deal, we make everyone aware at the start.
You wanted a good deal, I presume you got one, this is the price you pay for that deal. Not much you can do, you live in a state that has made it extremely anti-competitive for in-state dealers, they know it’s a nightmare for you to buy out of state, and the state legislature protects that.
Appreciate your quick reply. I’m clearly a newbie at this.
I’d have been okay with a week’s delay but this is clearly taking very long and the process hasn’t even reached the runner part yet.
One follow up if you can answer: is there a dependency on VCFS to do something before the dealership can start the work to get the plates? Their explanation sounded like they wait until they are paid by Volvo before doing this (which is what feels annoying).
As already mentioned, you live in a state where temp tags are illegal and only a small number of RMV runners seem to be reliable. In your shoes this would have been my #1 point of negotiation - agree what runner they use and they provide what’s needed for both the title work (Cert of Origin) and tag work — your insurance can either be an enabler or impediment here.
Dealer isn’t releasing the cert of origin to any third party until your contract is fully funded, and for many reasons the dealers don’t want to share those, they do the relevant title work so captive is on there and you are not. I’m rusty on the process (family live there) but IIRC MA can process title and tag at same time as long as the insurance has correct seal from agent. And someone stands in line for all of it like a Taskrabbit.
You are probably stuck at this point, just call your sales person every day and don’t submit the survey until you have your tags.
The key here is that the OP is a MA resident. As a MA resident, the state does not recognize any temp tag at all from any jurisdiction as legal registration (even if legal in the other state) because MA expects MA residents to have permanent plates at drive-off. Because we can’t get permanent plates until we show proof of insurance, this is also a neat way to ensure the buyer has insurance at drive off.
The short-term registration thing is to allow MA dealers to sell cars out of the state, so non-residents can get a temp tag to drive home, I think because dealers realized the previous rules (no temp tag regime at all), while helping them sell in-state, hurt with selling a car to other states.
I think in MA it is customary for dealers to issue plates before a deal has fully funded but as long as you have papered the contract.
What you shared is for out of state residents buying a car in MA, also, in order to get one, I BELIEVE you need to pay sales tax on the car in MA too, which no one would ever do, it’s insane.
I leased a car once in MA, car had to sit at the dealer for a whole month before I could pick it up because of the no temp tag issue. I never leased a car again from MA because of this reason.
For non-residents, temp tags from other states are recognized as valid registration. i.e., if I had a North Carolina driver’s license and a NC temporary tag, that would be considered valid and legal registration if I drove the NC temp tagged car into Massachusetts (of course, conditional on also being able to prove presence of insurance).
The law, to my understanding, is targeted at MA residents trying to buy cars across state lines (i.e., going to NH, CT, RI, and beyond).
It isn’t an issue if you’re in a neighboring state like me in NH. I’ve bought several where the dealer delivers it to me.
If it’s close enough I’ve made two trips. Sign @ dealer, back to NH for plates, then back to the dealer to pickup. Actually just did this back in October for a killer deal on a Prius Prime thanks to @Bostoncarconcierge
Worth the hassle? I suppose it depends on the deal you’re getting.
I’ve dealt with this before which is always annoying. If it’s a bordering state to MA they are usually familiar and do it pretty quickly, has to be a two day process, I mean you can’t take the car back the same day. Further away it’s sort of a hope and pray, I had a dealer before give me a bill of sale and then mail to the local RMV office the title transfer paperwork and then I went there and registered and titled the car in my name but that’s not a lease. As far as driving it back you basically can’t, you need your permanent plates unless you want to risk it which many do, generally if you can prove your ownership and that you have insurance it’s “ok” but of course not advised.
