This is actually a good question. Unfortunately I do not know the answer to it. But, I can’t say for sure that the timeframe involved on yours seems entirely too long. When I have received refunds for excessive tag fees, I don’t recall them ever taking longer than one month to arrive.
The other thing to consider is, since it was done using an out-of-state dealer, they probably used a “tag runner” as well. Those costs will be over and above the actual state fees.
They did say that they use a third party for out-of-state registrations for the convenience of all parties, and I’m okay paying a reasonable premium for the service.
While I wasn’t expecting a refund of precisely $425 - (55.25 + 15.00), I did expect to see a check in the mailbox by now.
I just don’t like having the fees be overstated because then they get boiled into the lease. Even if they give you a check for the difference, you are paying interest on the overage throughout the lease term, Pennies as it may be
Three of the four cars I bought when we lived in California were from out of state, and If I recall correctly I registered all of them in person and paid the sales tax at the same time.
I procrastinated this task until today. It’s now been 90 days since we took delivery of the vehicle.
I just sent a follow-up email to the sales manager and the finance guy, with the relevant details/screenshots from our lease agreement and the state’s documentation that arrived with the plates.
I’ll post further details as they present themselves.
By sheer coincidence I am in Northern Virginia on business. Looks like it’s a 15-minute Uber ride from my hotel to the dealer, so if I can find the time I could just show up and resolve this in person…
I connected with the new sales manager today by phone. Detailed breakout is coming via email.
From his explanation it sounds like they under-collected for sales tax and over collected for registration, title and license, so they used some of the overage on the BMV fees toward the sales tax shortfall, which apparently left $35.25… which is now miraculously on its way to our mailbox.
Is this legit, or do they still owe me the balance between the $425 they collected for title, registration and license and what the actual costs were for these specific items?
Ive had the same thing happen…dealer shows tag/title fees that are way over actual and they claim they put the costs for their doc fee in this line as well. I suppose one could push this legally (as dealers technically cannot make a profit on registration and “on paper” it appears they are), but its probably not worth it.
I re-clarified my request and asked again for a refund of the difference between what was collected and what was actually paid out for title/registration:
$ 425.00 estimated amount for State of Ohio fees, collected at lease signing
(140.00) fee the dealer paid to a third party to handle the out-of-state paperwork
(104.25) actual cost of title and registration (they provided a copy of the check)
=180.75.
In a reply email on 10/18 the sales manager confirmed that a check for $180.75 would be mailed to me this week.
I’m traveling all week, but I’ll check the mail when I get home on Sunday night and post an update.
