RANT: Stupid MA laws

InsanePineapple · 03-12-2011, 09:29 PM

Since I bought my new car in VA, it has been sitting in a garage for the last 4 weeks because MA is the only state in the US that does not recognize dealer issued temporary registration that would have been legal anywhere else. I called the dealership title clerk and she checked with MA RMV. The only response from RMV is that "they'll get to it soon, but no promised dates." Who knows if I'll even get to drive it this coming week. This is ridiculous! I have valid insurance and documents that prove I bought the car, why is it illegal for me to drive it???

Don't even get me started on the condition of the roads and the excise tax (I've made my feelings known in that thread). I'm so glad to be moving out of the state in a few months!

jopa489 · 03-13-2011, 11:15 PM

Welcome to MA.

LuisBoston · 03-14-2011, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morfinx

Since I bought my new car in VA, it has been sitting in a garage for the last 4 weeks because MA is the only state in the US that does not recognize dealer issued temporary registration that would have been legal anywhere else. I called the dealership title clerk and she checked with MA RMV. The only response from RMV is that "they'll get to it soon, but no promised dates." Who knows if I'll even get to drive it this coming week. This is ridiculous! I have valid insurance and documents that prove I bought the car, why is it illegal for me to drive it???

Don't even get me started on the condition of the roads and the excise tax (I've made my feelings known in that thread). I'm so glad to be moving out of the state in a few months!

Dealer in VA should have registered it in MA for you. That's not MA's fault. And you shouldn't rant about MA if it's registered in VA and you aren't paying the excise tax. Also, since you didn't pay MA sales tax or excise tax don't complain about our roads. We know they suck, and they suck with OUR tax dollars.

InsanePineapple · 03-14-2011, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jopa489

Welcome to MA.

I've been here for 4 years and can't wait to get out!

Quote:

Originally Posted by lem144

Dealer in VA should have registered it in MA for you. That's not MA's fault. And you shouldn't rant about MA if it's registered in VA and you aren't paying the excise tax. Also, since you didn't pay MA sales tax or excise tax don't complain about our roads. We know they suck, and they suck with OUR tax dollars.

The dealer IS registering it in MA, and I DID pay MA sales tax on the car. I've been paying MA sales tax, income tax, and excise tax for the last 4 years so I have the same right to complain about the roads as any other MA residents

LuisBoston · 03-14-2011, 04:13 PM

Then why don't you have plates? When you register you get plates right away. Maybe the dealer didn't do their end properly

Quote:

Originally Posted by morfinx

I've been here for 4 years and can't wait to get out!

The dealer IS registering it in MA, and I DID pay MA sales tax on the car. I've been paying MA sales tax, income tax, and excise tax for the last 4 years so I have the same right to complain about the roads as any other MA residents

focusse · 03-14-2011, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lem144

Then why don't you have plates? When you register you get plates right away. Maybe the dealer didn't do their end properly

+1

InsanePineapple · 03-14-2011, 04:31 PM

It's possible. The dealer's title clerk is supposed to take care of everything and interface with the RMV. I was forwarded the RMV-1 form by my insurance company, I signed it and forwarded to the title clerk, who then forwarded it to the RMV. I believe for the next step the RMV is supposed to send her the registration and plates, and she's supposed to forward it to me. It would have been faster had I been able to do the registration and title myself, but I was told the financing institution required that I pay the sales tax and title/registration fee at the time of purchase. It sounded like the dealership may not have had much experience dealing with MA registrations.

Still, it's ridiculous that MA doesn't recognize dealer issued temp registrations. There is NO reason for that.

LuisBoston · 03-14-2011, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morfinx

Still, it's ridiculous that MA doesn't recognize dealer issued temp registrations. There is NO reason for that.

Maybe it makes it easier for the state. One less piece of paper to push. Why did you buy it in VA? Anything with long-distance deals like that might have complications attached of one form or another, and I'm sure it royally sucks.

InsanePineapple · 03-14-2011, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lem144

Maybe it makes it easier for the state. One less piece of paper to push. Why did you buy it in VA? Anything with long-distance deals like that might have complications attached of one form or another, and I'm sure it royally sucks.

I was pretty specific in my requirements, and I didn't want to order a new one since I don't like to take the big initial depreciation, so I had to widen my search area. It just sucks that I've waited so long and I still can't drive my new car

InsanePineapple · 03-15-2011, 04:14 PM

Just called RMV, and they don't have my information in the database yet. The documents were mailed to them 2 weeks ago, and the customer service rep told me it could take up to 6 weeks if mailed. Assuming maximum delay, that would be 2 months of not driving my new car. I'm REALLY REALLY annoyed about this. Supposedly I should have gotten the original title from the dealership, and then let my insurance agent handle the plates, which would have been a matter of a couple of days. I blame it on both the dealership's title department for not researching how MA registration works, and for MA's inane law about temporary registrations (the ONLY state that doesn't recognize them, mind you).

I might just say fuck it and move the plates from my old car (which I'm driving now) to the new car until new plates come in. I'm mainly worried about cops running my plates though, which won't match the car it's on.

bbbuzzy · 03-16-2011, 12:46 PM

If you've lived here for 4 yrs, you have some responsibility to figure out the local laws. The RMV site has clear instructions for out of state purchases. Scroll down to the second to last section.

http://www.mass.gov/rmv/regs/reg2.htm

For those complaining about Mass, the RMV is MUCH better than it used to be. Their website has all the info you need. You just have to spend the time to find it. Every state has quirks, let us know which one you think is better. I'm sure that state has lots of issues as well. The world is complex, take some time to figure it out and stop stumbling through life.

Good luck with your new car.

darkrom · 03-16-2011, 01:23 PM

I'd be annoyed too. I'd take up that frustration with the dealership. Let them know you are pissed off that you are waiting 2 months to drive the car because of them. Demand some weather tech mats for MA or something lol.

InsanePineapple · 03-16-2011, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbbuzzy

If you've lived here for 4 yrs, you have some responsibility to figure out the local laws. The RMV site has clear instructions for out of state purchases. Scroll down to the second to last section.

http://www.mass.gov/rmv/regs/reg2.htm

For those complaining about Mass, the RMV is MUCH better than it used to be. Their website has all the info you need. You just have to spend the time to find it. Every state has quirks, let us know which one you think is better. I'm sure that state has lots of issues as well. The world is complex, take some time to figure it out and stop stumbling through life.

Good luck with your new car.

I have actually read the page multiple times before I bought the car. The problem is that I paid MA sales tax at the dealership so I have to go through their runners. Otherwise I would have much more preferred they give me the title and let me handle the rest myself.

A little bit of good news, as of this morning, my VIN is showing up in RMV's title status inquiry page. This implies they've received my paperwork and started the processing at least. So hopefully I'll get my plate soon!

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkrom

I'd be annoyed too. I'd take up that frustration with the dealership. Let them know you are pissed off that you are waiting 2 months to drive the car because of them. Demand some weather tech mats for MA or something lol.

If you read my previous thread, you already know what a long dragged out ordeal this has been with this dealership. Now I just want to drive my car in peace

03-12-2011, 09:29 PM	#1
InsanePineapple Shenanigans 86 Rep 1,252 Posts Drives: See Signature Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (1)	RANT: Stupid MA laws Since I bought my new car in VA, it has been sitting in a garage for the last 4 weeks because MA is the only state in the US that does not recognize dealer issued temporary registration that would have been legal anywhere else. I called the dealership title clerk and she checked with MA RMV. The only response from RMV is that "they'll get to it soon, but no promised dates." Who knows if I'll even get to drive it this coming week. This is ridiculous! I have valid insurance and documents that prove I bought the car, why is it illegal for me to drive it??? Don't even get me started on the condition of the roads and the excise tax (I've made my feelings known in that thread). I'm so glad to be moving out of the state in a few months!
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03-13-2011, 11:15 PM	#2
jopa489 Major General 124 Rep 6,594 Posts Drives: Anything with Wheels Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: USA iTrader: (9)	Welcome to MA. __________________ X7 LCI // Incoming C7 ZR1 ZTK // Sebring + TRX // Hydro + Raptor Gen1 Roush // Tuxedo
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03-14-2011, 04:31 PM	#7
InsanePineapple Shenanigans 86 Rep 1,252 Posts Drives: See Signature Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (1)	It's possible. The dealer's title clerk is supposed to take care of everything and interface with the RMV. I was forwarded the RMV-1 form by my insurance company, I signed it and forwarded to the title clerk, who then forwarded it to the RMV. I believe for the next step the RMV is supposed to send her the registration and plates, and she's supposed to forward it to me. It would have been faster had I been able to do the registration and title myself, but I was told the financing institution required that I pay the sales tax and title/registration fee at the time of purchase. It sounded like the dealership may not have had much experience dealing with MA registrations. Still, it's ridiculous that MA doesn't recognize dealer issued temp registrations. There is NO reason for that.
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03-15-2011, 04:14 PM	#10
InsanePineapple Shenanigans 86 Rep 1,252 Posts Drives: See Signature Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (1)	Just called RMV, and they don't have my information in the database yet. The documents were mailed to them 2 weeks ago, and the customer service rep told me it could take up to 6 weeks if mailed. Assuming maximum delay, that would be 2 months of not driving my new car. I'm REALLY REALLY annoyed about this. Supposedly I should have gotten the original title from the dealership, and then let my insurance agent handle the plates, which would have been a matter of a couple of days. I blame it on both the dealership's title department for not researching how MA registration works, and for MA's inane law about temporary registrations (the ONLY state that doesn't recognize them, mind you). I might just say fuck it and move the plates from my old car (which I'm driving now) to the new car until new plates come in. I'm mainly worried about cops running my plates though, which won't match the car it's on.
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03-16-2011, 12:46 PM	#11
bbbuzzy Lieutenant 18 Rep 481 Posts Drives: '13 335is convertible (manual) Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: north of Boston iTrader: (0)	If you've lived here for 4 yrs, you have some responsibility to figure out the local laws. The RMV site has clear instructions for out of state purchases. Scroll down to the second to last section. http://www.mass.gov/rmv/regs/reg2.htm For those complaining about Mass, the RMV is MUCH better than it used to be. Their website has all the info you need. You just have to spend the time to find it. Every state has quirks, let us know which one you think is better. I'm sure that state has lots of issues as well. The world is complex, take some time to figure it out and stop stumbling through life. Good luck with your new car. __________________ '13 335is convertible (manual) '11 X3 xdrive35i '15 Sienna Limited AWD (road tripper) '06 330i MT, sport,premium (retired)
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03-16-2011, 01:23 PM	#12
darkrom Colonel 242 Rep 2,348 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Rhode Island iTrader: (5)	I'd be annoyed too. I'd take up that frustration with the dealership. Let them know you are pissed off that you are waiting 2 months to drive the car because of them. Demand some weather tech mats for MA or something lol.
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