Can't renew registration in CA due to fuel pump recall

Hi All,

So a bit of a back story, I have a 2018 TRDOR that I leased back in 2018, want to buy out the car as I love it, have done a bunch to it, and I'd be dumb to give it up with prices of cars the way they are. Thought no biggie as I just bought out my wife's GX with Logix bank and it was smooth sailing. Started the process with them for a new loan a couple of weeks ago for the Taco and I just had to renew reg. if it was expiring within 60 days. Went to renew online as I've done the last two years but got an error that I can't renew online and need to send in payment by mail. Went to a DMV Kiosk and got the same thing.

Called the DMV and found out it was due to the emissions recall. I sent in payment by check but I have a huge dilemma now. The bank needs receipt of payment from the DMV in order to secure the loan. I am scheduled to go into the dealership to have the recall taken care of this Friday the 30th, then I'm going to attempt to go to the DMV and make a payment or get a receipt from them if they cash the check before then. If not, still going to make the payment and I'll put a stop payment on the first check I mailed them. My major issue is that I'm leaving the country on business for about 16 days on August 12th. Last day of my lease is August 18th and I'm not back in the country until the 27th.

Does anyone have experience dealing with this? Is there a chance that if I don't make the 18th cut off Toyota can demand I return the car? I don't care if they charge me a small fee due to them getting full payment for the truck a bit after that or whatever if I can't get this done in time before I leave but I don't know enough about Toyota lease agreements to know how that would work.

Appreciate anyone's advice if you're familiar with this. Also would love to know if anyone else has ran into this renewal issue and was able to resolve by physically going to the DMV same day or shortly after getting the recall taken care of at the dealer.

 

Call TFS anyone here is going to be guessing

 

Call your lease company and ask them to extend your lease for 30 or 60 days, whichever you need. I did that on a lease once because I had to wait for some $$ to come in from one of my investments to buy the car. They did it without a problem. Granted it was Ford Motor Credit and not TFS, but it wasn't an issue. Can't help with the DMV issue, they don't require any inspections here in FL.

 

I called TFS. Wanted to update incase anyone else runs into a similar issue. They said I'll have a 10 day grace period from the end of the lease date and if they still don't get payment lease gets extended for a month. So I would just owe them another month's lease payment on top of the pay-off amount. It sucks as that's basically $367 down the drain if I don't make the cut off but not the end of the world when you consider I'll have $5k+ equity in the truck right off the bat.

None of this will matter if the DMV doesn't give me any BS. Hopefully that'll be the case.

 

It won't be down the drain. Your payoff will change after you make another payment. I did exactly this 6 months ago

 

@KingZee , what is the “emissions recall” on a 2018? Is it CA only or a general recall?

 

oh sweet.

 

According to the dealer it's the recall for the fuel pump which is a general recall on 2018s and any prior year. It's only an emissions issue in CA though from what I understand. Other states don't care whether you get it done or not.

 

What emissions recall? Is this a new thing? Wait, aren't recalls about safety issues? When did emissions become safety? I'm confused.

 

Is there a number associated with the emissions recall?

 

Thank you.

 

Only in California. Fuel pump recall. Safety issue mislabeled as emissions issue.

 

Bad title guys, my bad (fixed). This is in regards to the "Fuel pump recall" do a title search for that here and you'll see the numerous threads on it. I guess CA considers it an emissions issue. Not really surprised. Dreading dealing with the DMV just to get my reg. renewed. It seems like if you have to do anything with CA DMV right now that you can't do online nobody gives an F. When I called them the call queue was over 5 hours. Thankfully I didn't have to hold and they called me back and I was able to answer their call. The guy that called me had no idea wtf he was talking about for the most part. Was just able to tell me that it was due to an emissions recall.

 

Incase anyone else runs into this, it was due to the recall. Took the car to the dealer and they did the recall. They provided a certificate of completion signed by the service manager that I took to the DMV with me. They renewed my reg. on the spot and took the certificate of completion and filed it so it shouldn't be an issue in the future.

 

Out of curiosity how does the process of buying out out the lease with Logix and Lexus work out? My wife has a RX350 and lease will end in a couple of months. Due to how overpriced new leases are right now, we are thinking of buying it out. Not sure if Logix works directly with TFS or if god forbid we need to get a Lexus dealership as a middleman.

 

Phone them directly, cut out the dealer. You can even buy out a lease anytime you want, you don't have to wait for end of term. You can also finance the residual as well.

That said I always use the dealer to intervene with my financed cars as I like to have someone to blame rather than myself.

 

I do know about paying off or selling leased cars mid lease like to Carvana and Carmax. Just not sure how Logix Credit Union handles buying out a lease with TFS.

 

DMV will also block you from paying your registration for recalls related to SRS airbag system.

What the hell does the safety of my vehicle have to do with the emissions (which is what you guys are all about in this state apparently)?

Is the fact that I'm dead because my airbags didn't deploy due to manufacturer defect make you feel the need to intervene because if I'm dead, that means I can't pay you taxes anymore, so it's ultimately less money in your pocketbook?

The stupidities in this state are beyond me truthfully.

 

Why does the bank care if the vehicle is registered or not ? As long as you have insurance on it it shouldn’t matter . I would talk to someone higher level at the bank . You might be able to get a temporary registration from the dmv .you would probably have to go in person and show proof that the recall is in the process of being repaired if they let you do that . Best of luck .

 

I can understand the emissions stuff. However, if you don't want to worry about it, try a different state. There are no state or yearly inspections here in MI. I can register anything that has a good title or salvage title. There are certain laws you have to follow to keep your vehicle within the framework of the law but none of them prevent you from registering every year. You'll just run the risk of getting pulled over.