Formal Bill of Sale upon return?

CTValleyTDI

Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2015
Location
MA and VT
TDI
2014 Passat TDI SE
I returned my vehicle on Friday (1/6) and received a "receipt" for my "transaction".

In Massachusetts we pay vehicle excise tax. The tax is collected at the municipal level. In order to stop paying that tax--which is assessed annually-- one must 1) cancel their vehicle registration, and 2) have a bill of sale. Documentary evidence of both my be provided to the town clerk (or similar official). There is more to the process, but I will skip those details unless asked.

It seems asymmetrical to me that we as owners/lessees all provided VWOA (or the court administrator) with notarized documents that were very precise and specific (and had legal standing) and we receive in return an email from "claims_noreply" that lacks even a basic letterhead format. I hope my town officials accept a printout as evidence that the vehicle was legitimately sold.

Is any other documentation forthcoming (e.g. in the mail, at a later date)? Or is the email it?
 

DanB36

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 13, 2003
Location
Savannah, GA
TDI
2014 Q5 Prestige TDI, Monsoon Gray
The email is it, though I'd expect that it, along with proof that the payment was actually made, would suffice.
 

CTValleyTDI

Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2015
Location
MA and VT
TDI
2014 Passat TDI SE
Thanks. I suspected the email would be it. While it meets a limited standard for a bill of sale, I am sure some local assessors will be dubious. As usual.
 

Eotnak

Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2011
Location
Titusville, NJ
TDI
2012 JSW
Thanks. I suspected the email would be it. While it meets a limited standard for a bill of sale, I am sure some local assessors will be dubious. As usual.
I'm sure you're almost guaranteed that you'll get the bureaucracy loving jelly donut eating load that insists on having a paper bill of sale, because he said so.
 

tsingtao

Veteran Member
Joined
Sep 13, 2004
Location
Phoenix, AZ
TDI
2016 Mazda 3 Hatchback 2009 Jetta TDI--Bought back 12/21/16
Did you not get a written receipt from the settlement specialist in addition to the email reciept?

My written receipt states, "Under the buyback option, Volkswagen of America, Inc. repurchased your vehicle for a total of $14,400.00 as broken down below: ..."

It has a header at the top of the receipt in big letters: "Volkswagen Group of America".

This receipt is dated, lists the VIN number, and also lists the vehicle mileage at the time of repurchase.



I can't see this not being accepted as evidence you sold the vehicle.
 

k1xv

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2009
Location
southern Vermont
TDI
09 TDI sedan, sold back 12/16. Present cars 2013 BMW X5 diesel, 2015 Corvette convertible
In Vermont, to claim a sales tax credit on the value of a car you sold within 3 months of buying a car that you paid full sales tax on, you submit a form with supporting evidence of your sale. They suggest a "bill of sale". We got no formal "bill of sale".

Instead, I submitted a copy of the paper receipt I received at the turn in, a copy of the e-mail receipt, and a copy of the Chase e-mail to apply for the EFT. These clearly establish I sold the car to VW of America, and what I was paid for it.

The State of Vermont accepted this, and I got my tax refund check within two weeks of sending in the application and supporting documents.
 

Rico567

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jun 13, 2003
Location
Central IL
TDI
2013 Passat TDI SEL Premium (Turned in 7/7/18)
I'm sure you're almost guaranteed that you'll get the bureaucracy loving jelly donut eating load that insists on having a paper bill of sale, because he said so.
The bureaucracy you will always have with you. Best to be philosophical about it, Read some Camus or perhaps Marcus Aurelius.

{Off-topic anecdote follows; you have been warned!}

Our daughter-in-law attempted to renew her driver's license at the local Secretary of State's office (IL equivalent to a DMV) (she is in the military, and was doing it while home on a visit), and the sign on the wall behind the functionary stated that an active military ID was sufficient to renew. The bureaucrat flatly refused to renew her license, and refused to say why he was refusing. Even if she had a lawyer standing at her elbow, what good would it do? We had warned her about the local office, which has a reputation for intransigence, and to go to another county. When she finally gave up in disgust and went to the neighboring county we recommended, she was done in 10 minutes.
 
Top