I recently had the fortune/misfortune to have a opportunity to upgrade from a Tacoma to a Tundra. Having used USAA for a loan in the past and being quite happy with that I chose to do it again.
I'd been searching around for a used Tundra for a while but hadn't found anything that really got me excited. After having been approved I decided to look at USAA's certified dealers and almost immediately a Tundra caught my eye. It had everything i was looking for and after test driving it I knew I wanted it: signed, sealed & delivered.
Delivered that is until one month goes by and no plates, but I figure no big deal I've still got another month on the dealer plate &I know these things take time. After two more weeks tho & no plates I'm getting nervous so I called the dealership and left a msg. After a few days & still no call back I try again, this time the number is disconnected. Check the website says they're closed! I called the county tax office, they've got nothing. USAA advises me they also didn't get any paperwork from the dealer as they should have, beyond what was needed to cash their check!
I drove into the nearest regional office for the DMV, 1.5 hours away in Austin to start the "bonded titletitle" process I was told I'd need to get plates for the car only to find out there was still a lein on the vehicle, tho it wasn't stolen.
So now I have two choices, find the lein holder & get them to release it or wait out the statute of limitations which is up a month beyond the dealer's temp plate. Meaning I'd also have to get a temp permit plate to drive during that time...
The moral of the story is USAA's certified dealer program is a bunch of bullsh!t!!