Its automatic, and your dealer does not have to send in any specific paperwork to VCA.
Buying a new, untitled Viper on the MSO triggers the dealer-paid membership when the title is generated. Doris here took under 5 weeks to get her VCA welcome letter and Viper magazine, based on her 9/30/08 deliver date.
If you choose to upgrade that 'free' membership to VENOM, you can pay the extra via HQ. While $35 does not sound like much, in terms of generating funds for VCA, it is a HUGE percentage of incremental difference, because the COOL (free) dues and the $115 dues generate almost nothing.
MEMBERSHIP RECRUITMENT and RETENTION must be a top priority in 2009 and beyond. I wonder what would happen if all the non-member 'freeloaders' posting or even lurking here were to be denied access unless they paid a nominal $20/year Web Forum Membership? Or $35 for 2 years. Or ? This website ALONE is worth the VCA membership fee. And yet it is free to everyone, instead of free to Members. Is this what AL GORE intended ?!