California License Plates + HOV Sticker

Hi Everyone, I managed to finally get the number for the field office that can check status of your HOV decal applications. The field office number is (916)657-8035. After 30 minutes on hold with the DMV to get a number to call, and an hour with the field office support I was able to learn that my application is indeed being processed as of yesterday. After two months! This number is not listed anywhere on the websites. Be prepared to be on hold for an hour though... Also, don't trust the call back option as it has hung up on me when they called me back!

 

When we went through this process with the PiP, I recall that they processed the applications in batches, so if your application missed the cutoff for the current batch, it would be a while until the next batch was processed. The visual image I have is that one person handles these applications along with other tasks, so all of the applications may be sitting in a growing pile waiting for the next time that the task of processing them comes to the top of that person's queue.

 

Hopefully they will have renewed the HOV access for our cars by 2019, and our stickers will have renewed life.
I have saved as much as an hour in travel time on some days, so the ugly stickers are wonderful on those days.

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4 back to back posts, learn to use multi quote, merged them all.

I'm with you!!!

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4 back to back posts, learn to use multi quote, merged them all.

You can check the approval status for your carb rebate online. Once the rebate is approved, it takes up to 90 days to get the check. It's like Christmas!


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4 back to back posts, learn to use multi quote, merged them all.

I had the same experience with the application for my HOV stickers for my 2017 Prime Advanced. Some idiot at DMV returned my application, I called them and they said there was no problem with my application just send it back again. I sent back the application, and two weeks later I got my stickers. As I recall, you have to have the license plate number before you can make the application for the HOV stickers.

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Agree. When I was commuting between Pasadena and Irvine back during the years of 2006 to 2008, I was saving up to an hour one way, so the stickers were a Godsend! I've since moved closer to my job only 7 miles away with no freeway use, but I use the freeway in the evening to go to the gym where I use the carpool lane for like 6 miles. I just wish between the first iteration of the stickers and now, California would have come up with a better identification such as a special license plate...something that Arizona and Virginia do. Oh well, take what we can get!

 

I've heard that there have been bills to extend HOV access until 2025. I believe there is current a bill that is making its way through (AB 544). I believe the intention of this bill is to extend access depending on the year you purchased. Feel free to read it and let me know if you interpret the same thing...

Bill Text - AB-544 Vehicles: high-occupancy vehicle lanes.

Key points

(4) A decal, label, or other identifier issued pursuant to paragraph (1) or (3) before January 1, 2017, is valid until January 1, 2019.
(5) A decal, label, or other identifier issued pursuant to paragraph (1) or (3) on or after January 1, 2017, and before January 1, 2018, is valid until January 1, 2021.
(6) A decal, label, or other identifier issued pursuant to paragraph (1) or (3) on or after January 1, 2018, and before January 1, 2019, is valid until January 1, 2022.
(7) A decal, label, or other identifier issued pursuant to paragraph (1) or (3) on or after January 1, 2019, is valid until January 1 of the fourth year after the year of issuance.

 

In this case, I'm glad the DMV took their time to issue my stickers! There's no date on the stickers though, so how is a cop supposed to tell if you are legal?

 

My check was just cashed! Check dated 1/24, check cashed 3/23. Almost exactly two months!

That would be great if they're good until 2021!

 

Well, the DMV documentation says that you need to be able to show the Clean Air Decal registration form to a police officer, if asked, to substantiate that the decals are valid and assigned to that car. But what is a cop going to do? Pull over EVERY car utilizing the single-occupant privilege to verify that the decals are valid?? Or somehow commit to memory the appearance of every model car that is eligible for the decals, including model year, and thus determine the if their decals are still valid? Right....

 

The bill text seems to indicate that DMV will need to issue new decals for each appropriate segment. For all we know, when we renew registration in 2018 we will get a blue sticker indicating access until 2021.

Of course, this is assuming this bill becomes law.

 

I might just have really really bad luck. I sent my application first week of January, my check was cashed on February 9th. Then nothing. I finally called the DMV and after an hour wait the woman told me that is far too long to have waited. She then directed me to the (916) direct number where I waited another hour. All they would confirm is that my check was indeed cashed on February 9th. They wouldn't tell me when anything was sent. The woman just told me to reapply. Seriously? And because I don't think the DMV has any real accountability to customers I have re-sent my application. They had me send in an additional DMV form requesting a fee waiver since I already paid. There was no way I was sending them another check. I reapplied with the DMV 1000 form, the fee waiver form, and I also sent a photocopy of my cashed check just so they can't say they never got their money.

I've now had my car well over 3 months and just watch the other Prime drivers whizz by in the carpool and express lanes...

So if it has been too long, call the (916) number. Don't wait like I did.

 

For me as a dealership, I can now say it's a 10 day time frame. From the day the form is mailed to them with my VINs to the stickers arriving here, 10 days. I have pre-ordered and received 16 HOV decals for 16 cars that are not here yet. At least my clients are now able to leave with them in hand MOST every time.

 

If you have a Vin #, you can request for it w/o a license plate # just the same as dealerships. The DMV are all caught up now so they will process faster. They were backed up in January. I know this bc my friend who purchased his vehicle got his stickers in 2 weeks. Dealers don't have special privileges, the only thing they have is the Vin # which allows them to apply in advance.

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I wouldn't encourage anyone to send the DMV form in without the plate number. Sacramento folks will want a license plate # on both pages of the form to the car owner. It's the dealer multi-car form that only needs VINs.
I'm concerned when I see someone encourage someone else to do something that won't work. Something that will set them back weeks in receiving their decals, when patience to get the plate # will only be needed for a short time as opposed to waiting weeks and getting the check back with a letter that says your plate # is missing.
It's bad advice.

 

Last week I was on a business trip to LA. Amazingly I only saw one prime on hwy 5. No tesla whatsoever. A couple of volt. No leaf. No EV cars. That's it. Looks like socal plugin/EV guys are hiding somewhere or simply not as large the market as here in bay area.

 

It concerns me as to why you would suggest it would "not work" when it has and that's a fact. Couple others posted on here with the same success acquiring the stickers without LP #. You can gloat all you want about getting stickers before everyone else, but don't be claiming it's impossible in an effort to self promote. You have your own thread to do that in. Not going to debate with you. Choice is ultimately with the purchaser how he/she wants to pursue it.

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An individual applying without the license plate number is engaging in a lottery. IF the DMV has already assigned a plate number to the VIN AND IF the DMV clerk is in the mood to look it up and not just reject the incomplete form, then applying without the plate number may work. OTOH, the dealer form is specifically intended to work with only the VIN.

 

I just wanted give some input in my experience although I have a used 14 plug in. I submitted my form on 2/27. My check cleared 3/6 and got my stickers by 3/14. Within 2 weeks I got my stickers, I was surprised as I heard the process can take months. Just my 2 cents

 

I know you mean well but you are wrongly telling people it won't work, when it does. I got mine without putting the plate number on my form. I even called the DMV beforehand and they told me as long as the VIN is attached to my name it is fine. My neighbor did the same with his Tesla without issue.

 

Yes, IF your registration has proceeded far enough so that they have internally assigned a plate number, applying without a license number MAY work. Unless the DMV clerk is in a crabby mood.

 

In my opinion, it isn't worth taking the chance. My dealer was able to get me my plate number from the DMV. I also got my plates fairly soon after I purchased the car.