unusual CA plates
February 4, 2010 1:34 PM Subscribe
I'm considering buying a used car on ebay today. It has unusual california plates... What are they?
On the California DMV site: occupational license plates.
posted by steef at 1:41 PM on February 4, 2010
posted by steef at 1:41 PM on February 4, 2010
Response by poster: Can I keep dealer plates on the car?
posted by mrunderhill at 1:42 PM on February 4, 2010
posted by mrunderhill at 1:42 PM on February 4, 2010
Response by poster: Ok, so DLR plates are portable and belong to the dealer.
Can I drive home without plates while I wait for them?
posted by mrunderhill at 1:46 PM on February 4, 2010
Can I drive home without plates while I wait for them?
posted by mrunderhill at 1:46 PM on February 4, 2010
are you buying it from a dealer? they should have temp plates to give you.
posted by nadawi at 1:56 PM on February 4, 2010
posted by nadawi at 1:56 PM on February 4, 2010
Yep, it's definitely a dealer plate. If you're buying the car from a dealer, they'll stick a piece of paper on the back window of your car which will indicate you've just bought it and are waiting for your permanent plates; so yes, you'll be able to drive it home.
posted by LuckySeven~ at 2:11 PM on February 4, 2010
posted by LuckySeven~ at 2:11 PM on February 4, 2010
The way it works in California: Acting as an agent of the California Department of Vehicles, the dealer collects the registration and license fees from the buyer and issues an application for regisration (known as an RS in the trade). One copy of the RS is forwarded to DMV while another is taped into the window of the car. This RS serves as proof of fees paid and temporary license/registration until the actual plates and registration are issued by DMV.
posted by buggzzee23 at 2:15 PM on February 4, 2010
posted by buggzzee23 at 2:15 PM on February 4, 2010
Another thing to keep in mind: California license renewal dates are determined the first time the car is sold or registered in California, not 1 year from the time a used car is purchased and license fees paid. This means you can theoretically pay a full year's license fee if a car has been unregisted and on a dealer's lot for several months, then have to pay the full fees all over again in a couple of months if a renewal is due.
posted by buggzzee23 at 2:19 PM on February 4, 2010
posted by buggzzee23 at 2:19 PM on February 4, 2010
This means you can theoretically pay a full year's license fee if a car has been unregisted and on a dealer's lot for several months, then have to pay the full fees all over again in a couple of months if a renewal is due.
This. It bit me last year when I bought a used car from a dealer. Unfortunately there is no way around it.
posted by VikingSword at 2:53 PM on February 4, 2010
This. It bit me last year when I bought a used car from a dealer. Unfortunately there is no way around it.
posted by VikingSword at 2:53 PM on February 4, 2010
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posted by box at 1:37 PM on February 4, 2010