Can dealers really get your plates faster?

[meezercat]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mikel 52 @ Aug 1 2006, 03:06 PM) [snapback]295848[/snapback]</div>

I was really impressed when I bought my 2002 last month. I got the plates while I was at the dealership and they even put them on for me before I left the lot.
[/b]

Same here. I was surprised, but I left the dealership with actual plates, not temp tags.

And I wasn't on a waiting list beforehand - I walked in, said "I want this car", did the paperwork, and took it home.

[cjmebm]

I am in PA and drove away from the dealership with my plates on my car...

[subarutoo]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Betelgeuse @ Aug 1 2006, 01:13 PM) [snapback]295853[/snapback]</div>

The CA folks are in a hurry to get plates so they can get their HOV-lane stickers before they run out. Ironic because, here in CT, they put the plates on the car when we bought it (and handed us the registration). I'm not totally sure how it works, but my guess is that they have a pile of license plates in the back room and they use some DMV-connected computer to associate the new VIN with the plates.
[/b]

You don't need plates in California to get the freeway stickers. Mine arrived 4 days before I got the plates. I just put "New car-no plate" on the form, and sent it in. All they need is the VIN, which should be on the bill of sale. I had seen several cars with paper dealer plates, and freeway stickers, so I just sent mine in. No big deal, just get the VIN + $ 8.00 and you're cruisin!

[rufaro]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(subarutoo @ Aug 1 2006, 10:56 PM) [snapback]296119[/snapback]</div>

You don't need plates in California to get the freeway stickers. Mine arrived 4 days before I got the plates. I just put "New car-no plate" on the form, and sent it in. All they need is the VIN, which should be on the bill of sale. I had seen several cars with paper dealer plates, and freeway stickers, so I just sent mine in. No big deal, just get the VIN + $ 8.00 and you're cruisin!
[/b]

You were REALLY lucky subarutoo...many of us had the apps bounced back w/out a plate #.

[daronspicher]

So far, it looks like an Illinois thing.

I was in working on the paperwork for the car and the guy pulled out a set of the metal plates from his drawer, ran the Year/Month sticker through his printer and by the time we drove off the lot, they had them installed on the car.

[RichBoy]

the same when I bought my Prius..I was happy not to have go to DMV

[KathyY]

When we picked up both the '02 and the '04 we left the dealer with our plates on. Not every dealer in Maryland does that but ours was able to do it. I needed to have plates on the car to register it on Ft. Meade and get my DoD stitcker so I could easily get on post. Later I turned my plates in for the Save the Bay ones and I had to do that at the MVA.

[turtlebud]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(subarutoo @ Aug 1 2006, 10:56 PM) [snapback]296119[/snapback]</div>

You don't need plates in California to get the freeway stickers. Mine arrived 4 days before I got the plates. I just put "New car-no plate" on the form, and sent it in. All they need is the VIN, which should be on the bill of sale. I had seen several cars with paper dealer plates, and freeway stickers, so I just sent mine in. No big deal, just get the VIN + $ 8.00 and you're cruisin!
[/b]

Hey subarutoo, you're right that you don't need the physical plates in hand to get your stickers and you don't necessarily even need to put the plate number on the application (though the dmv said I needed to when i called them). However, the car does need to be registered (ie, in the DMV system) before they can process your application. If the car isn't in the system yet, then they'll bounce the application back to you. So I guess the main thing for me is that if you have the plate number (the actual plate probably comes a couple of weeks later), then that insures that you car is in the system and you shouldn't have any problems with your application.

btw, I called the DMV yesterday and they said the car is registered (was actually registered last week) and I got my plate number so I'm sending in the application today. I also called to dealership to ask how come they never called me (cause they said they'd check for me every day and call me when the plate number comes in) - they told me that their system doesn't update everyday so maybe it's not in their system yet. They also said that it takes like an hour if you try to call the DMV (which I also find hard to believe as it took my 5 minutes or less to get through). Anyways, all is good and I'm looking forward to my HOV stickers in a couple of weeks. YAY!

[ServoScanMan]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mastergunnera8 @ Aug 1 2006, 06:10 PM) [snapback]295952[/snapback]</div>

The dealer I bought from had an electronic link with the DMV...was very critical for me to get the Clean Fuel plates in VA before the deadline of 30 June 2006...drove off in less than an hour with permanent plates on the car...
[/b]

That's the same thing I did. The car just hit the lot 1 hour before I arrived. I test drove it and took it home with plates on it. First time this has ever happened to me.

[Drift Motion]

i like the look of temp tags better than metal ones