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Tips on applying HOV sticker

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by Pripripriprius, Jul 23, 2014.

  1. Pripripriprius

    Pripripriprius New Member

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    Hello all,

    Is there a safe way to apply the HOV sticker to your car without causing any paint damage when the time comes to remove it?

    I hope the Green HOV sticker will last til 2019, but with the HOV lanes already being clogged up as is and with the rise of electric cars in the coming years, I wouldn't be surprised if they become invalid real soon.
     
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Once they go on, they are not meant to be taken off. Of course you can try and use a blow dryer when the time comes, but I seriously doubt it'll come off really clean. They are not transferable........it's permanent

    In SoCal, this HOV access is just a gimmick. During rush hour, there is very little difference in a regular lane and a HOV lane.....traffic is stopped!
     
  3. Okinawa

    Okinawa Senior Member

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    I don't live in California so I know nothing about the HOV sticker or where it is applied. If it is applied to the inside of the windshield why couldn't you apply it with STICKER SHIELD that is available at Ace Hardware, Walgreens and online? Just asking. Since I know nothing about it please excuse me if it is a stupid suggestion.
     
  4. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    There is a set of stickers that go on the front and rear bumper corners.....I figure if you can stand the stickers in place until 2019, why would it bother you afterwards? I would just leave them....like the rest of the people that have the yellow expired ones.
     
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  5. Okinawa

    Okinawa Senior Member

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    My plan won't work. Sorry guys.
     
  6. rogerv

    rogerv Senior Member

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    You can use a heat gun, or possibly a hair dryer when the time comes that you want to remove them. I took the yellow ones off by simply letting my car sit in the sun on a warm day. The little bit of adhesive remaining came off using a paint cleaner followed by polish and wax.
    I don't agree with the poster that said the HOV access is a gimmick. There are certainly times and places where all lanes get stopped, and at times I've seen the other lanes move a bit faster for a few hundred yards. But overall, I make better time using the HOV lanes. The poster appears to have a regular Prius, so unless he has passengers, he doesn't have HOV access anyway.:cool:
     
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  7. Pripripriprius

    Pripripriprius New Member

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    Leaving the expired stickers on my car? I know the PIP is no Tesla when it comes to looks, but I still think it's damn sexy and am doing everything I can to keep it that way lol
    And I'm quite sure you can take it off using a blowdryer; I just don't know if any discoloration will occur in that area.

    Plus, keeping my PIP in tip top shape will give it a higher resell value in case I plan to upgrade to the next Gen Prius :)
     
  8. apt5020

    apt5020 Senior Member

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    Even if you remove the sticker, say 2019. Your sticker will be different color then the car. Faded over time. You will see the marketing from previous sticker. Hair dryer not going to do it. Say if someone steal your sticker. There is a VOID after you remove sticker. It will be useless if someone steal it. I accidently put it on the wrong side in the front. But I don't think they care. They care about the rear more.
     
  9. rogerv

    rogerv Senior Member

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    See my previous post. Been there, done that, with NO sign of stickers ever having been applied. Yes, the STICKER may fade, but I had no faded paint, no marks or "VOID." Others posted about using a hair dryer successfully in other threads on the subject, but I didn't need anything but sunshine after five years displaying the stickers.
     
  10. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

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    Well you could just not follow the correct directions of placement of stickers and apply them to the back window and side glass....
     
  11. LA2014Prius

    LA2014Prius Junior Member

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    2019 is still a long way away... I might have a different car by then... :)
     
  12. CharlesH

    CharlesH CA HOV Decal #5 on former PiP

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    The old expired yellow decals just pealed off off my Gen I Prius using my fingernail. I then removed the glue with tar remover. No sign that they they had ever been there. As others have mentioned, I am just hoping that I won't have to worry about expired green decals until 2019.
     
  13. Squirt

    Squirt Member

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    If you're really worried about your 5 year old prius being extra ugly because of the HOV decals in 2019 (anyone in California who would intentionally remove them before they expire is beyond logic), use 3m clear bra polyurethane sheeting in the bumper locations under the decals. Then, when the time comes, just peel the clear bra material off and the decals are gone.
     
  14. CharlesH

    CharlesH CA HOV Decal #5 on former PiP

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    The worry is that they be voided before January 2019 under the congestion clause in their enabling law. :(
     
  15. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

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    We have congestion already, are they blind and dumb!
     
  16. apt5020

    apt5020 Senior Member

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    It would not surprise me once they hit the 55,000 carpool decal they will extend another 40,000. Law is weird. Last time I saw them failed. They keep on resubmitting it until it pass. If that happen. Everyone will be guilty even if you don't do any crime.
     
  17. Squirt

    Squirt Member

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    [Editorial commentary warning]

    Honestly, I think the idea of allowing people to use carpool lanes as solo drivers because they drive "low-emission" vehicles is completely nonsensical. What does one have to do with the other? Not to mention the government subsidies for low-emission vehicles... the only reason the federal tax credit exist is to offset the blows dealt to the manufacturers by federal emissions standards.

    That being said, if a law exists that can benefit me, you had better believe that I'm going to take advantage of it. If the taxpaying population is already bearing the burden, I may as well be one of the few benefiting. I just smile as I sail past those stuck in traffic, knowing that I really have no more reason to be in the carpool lane than they do... I just won't get pulled over.

    [Editorial commentary off]
     
  18. roflwaffle

    roflwaffle Member

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    That's not the only reason the federal tax credit exists. There are substantial benefits in subsidizing gas saving technologies, not just in terms of how successful hybrids have been, but also in terms of the technological advances working their way into non-hybrids.
     
  19. 3PriusMike

    3PriusMike Prius owner since 2000, Tesla M3 2018

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    It all depends on what you think the reasoning is for having HOV lanes in the first place. One reason it to reduce emissions by having fewer cars on the road. Another reason is to reduce the number of cars in order to reduce congestion (and in turn perhaps reduce emissions by having cars get to where they are going sooner).

    It seems to me that if you go back to LA in the 1970s, trying to make the air cleaner was more important than getting people to where they were going faster. But for those who didn't care about breathing cleaner air -- maybe you'd get to work quicker if there was a dedicated lane for carpoolers. IMO, the reality is that for most people the "car pool" lanes make their commutes take longer if there is any change. And only car poolers get an advantage, if any.

    Regardless...rewarding those who spend extra to buy a cleaner car (EV, PHEV, CNG, FCEV, etc) by giving HOV access is recognition that it helps with one of the goals by having fewer emissions.

    Mike