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Can dealers really get your plates faster?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by turtlebud, Aug 1, 2006.

  1. turtlebud

    turtlebud Junior Member

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    So I heard that you can get your license plate number quicker through the dealer because they can check the DMV database to find if your car has been registered and get your plate numbers for you. Does anyone know how this works?

    The reason I ask is because the dealership that I bought my prius at said that their program may not update every day so they might not be able to get me the plate number immediately after the vehicle is registered, but there might be some lag (don't know how long that lag is).
     
  2. subarutoo

    subarutoo New Member

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    Why would you be in such a rush to get plates? I've never heard of such a thing. :blink:
     
  3. Charles Suitt

    Charles Suitt Senior Member

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    <_< Don't know about CA, but in TX the Dealer sends their courier down with multiple license requests and it takes a few days to get the metal plates to replace the temporary paper tags. I would say I'd get the permanent plates quicker letting the Dealer handle it.
     
  4. ScottY

    ScottY New Member

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    That's what my $45 DMV fee is for. I got my plates the day I pick up my car. They do all the DMV paper work for me.
     
  5. etyler88

    etyler88 etyler88

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    I had my car for at least two weeks before I got the plates. So be patient, that is what the temporary plate is for.
     
  6. Tempus

    Tempus Senior Member

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    I've seen it several ways.

    If there is lead time before you pick up the car, the dealer can have the plates waiting along with registration.

    The dealer can fill out the paperwork and the plates are mailed to you.

    And in DC I can pick up the car, go to the DMV office and get the plates myself right on the spot, and not pay the dealer their 'registration fee'.

    Just depends on if you want them to do it or if you're the do it yourself kind.

    Or, I suppose, if you want specific vanity plates.
     
  7. mikel 52

    mikel 52 Member

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    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.
     
  8. Betelgeuse

    Betelgeuse Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(subarutoo @ Aug 1 2006, 03:14 PM) [snapback]295814[/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.
     
  9. miwaku

    miwaku New Member

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    Interesting. Here in Georgia, dealers charge a premium of about $200 for registration & plates. Instead, since I traded my old car in, I told them to leave it off, and when the registration went through I paid $22 to transfer my tag from the old car to the Prius.

    Not that it matters, it was a vanity plate, but this process works for all plates in Georgia, and apparently some other states, as well.
     
  10. mastergunnera8

    mastergunnera8 Junior Member

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    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...
     
  11. meezercat

    meezercat New Member

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

    cjmebm New Member

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

    subarutoo New Member

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

    rufaro WeePoo, Gen II

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(subarutoo @ Aug 1 2006, 10:56 PM) [snapback]296119[/snapback]</div>
    You were REALLY lucky subarutoo...many of us had the apps bounced back w/out a plate #.
     
  15. daronspicher

    daronspicher Active Member

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    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.
     
  16. RichBoy

    RichBoy New Member

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

    KathyY Member

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    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.
     
  18. turtlebud

    turtlebud Junior Member

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

    ServoScanMan Member

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

    Drift Motion RMS13

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    i like the look of temp tags better than metal ones