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Prius Purchase: Transfer Current Plate or New?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by New Revelation, Aug 25, 2006.

  1. New Revelation

    New Revelation The Master Captain

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    Location:
    Liberty, TX
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    When you bought your Prius, did you transfer your old plate or did you decide to get a new plate? I know the dealer was telling me that I can transfer the old plate on my Olds and will be alot cheaper compared to getting a new plate for the Prius. Course I knew it would be more expensive for a new plate, especially if I wanted a personalized plate.

    My current car also has a personalized plate which is FF VII. I am thinking on keeping the current plate on my car, and keeping it running to use as a backup vehicle. Where I work the parking area gets littered with flying dirt and dust all day long from the semi's and tractors coming in to park on the dirt/gravel area.

    When my Prius arrives, I plan to get a new plate, and probably have it personalized as well, though I know it will cost me more to do so. Course since Michigan only requires one plate, a personalized plate of up to 7 characters I would have to wait for it to come in the mail (compared to the regular ones which I could get right away at the Secretary State office).

    I want a new plate which would personalize me, or the car.....havent thought of a name yet, but I got lots of time to work on it, then check to see if they will be available.

    How about you guys? Transfer of New?
     
    #1 New Revelation, Aug 25, 2006
  2. Starfall

    Starfall New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Hopeful Future Prius Owner @ Aug 25 2006, 05:15 PM) [snapback]309521[/snapback]</div>
    I transferred & yes, it was cheaper. In Illinois, it cost about $143 for a title & new plate vs. about $80 for a title & transfer.

    My rationale, however, was that I wanted to keep my license # since I had had it forever. It wasn't a vanity plate, just a good friend. <_<
     
    #2 Starfall, Aug 25, 2006
  3. mehrenst

    mehrenst Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Hopeful Future Prius Owner @ Aug 25 2006, 03:15 PM) [snapback]309521[/snapback]</div>
    I think if you check the Michigan DMV website you'll find out that you can get Personalized Plates in a variety of formats. I didn't go through the process but here in California you can have the same character/number sequence on two sets of plates as long as they are difference serias, e.g., standard plates and environmental plates. (Yeah, you pay extra for the special series plates but hten how much do you want the same plate "number".
     
    #3 mehrenst, Aug 25, 2006
  4. naterprius

    naterprius Senior Member

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    YES! TRANSFER! You live in Michigan! I did this same thing in Michigan in 2000. In fact, go renew it first! Head on down to the Secretary of State, bring your registration and your checkbook, and tell them you would like to renew the old plate. Mention nothing of the Prius.

    I transferred a plate from a 16 year old car (plate price was $25) to a new car (plate price would have been $250).

    So, by renewing early, you can extend the old plate on the new car to over a year.

    You can also get a new plate for the old car at the old price, and get a personalized plate when the old one expires (on the Prius).

    Nate
     
    #4 naterprius, Aug 25, 2006
  5. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    we used the same plate. we had a few months left on the registration and i didn't want to double pay for any time whatsoever. every time the renewal comes around now, we don't have the money to get a custom plate. oh well.
     
    #5 galaxee, Aug 25, 2006
  6. Rancid13

    Rancid13 Cool Chick with a Black Prius

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    I got new plates...I figured out with the old and in with the new. The old plates left along with the old Saturn after the guy I sold it to paid for it in full. :)
     
    #6 Rancid13, Aug 25, 2006
  7. stanleyjohn

    stanleyjohn New Member

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    I transfered! Quick and easy.Also the plate is like family!its been with me since my first car.
     
    #7 stanleyjohn, Aug 25, 2006
  8. withersea

    withersea DNF is better than DNS

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    New plates only because TN redesigned the plates. My trade had the old style and I wanted the new plate design for the new car. Otherwise I would have transferred the old ones.
     
    #8 withersea, Aug 25, 2006
  9. glenhead

    glenhead New Member

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    It's not an option in Texas, unless you have personalized plates.
     
    #9 glenhead, Aug 25, 2006
  10. IsrAmeriPrius

    IsrAmeriPrius Progressive Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(glenhead @ Aug 25 2006, 07:55 PM) [snapback]309666[/snapback]</div>
    Same in California.
     
    #10 IsrAmeriPrius, Aug 25, 2006
  11. Godiva

    Godiva AmeriKan Citizen

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    Well, I'm glad I got personalized plates so I'll be able to transfer them to my 2009 Prius. Too bad I can't transfer the HOV stickers too. (I anticipate the program will be extended.)
     
    #11 Godiva, Aug 25, 2006
  12. ymos

    ymos New Member

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    I transferred my plates - they look so bad on the new car, my friends and wife want me to get new ones.

    :huh:
     
    #12 ymos, Aug 26, 2006
  13. SW03ES

    SW03ES Senior Member

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    I never transfer plates for that very reason, the old weathered plates stick out on the new car.
     
    #13 SW03ES, Aug 26, 2006
  14. New Revelation

    New Revelation The Master Captain

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    Well, according to my state's SOS (Secretary of State) office, to get a personalized plate I would have to go to the office to apply for the plate, same as I done with the Olds, and from what the site states it will take up to 3 weeks to get the plate once it's approved.

    So possibly I may need to get a temporary tag from the dealer and then go to the SOS office to apply for the personalized plate.
     
    #14 New Revelation, Aug 26, 2006
  15. wombatua

    wombatua New Member

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    Transferred - it was slightly cheaper and I didn't waste the metal of a brand-new plate. I could care less about the plate or what it looks like - I'm not giving any more money to the DMV than I have to...
     
    #15 wombatua, Aug 26, 2006
  16. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    In Alberta my "old plate" is galvanized and plasticised. It is still good as new (I think it's at least 30 years old now!). I always remember the number. So I'll be keeping it.
    The new plates are not galvanized, and not plasticised. They are stamped from thinner metal. Junk!
     
    #16 David Beale, Aug 26, 2006
  17. miwaku

    miwaku New Member

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    In GA, you can transfer ANY plate, regular or vanity. I have a vanity, but $22 to transfer my existing plate is MUCH better than $200+.
     
    #17 miwaku, Aug 26, 2006
  18. msmit002

    msmit002 Junior Member

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    Didn't have the option. My previous vehicle was an SUV with "M" series plates. Can't put them on a passenger car here in MD.

    No matter, I'm gonna see if I can get lucky enough to get some tounge-in-cheek vanity tags for the "Silent Horse" anyway...
     
    #18 msmit002, Aug 26, 2006
  19. Visith

    Visith New Member

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    I transferred. Might as well keep the sort-of low numbered plate I've had since the last redesign. I'd rather have the six digits than the seven they're handing out now :)

    I think in NH it only saves us the cost of the plate, which I think is around $20 or so.
     
    #19 Visith, Aug 26, 2006
  20. naterprius

    naterprius Senior Member

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    Just to stress, the rules for Michigan are at your advantage here. Renew the old, then transfer, then get a personalized plate. Save 100's.

    Nate
     
    #20 naterprius, Aug 26, 2006
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