Calif Dmv Nazis Strike Again!!!

Just got back fron the Delightful Motor Vehicle Dept...here's my story. Found a beautiful pair of 75-rear-old, original, unrestored CA license plates to replace the beat up pair on the heap. Called the DMV three times to verify they were clear - they were. Ponied up out a hefty tariff to make them mine. Marched into The Dept. with old & new plates in hand. Filled out form. Waited in line. Did I say w-a-i-t-e-d in line? Finally made it to the sem-beautiful gate-keeper at the window, and dutifully hand over my worn out set of tin. She immediately sees that my car is on Non-Op status (bright girl) due recent lack of time to secure enough decent 97's to rebuild and populate the six holes on the Drag Star atop the Nailhead, etc. Oh-oh--- Miss semi-ugly says, "no-go". Says heap has to be fully registered (in DMV-speak, this means they want da $$$). Doesn't matter that car is three feet in the air on jackstands far away from public highways. Doesn't matter that all paperwork is in order. All that matters is the Governor's ransom. Argument ensues. Miss semi-beautiful/ugly disappears into the bowels of The Dept. and returns with a not-even-debateable full-tilt-whooped-by-da-ugly-stick Supervisor/Enforcer. I explain I want to protect the "clear" status of my new plates until I can get the bomber back on the road and don't understand why I would have to pay the full annual registration fee plus YOM fee (no pro rating, of course) in order to simply have my new plates assigned to my very legal car, regardless of its operational status. Her answer is that she thinks I make a pretty good point but she doesn't make the rules, just enforces them, and besides "it says so right here on this form..." which she proceeds to produce from inder the counter. Yep, that's what it says alright. I tell her under no circumstances am I going to be raped by the DMV, and ask if she can put a "hold" status on my expensive, new plates until I get the car operational and THEN pay the registration fees. Ever hear a hyena laugh. Ain't pretty. So I grabbed my old plate and told them where to put their fees - all of 'em. Moral of story: common sense doesn't play at the DMV. Bend over, grease up, and tell them it feels sooooo good.

 

that's the rules just pony up the $50-$60 bucks or so and register if for the year with the new plates and then non op it after the year is up............i had to. be glad the you didn't wait in line just to find out that the good plates are no longer valid, i've seen it.

 

I found pissing off govt employees gets you nowhere fast.

You are lucky she didnt grab her tin snips (yes they all have some) and cut your plates in half right in front of you!

I've had it done to me.

It does help to do your homework and print out stuff from the vehicle code, etc. Most of them know the day to day stuff, not old car stuff.

 

Go to a different office...unless in CA it's not allowed? I can register my car at any Sec of State office in MI. Maybe you get a better and more understanding clerk? Also, if you own the plates and they're "clear" what's the problem with waiting until you need em? I guess I don't get it completely.

 

he can go to any dmv office BUT the out come will be the same. as for the plates, california doesn't "hold" plates (plate numbers) they are either registered to a vehicle or up for grabs. what california is doing right now is re-issueing the numbers from old plates to new vehicles, making the old plate void. you call the dmv up to see if the plate is "clear" and you might find the plate is registered to a '88 honda motorcycle (numbers). the plates that are getting hit hard are the 1947 and 1951, they are really hard to find a clear one and if you do you'll be paying dearly for it ($300-$600 a pair). so if your car is from a '47 to a '55 your screwed if you don't have them aready.

 

What are the plate numbers? I can make sure that they are clear in Kansas for you also, in case you ever move here.

 

Deathtrap, i dont know where yr at in ca. but ther is a place in temecula that is a godsend when it comes to old cars. she used to work at the dmv. i usually register all my cars thru them. you are literally in there for only 10 minutes and yr done!! she might be able to help ya find a loop hole the place is called
C.A.R.S. the # is 951 694 4331 her name is nancy whitaker

 

One thing I learned long ago about the power of the CA DMV...the governor of CA can pardon you for murder but he can't get your driver's license un-revoked!

 

Thanks! I'm in NorCal so I don't know whether anything can be done long distance, but I'll certainly give her a call.

 

See the response from 1 Oldtimer. It's about re-issuing old, unused and currently "clear" numbers. It might be clear today but reissued tomorrow if it's not protected in some fashion.

 

I never did like going to the DMV in the city. If you can take a drive out to a smaller location you don't have to wait as long, the employees are not overworked and therefore at least a little friendlier &....in some cases that seems to be where the more attractive babes are working. Why? I guess they can't type as fast. Gary 4T950 Chevy Guy

 

For some things the AAA office can handle things pretty quickly. But I think you have to be a member.

 

Approach SEMA about it. I'm sure they will look into it

 

[QUOTE='29MurrayTub]For some things the AAA office can handle things pretty quickly. But I think you have to be a member.[/QUOTE]

AAA can't help with the California YOM program. For that you have to deal directly with the DMV.

 

The DMVs here in Sac are nuts, so appointments are mandatory. Go on DMV's website and sign up for one. It seems like the people that handle the appointments are way cooler and knowledgeable than the FNGs that have to handle the walk-ins.

I agree with those who said pay the fee...I paid the registration on my Chevy last year when I knew it'd be out of commission. To me, that's easier than dealing with the DMV!

Bryan

 

Thats why I dont non op my cars anymore. I think of the legistrators had their way theyed get rid of all the old cars. I'm afraid if I non oped my car I may never get it registered again. damn left leaning, NPR listining, treehugging, Prius driving, California liberals.......

 

Yeah man, bite the bullet and pay for full reg. California is retarded and if you just embrace the idiocy, you get less gray hair and life is better.
I'm in the Military and used to go to DMV 4 times a year to register and fill out the "Military - Non Resident" form for each car. Doing this saved me some of the normal fees. Well, I got so sick of dealing with all that bullshit, I just pay the fees and do everything by mail now. It's just not worth the hassle.
Pay the fee and admire your clear plates.

 

Another tip for you - don't ever fuck with any employee, anywhere. Be nice to them and they can help you. Get pissy for any reason, and they'll enjoy screwing you over. Why? People in service positions have to deal with royal dickheads about one person in four, so when they can get a little bit of theirs back, they relish it.

-Dave

 

Here in sweden it costs 800 USD to get personal plates with 6 letters for your car.....

you guys have such problems. oh mygod you have to have your car registerd to get your plates to your car, , welcome to sweden dude!
heck if you have an 1932 ford and have no papers on the car, and have to buy "black market" papers, you have to pay like heck 3000 dollars for just the papers (you can of course register the car as an newly built car but thats no fun as you then have to pay yearly taxes etc... 30+ year older cars do not need to pay any taxes...)

 

I think the ratio has changed to one in three lately....


Mutt

 

They have also recently changed the rules about issuing old plates that did not come with your car.... If your car is on non-op, then it is probably in their system with another plate number.... Therefore, they know that that plate does not go with your car, and you might be screwed.... If you have an old plate that was on the car when you got it, then you are OK, but reassigning a plate can be all but impossible.... That said, you don't have to worry about them reissuing the number to someone else.... New plates have 7 numbers... They will not issue a new plate with less than 7... as long as your plate has 6, or 5 numbers, it is OK...... If you are really concearned, pay the money to get personalised plates with the number from the old plates you have.... then when they come, stick them away, and use your vintage tins....
A while back I almost had a counter person get into a screaming match with me(I would have won..) because she wanted to take the origional plates from my Chevelle saying that they could not use them, and I had to get new ones.... She still had an employee in training thing on her nametag....... A lot of times you can get things done by politely asking to see the supervisor.... There are SOOOOO many stupid DMV laws, that most of the people ther have no idea what to do if it is not just a simple process...

 

After telling them where to put the fees, I'm sure they will be much easier to deal with next time!

 

But not always. I did that. Printed out pages from DMV's very own website. Highlighted the parts that applied to my situation. The supervisor told me right to my face, :"Well, that's a good argument sir, but you still have to do it this other way." I showed 'em their own damn website and they didn't believe me!

 

And THAT's why we left California!

 

*** Never Ever, Ever, let them touch your plates (or take them out of your reach ) you just may never see them again...... Let them look at pic ,then go back out to the car, or have someone else holding them for you.. Then turn them over for inspection when they say there are ok to use. Good Luck.....H

 

I went in with a very nice set of '32 plates for my roadster, did the whole line program etc, verified the #s which were good - so far so good - then she looks at 'em and says they're the wrong color and, therefor, not origional. She procedes to refuse to give them back. I forget now but they were either orange to her when the book said they should be yellow - or I don't know maybe it's the other way around - either way a gennie set of early 30's plates that aren't restored will be the most perfect mix of orange/yellow. I proceded to ask the people around me,including other people working there, and got 50/50 answers between orange and yellow. Had to argue polite but firm to even get them back from the monster behind the counter. Went to a different DMV the next day and no problem. Been on the roadster for years now. I've heard of others having problems with the color issue

 

I'm sure the cost of registration is less then the cost of the plates. Sack up, you have to pay to play.

 

No better in Australia. Rego each year is around $700 and any plate in this state that has to be ordered is a yearly fee of $160 -$400. Once the car is out of rego for more than 3 months, the plates are taken.
Oh, it's so tough in California.

 

I hate the California DMV with a purple passion....like others mentioned I'd just register it to save that plate.