How to change paper temporary plate into permanent metal plate? (insurance, vehicle)
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I got the vehicle from an online dealer (but they have a few physical facilities) in September 2022 in CA. The vehicle previously was in Oregon; dealer put on a CA paper plate good till DEC 2022. So far I never received any metal plate in the mail. Questions:
1. What is the process to get a metal plate? I remember being told it will come in the mail, but not 100% sure.
2. Is my registration good only till DEC 2022? Or until September 2023?
I got the vehicle from an online dealer (but they have a few physical facilities) in September 2022 in CA. The vehicle previously was in Oregon; dealer put on a CA paper plate good till DEC 2022. So far I never received any metal plate in the mail. Questions:
1. What is the process to get a metal plate? I remember being told it will come in the mail, but not 100% sure.
2. Is my registration good only till DEC 2022? Or until September 2023?
Contact whoever you bought it from, they should have gotten the paperwork completed and had your plate sent to you.
As above, someone at dealership didn't submit the papers. Had it happen to me once. They "thought" the permanent plate was under the temp plate, but it wasn't. Secretary I spoke to submitted the papers and I got it in a few weeks.
If all else fails by expiry date, just go to local CA DMV, show them your title and insurance (or whatever papers you have), and get a new paper for another 30- days or whatever.
You've probably (unfortunately) already paid the selling dealer who-knows-how-many HUNDREDS of your hard-working dollars for either "documentation fees", "registration fees", "automobile paperwork". You should hold them accountable and call them to get them to handle it.
When I purchased my car I had a similar situation. The expiration date for the temporary was approaching expiration and due to Covid, they said "Don't worry, if you get stopped by the police they'll let you go because they know that the DMV is backed up due to Covid". I asked others' opinions and they thought this would not be the case - that I would still get a ticket for expired registration. I pressed the dealership on this and they eventually gave in and said "Ok, we'll FedEx you a "dealer" plate to put on the vehicle.
After that conversation, I decided to call the DMV directly, and fortunately they confirmed that my registration/plates WERE done and en-route to me (or the dealer, I forgot which). A day later I received it in the mail and at the same time I received the dealer plates from the selling dealer (which I promptly returned).
Personally, I would NOT feel comfortable driving around with an expired registration/plates. The only exception to that would be if I KNEW 100% that the car was already truly registered, and it was just that I didn't have the docs/plates. So when the DMV person on the phone told me that it was completed and gave me the plate number, I was very very relieved. I was even going to be okay driving with the expired paperwork/plate because I thought the possible penalty would not be as severe.
Bottom line - contact the selling dealer, but ALSO contact your state's Department of Motor Vehicles to inquire.
You should have filled out a reg 227 form w/ the dealer (transfer of title). You also should have paid updated reg fees (printed on the 553 sales contract. Your paper reg is good to the date printed on the tag (presumably December). Recommend contacting dealer first and then the DMV
If you bought from Carvana, you're in the same boat as thousands of others. They have not done a good job in acquiring the titles to the vehicles they buy and thus don't have a title when they sell.
Obviously, in a future situation - don't wait until 2 weeks before plate expiration to start figuring out what to do
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