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CA Legacy Plates program

Daks said:
When it says $50 for personal or non, does that mean you can get a new personalized plate for $50?
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It's $50 on top of any other fees.

The last time I ordered a personal plate, it cost me $41, plus something like $25 every year to renew, which goes to some environmental fund or something.

I happen to feel that a good personalized plate is worth it and have them on all of my vehicles.
 
ScottRNelson said:
It's $50 on top of any other fees.

The last time I ordered a personal plate, it cost me $41, plus something like $25 every year to renew, which goes to some environmental fund or something.

I happen to feel that a good personalized plate is worth it and have them on all of my vehicles.
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Ah. A lot of folks say it's bad because people remember them easier but I'm not exactly the type to get in trouble and my bike is pretty memorable anyhow.
CA and charities need the cash. Why not have a little fun with a plate?

I wish just "ZERO" wasn't taken.
 
Junkie said:
I seem to recall reading it was 7500 of each that was the requisite number.
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Looking through the FAQ: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/legacyplates/faqs.htm

Q16: How many pre-orders does the DMV need to receive in order to initiate the production of the Legacy Plates?
A: The law enacting this plate program (AB 1658, 2012) allows until January 1, 2015 to reach the required minimum 7,500 pre-orders for any one of the plate styles.

Looks like you were right. It's looking like the color scheme most likely to hit 7500 is black with yellow letters. I'm not feeling hopeful of getting a colored plate now. :(

I also see:
Q3: If the Legacy License Plate Program is implemented, what other fees will be due?
A: $40 for renewal

It's unclear if that fee is tacked on when renewing while receiving the new plate or every year. I'm not so happy with this program if it's every year.
 
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Not sure about similar rules in California, but the license plate rules in Oregon do California one better; real antique plates, either good original, or properly restored can be installed on any vehicle which matches the years in which the plates were issued if it's older than (I think) 25 years, you pay a one-time registration fee, and never have to register the vehicle again. Of course, this won't apply if the only reason you want an older style plate is for color matching a newer vehicle.

The caveat is that you're can only drive the vehicle a limited number of miles per year (nobody's checking afaik) and you're only supposed to use the vehicle for parades and "club events", which allows a lot of leeway; my annual R69S 3 day group ride in eastern Oregon can be interpreted as a "club event".
 
psychocandy said:
It's a one time fee I assume? Not only do I think personalized plates are generally far less clever than the owner thinks they are, I think it's stupid to pay yearly for the dubious privilege. If you had to pay it once, it'd be a different story.
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From what I see in the DMV FAQs, it looks like a $40 renewal fee. Is this an annual fee? I'm down for a $50 plate as a one-time expense, but not an extra $40 per year for DMV over what I pay already. :shocker
 
ScottRNelson said:
Q16: How many pre-orders does the DMV need to receive in order to initiate the production of the Legacy Plates?
A: The law enacting this plate program (AB 1658, 2012) allows until January 1, 2015 to reach the required minimum 7,500 pre-orders for any one of the plate styles.

Looks like you were right. It's looking like the color scheme most likely to hit 7500 is black with yellow letters. I'm not feeling hopeful of getting a colored plate now. :(
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You know, "pre-orders for any one of the plate styles" could be interpreted (he said, hopefully) as triggering the entire program if only one of the three reaches that 7,500 plate threshold. Keeping my fingers crossed.

ScottRNelson said:
I also see:
Q3: If the Legacy License Plate Program is implemented, what other fees will be due?
A: $40 for renewal

It's unclear if that fee is tacked on when renewing while receiving the new plate or every year. I'm not so happy with this program if it's every year.
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I agree that it's not crystal clear, but the tying of a $$ figure to the word "renewal" sounds like a recurring annual thing to me. That wouldn't be good, but I can understand the additional ongoing expense of managing the program requiring some additional revenue. Plus, like many others (the airlines, etc.) they've figured out that they can monetize a lot of things, and these special plates are certainly one of them.
 
An extra $40/year?!?! That's even more ridiculous than paying for a custom plate. I've got better things to do with my money.
 
psychocandy said:
An extra $40/year?!?! That's even more ridiculous than paying for a custom plate. I've got better things to do with my money.
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OMG WTF BBQ!! $40 whole dollars/year? That's almost $3.50 a month!! I'm pretty sure I waste way more than that on random useless stuff throughout a month.
 
^^^It's true, it's not really that much. But it's also true that I've got better things to do with my money.
 
Thanks for the notice. Looks like I had better cancel my blue and yellow and get an order in for a black and yellow. :(
 
I wonder if the toll cameras pick up the dark background plates as well as the light background plates. That would be the only reason I would get one.
 
There are plenty of ways to mount your plate such that it's 100% visible from the rear but unlikely to be picked up by toll cameras. I suppose combining that with a black plate would really reduce the odds.

I carry a Fastrak transponder with me when I cross a bridge, but it doesn't seem to register anymore either. Not sure why.
 
I passed a Hinckley Bonneville on the BB this morning with a black with gold personalized plate, and I was thinking, "Didn't know they were doing vanity plates back then." This thread explains it. Thank you.
 
When did vanity plates start? I know they were around for blue/yellow plates.
 
Junkie said:
When did vanity plates start? I know they were around for blue/yellow plates.
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Don't know. Probably could Google it. I'm guessing it's much more likely that the plate I saw was one of these recent generation plates. :dunno
 
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