Six to nine months for a custom plate

SoftShoe · 05-01-2022, 01:51 AM

Fascinated by this.

Got my registration renewal and ordered a custom license plate - because one day I’ll be dead.

The wait is 6-9 months.
What explains that?
how does it take so long?
I don’t mean “the government sucks.”
I mean, in a world where Porsche can build a car and ship it to you within 9 months, what is the process for creating a license plate?

USA-RET · 05-01-2022, 09:27 AM

Could be because skilled prison labor is hard to find? Sorry couldn't resist. Honestly, that kind of delay for a vanity plate is outrageous. Not surprising with the shortages, delays and others issues we are experiencing.

Sportstick · 05-01-2022, 09:41 AM

It is so variable, depending on location. We're not too far away although another state, and mine only took a couple of weeks to arrive.

aerobod · 05-01-2022, 10:30 AM

2 weeks wait is typical here in Alberta.

leftoverture · 05-01-2022, 01:03 PM

No, you were right.... government sucks. That's why it takes so long.

bcwalks2 · 05-01-2022, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoftShoe

Fascinated by this.

Got my registration renewal and ordered a custom license plate - because one day I’ll be dead.

The wait is 6-9 months.
What explains that?
how does it take so long?
I don’t mean “the government sucks.”
I mean, in a world where Porsche can build a car and ship it to you within 9 months, what is the process for creating a license plate?

Gov’t does suck though at everything they touch, and this is just one example.

dradernh · 05-01-2022, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoftShoe

Fascinated by this.

Got my registration renewal and ordered a custom license plate - because one day I’ll be dead.

The wait is 6-9 months.
What explains that?
how does it take so long?
I don’t mean “the government sucks.”
I mean, in a world where Porsche can build a car and ship it to you within 9 months, what is the process for creating a license plate?

What with it being CA (former 35-year resident of SF here), did they charge you up front? If not, they're losing their touch.

SoftShoe · 05-01-2022, 02:09 PM

There’s a range for a range of options.

I believe I paid $40.
Was unaware that vanity plates belong to the owner, not the car.

jzeiler4 · 05-01-2022, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoftShoe

Was unaware that vanity plates belong to the owner, not the car.

It varies by state. In Alabama ALL plates belong to the owner and are removed at the time of sale. But you cannot transfer a Vanity plate to another of your cars unless you sell the one it was currently on. Go figure.

aerobod · 05-01-2022, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcwalks2

Gov’t does suck though at everything they touch, and this is just one example.

This is not always the case. In respect to vehicle registrations, the Government of Alberta is quite efficient and works with private registry office store fronts. The Government has the central database service and licences the registry agents to use it. I can get a car registration processed, drivers licence and many other licencing services on the spot in many mall locations 7-days a week with generally no more than a couple of minutes wait. Any renewals can be done online if it doesn't require a test or document verification.

The need for a temporary / paper registration "plate" is non-existent here, as the dealer can either process and obtain the plate ahead of picking up the vehicle, or the registry offices are open the same or longer hours and always within a few kilometres of any of the dealers.

SoftShoe · 05-03-2022, 10:35 AM

Correction
Apparently I paid $50 for the pleasure.

This just arrived.
Considering what I paid for it, I may have it framed as a modern art piece.

Wonder if it’s been a speedy regression and they gave up editing their form or if up to three months is standard for normal times. That would still be impressive(ly inefficient).

dradernh · 05-03-2022, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoftShoe

Correction
Apparently I paid $50 for the pleasure.

This just arrived.
Considering what I paid for it, I may have it framed as a modern art piece.

Wonder if it’s been a speedy regression and they gave up editing their form or if up to three months is standard for normal times. That would still be impressive(ly inefficient).

I'm guessing the DMV's software systems are still waiting for the rewrite that's been in the works for decades now.

ckosiek · 05-03-2022, 01:15 PM

Wonder what the price of gas will be when they arrive, isn't it around 6.00 out there now?

harma24 · 05-04-2022, 04:15 PM

Lead times on everything is ridiculous at the moment. It's >60 weeks for a generator. 24-36 weeks isn't bad.

dradernh · 05-04-2022, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harma24

Lead times on everything is ridiculous at the moment. It's >60 weeks for a generator. 24-36 weeks isn't bad.

I wonder. The manufacturing facility is in a state prison ~100 miles from OP.

I don't know, maybe rolled steel and paint are hard to come by now, though.

05-01-2022, 01:51 AM	#1
SoftShoe Private First Class 158 Rep 164 Posts Drives: '19 BMW M240i Join Date: Jun 2021 Location: Bay Area (SF) iTrader: (0)	Six to nine months for a custom plate Fascinated by this. Got my registration renewal and ordered a custom license plate - because one day I’ll be dead. The wait is 6-9 months. What explains that? how does it take so long? I don’t mean “the government sucks.” I mean, in a world where Porsche can build a car and ship it to you within 9 months, what is the process for creating a license plate?
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05-01-2022, 09:27 AM	#2
USA-RET Captain 605 Rep 970 Posts Drives: Estoril Blue M240i Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: SW Florida iTrader: (0)	Could be because skilled prison labor is hard to find? Sorry couldn't resist. Honestly, that kind of delay for a vanity plate is outrageous. Not surprising with the shortages, delays and others issues we are experiencing.
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05-01-2022, 09:41 AM	#3
Sportstick Major General 4651 Rep 6,027 Posts Drives: '15 228i and '24 X3 sDrive30i Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Southwest USA iTrader: (0)	It is so variable, depending on location. We're not too far away although another state, and mine only took a couple of weeks to arrive. __________________ 2015 228i 6MT/Track Handling/Tech/Cold/Premium/Lighting/Driver Assistance/KCDesign Strut Brace/M2 LCAs/Rogue SSK/BBS SR/PS4S/ER Chargepipe/AA Intercooler/Dinan Shockware/MPerformance Spoiler/Black Grilles/Xpel Ultimate PPF & Prime XR+ Tint/Adam's Ceramic/no CDV 2024 X3 sDrive30i/MSport/Premium/Dynamic Handling/Shadowline/Parking/Xpel Prime XR Plus/Weathertech Cargo Liner
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05-01-2022, 10:30 AM	#4
aerobod Car Geek 3615 Rep 3,585 Posts Drives: Caterham R500, M2-G87, Macan S Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Calgary iTrader: (0)	2 weeks wait is typical here in Alberta.
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05-01-2022, 01:03 PM	#5
leftoverture Captain 438 Rep 614 Posts Drives: 2016 BMW 228i Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: Edina, MN iTrader: (0)	No, you were right.... government sucks. That's why it takes so long.
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05-01-2022, 02:09 PM	#8
SoftShoe Private First Class 158 Rep 164 Posts Drives: '19 BMW M240i Join Date: Jun 2021 Location: Bay Area (SF) iTrader: (0)	There’s a range for a range of options. I believe I paid $40. Was unaware that vanity plates belong to the owner, not the car.
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05-03-2022, 10:35 AM	#11
SoftShoe Private First Class 158 Rep 164 Posts Drives: '19 BMW M240i Join Date: Jun 2021 Location: Bay Area (SF) iTrader: (0)	Correction Apparently I paid $50 for the pleasure. This just arrived. Considering what I paid for it, I may have it framed as a modern art piece. Wonder if it’s been a speedy regression and they gave up editing their form or if up to three months is standard for normal times. That would still be impressive(ly inefficient). Attached Images
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05-03-2022, 01:15 PM	#13
ckosiek Private 18 Rep 66 Posts Drives: M240i Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Delaware iTrader: (0)	Wonder what the price of gas will be when they arrive, isn't it around 6.00 out there now?
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05-04-2022, 04:15 PM	#14
harma24 Captain 403 Rep 744 Posts Drives: 2017 M240i Glacier Silver Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: 19.5mi NNW of Boston, MA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2017 BMW M240i [0.00]	Lead times on everything is ridiculous at the moment. It's >60 weeks for a generator. 24-36 weeks isn't bad. __________________ Fun Cars (daily drivers) 2001-2016: 2001 Honda Prelude \| 2016 - present: 2017 M240xi Glacier Silver Coupe Family Cars: 1993-2014: 1993 Honda Accord 10th Anniversary Edition \| 2014-Present: 2014 Honda Odyssey Stable-mate: 2019 - present: 2020 230xi Seaside Blue Convertible
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