TheSamba.com :: View topic - Guide to YOM your Car in California and stories!

Sun Jan 01, 2012 10:08 pm

I figured I'd make a forum to help people with their YOM and so other people can hear the stories and have others learn from their problems/mistakes so they don't happen again.

The Beginning:

This is for California Only. Make sure you have the correct tab or sticker for your year, the correct plates(make sure they are cleared through DMV(Not is use)), DMV YOM form (save time by doing it online and printing), $45 for the YOM fee, and an appointment at your local DMV office (typically makes the wait process instead of 30 minutes or more, about 5 minutes).

YOM Configuration (Tab/sticker and plate): (skip if you already know)

So, you were able to get to a correct plates* for your car? Great! Here's the first things you have to do.

1914- One year only plates - No tab or sticker issued

1915 - One year only plates - No tab or sticker issued

1916 - New License plates issued - No tab or sticker issued

1917 - 1916 Plate w/ Poppy (flower) tab

1918 - 1916 Plate w/ Bell tab

1919 - 1916 Plate w/ Star tab

1920 - 1940 All had different plates Each year

1941 - New License plates issued - No tab or sticker issued

1942 - "New" plate year - has 42 "Tab" built on + lettering looks different, older cars kept 1941 plate and got a 1942 "tab". The tab covers
19 California 41 instead of normal tab that covers the last 2 digits of the year

1943 - Either 1941 or 1942 plates w/ V tab

1944 - Either 1941 or 1942 plates w/ 1944 Windshield Validation Sticker (not sure how to YOM)

1945 - New plates issued - No tab or sticker issued

1946 - 1945 License Plates w/ 46 tab

1947 - New Plates issued - No tab or sticker issued

1948 - 1947 plates w/ 48 tab

1949 - 1947 plates w/ 49 tab

1950 - 1947 plates w/ 50 tab

1951 - New plates issued - No tab or sticker issued

1952 - 1951 plates w/ 52 tab

1953 - 1951 plates w/ 53 tab

1954 - 1951 plates w/ 54 tab

1955 - 1951 plates w/ 55 tab

1956 - New plates issued - No tab or sticker issued

1957 - 1956 plates w/ 1957 sticker

1958 - 1956 plates w/ 1958 sticker

1959 - 1956 plates w/ 1959 sticker

1960 - 1956 plates w/ 1960 sticker

1961 - 1956 plates w/ 1961 sticker

1962 - 1956 plates w/ 1962 sticker

1963 - New plates issued - No tab or sticker issued

1964 - 1963 plates w/ 1964 sticker

1965 - 1963 plates w/ 1965 sticker

1966 - 1963 plates w/ 1966 sticker

1967 - 1963 plates w/ 1967 sticker

1968 - 1963 plates w/ 1968 sticker

1969 - 1963 plates w/ 1969 sticker

So far, only cars up to 1969 can be YOM'd

*I believe California has always issued 2 plates therefor, you will need 2 matching license plates. For years with tabs, I believe you need 2 matching tabs (but really, which state worker is going to check the little codes? Although, someone might.) (I'm not responsible if they don't take your tab(s) code or don't pass your YOM for any reason or if you buy/get a wrong item) Feel free to correct me if I am incorrect.

Note, 1917 - 1919 tabs say something around the terms of Non-Transferrable not sure if it affects the YOM.

Down to DMV:

Congrats! You should now have the correct configuration. Take these papers and items to your DMV:

YOMabel (cleared) plates, correct tab or sticker (If needed), and the YOM form (if you can print it). DMV might ask for the following things: your pink and/or insurance card (I suggest taking a copy, If they ask why you only brought the copy, just say its for security purposes, they might not take the YOM though)

Now, they have to fill out the bottom part of the YOM paperwork. Ask them to do this while at the window, if they are just going to "fill it out" later. This happened to me twice, and it was rejected. Now if the DMV office says (for 1914 - 1955) that you need a sticker for a tab year, tell them that they only issued tabs back then, stickers started in 1957. If they say you need a tab for a sticker year, tell them tabs stopped in 1955 and stickers started in 1957. If they tell you that you need a sticker & tab, tell them tabs stopped in 1955 and stickers started in 1957. If they said they need a tab and/or sticker for a year where a new plate was issued, tell them neither a tab or sticker was released that year, and that the year on the plate is supposed to cover that year of car.

(Hopefully) A happy Endding:

In about a month, you should receive a letter from DMV stating that your YOM has gone through and includes your month and year sticker. If you receive a note from DMV with your form, it should state what wrong with the paperwork. It may take longer to receive your letter.

So, lets hear your (hopefully Good) stories about your YOM and what mistakes you or your representative made.

Sun Jan 01, 2012 10:10 pm

So now, my story and why I started this thread:

When I got my car, it came with yellow lettering/blue background plates. They weren't the originals because when the original owners received their bug back, the DMV had the plates registered under "STOLEN" so they had to change the plates. When I purchased the car, the plates didn't look right so, at the time, I just ordered some personalized plates (at the time only up to 1962 cars could be YOMed, if YOM was even around). So when my registration came in around October, I couldn't believe the cost! Before, it was only $135 for one year and didn't have to be smoged. Now for personalized plates and registration, California wants around $165 for registration for 1 year, but still doesn't have to be smoged (SO THANKFUL FOR THAT!). But I found out, that if I could get a set of DMV cleared plates (Yellow lettering, black background) with a 1965 sticker I could "Year of Manufacture" my bug so I could have the original looking plates on the bug, plus I could lower my registration cost down to $110 and only have to pay a one-time $45 fee. So I figured, its a good deal. I did everything I had to, and even created an appointment for the DMV and it went really smoothly. They took the paperwork, and said they would fill out the paperwork at the end of the day. BIG mistake. About a month later, I receive a notice with the form I filled out, and said that the bottom portion (which they were supposed to fill out) circled and stated "Incomplete paperwork". So, I went down there a second time, and forgot to put the 1965 sticker on the plate. So the stubborn woman said on the form "No Tab" and didn't read or listen to us that we needed that sticker. Se said it would go through. About a month later I was so excited because I had finally received the tags and registration! At first, I didn't see a Nov "November" sticker in the envelope, so I thought "Maybe its because there is an old Nov sticker on the plate (even though it is withered)". But just to be sure, I checked the registration and it had my old plates and not the YOM plate # and I WAS P*****! I didn't think I could get a refund, but the next people I spoke to knew nothing about YOM, but, were nice enough to redue the YOM and registration for free, and canceled the other registration. I'm still waiting to hear if it has gone through. We'll hear soon! By the way, it has taken 3 months so far from the first DMV visit.

Mon Jan 02, 2012 12:31 am

Here are most of the California plates:

Notice the difference on the eighth row from the top, the two to the very left are both 1942 plates the first one is a 1941 with a 1942 "tab" and the plate to the right, the tab looks slightly different and doesn't come off. Note the lettering differences. Also note in the same row, there is no 1944, because that was the ONLY year California gave you a window sticker instead of a new plate, tab or plate sticker.

Mon Nov 05, 2012 2:43 pm

I had an idea for YOM plates that I am considering for my 1973 Thing.

Presuming I had a pair of blue plates that were "close enough" (1974 in this case), and the plate number wasn't in use, could I register for personalized plates with the number from the blue plate? Then I would just run the blue plates. The new plates with the old number would stay in the garage.

Mon Nov 05, 2012 4:06 pm

supernaut181 wrote: I had an idea for YOM plates that I am considering for my 1973 Thing.

Presuming I had a pair of blue plates that were "close enough" (1974 in this case), and the plate number wasn't in use, could I register for personalized plates with the number from the blue plate? Then I would just run the blue plates. The new plates with the old number would stay in the garage.

:-k hmm Why does this sound sooooo familiar?

Oh yeah.. #-o That idea is being discussed in this topic as well.:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=533044&highlight=

Mon Nov 05, 2012 4:23 pm

I figured it had been discussed elsewhere...didn't find it right off.