California HOV Sticker Removal

[dboost]

Hi All...new member here (dboost). Just purchased a used 2016 Spark EV in LA area. I live 200 miles away with no use for the stickers on my car and would like to SAFELY remove them. Any suggestions ? So far I'm considering hair dryer and Go-Gone. Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[SparkE]

A heat gun (such as for removing chipped house paint) when used VERY CAREFULLY works great (and quickly), but a hair dryer will eventually work.

hair dryer and Go-Gone is the way to go.

 

[dboost]

Thanks much...will post results !

 

[JPL]

Just keep them! Why want to remove them?

 

[dboost]

Well, I have no place within a few hundred miles to use them, and they are ugly !!

 

[SparkE]

Who cares what it looks like?!!? It's transportation, not an extension of your manhood.

 

[scrambler]

They may also have expired as of today

 

[ncerna]

Here in California, they only recognize the red colored stickers. Stupid new laws.

 

[SparkE]

Well, the OLD law said that all white stickers were to expire on Jan 1, 2019 (the one from 5 years ago or so).

The NEW law only added the right for NEW cars the right to drive in the HOV lane.

 

[MoldyWalnuts]

"Well, the OLD law said that all white stickers were to expire on Jan 1, 2019 (the one from 5 years ago or so).

The NEW law only added the right for NEW cars the right to drive in the HOV lane."

so does this mean that if you just purchased your EV with white stickers they are good as long as you pay $22 to transfer them to your name? thanks

 

[SparkE]

"Well, the OLD law said that all white stickers were to expire on Jan 1, 2019 (the one from 5 years ago or so).

The NEW law only added the right for NEW cars the right to drive in the HOV lane."

so does this mean that if you just purchased your EV with white stickers they are good as long as you pay $22 to transfer them to your name? thanks

*NEW* cars, not a car you just bought.

It *also* extended the expiration date for cars with a white sticker first issued in 2017 or later, so yes, you could get a new sticker after filling out the application fee. In fact, it isn't new CARS, it is "cars never issued stickers" can get a new sticker (including new cars) OR cars with stickers issued after Dec 31, 2016.

 

[user 1908]

A credit card, some Goo Gone, and a bit of patience will do it.

 

[dboost]

Thanks Aii...they are OFF...no need for them here on the Central Coast...credit card and goo gone did it !!

 

[Porsche]

I guess you already took care of it, but what about WD40? I'd be careful with it, and wipe it off right away, but it seems from some googling, that it's safe for car paint.

 

[ayebah]

My car is electric. And I use the carpool with no stickers at all. Carpool is to help with pollution and 22$ sticker isn’t going to lower my C02 emissions any more.

 

[Oceanbreeze]

"Well, the OLD law said that all white stickers were to expire on Jan 1, 2019 (the one from 5 years ago or so).

The NEW law only added the right for NEW cars the right to drive in the HOV lane."

so does this mean that if you just purchased your EV with white stickers they are good as long as you pay $22 to transfer them to your name? thanks

*NEW* cars, not a car you just bought.

It *also* extended the expiration date for cars with a white sticker first issued in 2017 or later, so yes, you could get a new sticker after filling out the application fee. In fact, it isn't new CARS, it is "cars never issued stickers" can get a new sticker (including new cars) OR cars with stickers issued after Dec 31, 2016.

I really appreciate this insight, but I haven't been able to find more information from the CA DMV.

I drive a 2016 which I bought used, and it already has white stickers, which I was told may no longer be valid for HOV use.

I assumed the stickers on EVs were already on when the cars are bought new. If that's not the case I guess I'll need to find out when the previous owner got the stickers.

 

[SparkE]

In California, the white stickers are no longer valid.

Google's first suggestion gave me :

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-registration/license-plates-decals-and-placards/clean-air-vehicle-decals-for-using-carpool-lanes/

click on "CAV Decal Colors and expiration dates" which says ....

(for white stickers) decal expires 1/1/2019

 

[mughalsaqb]

I'm a new member here (dboost). In the LA region, I recently bought a used 2016 Spark EV. I would want to SAFELY remove the stickers from my car because I live 200 miles away and have no use for them. Any recommendations? I'm now debating between a hair dryer and Go-Gone. Thank you for any advice.

 

[NORTON]

... I would want to SAFELY remove the stickers from my car ...
I'm now debating between a hair dryer and Go-Gone. Thank you for any advice.

Kind of late,,, sorry.
You need the hair dryer to warm up the decal and adhesive.
A finger nail to get it started, then patience pulling it slowly at 90° to the surface.
Any remaining adhesive on the paint can be safely removed with 3M Adhesive Remover.
It's pricey, especially if you only need it for this job.

How about a dozen donuts early some morning at a body shop you know and they'll let you wet a rag with this product?

 

[Porsche]

I used both Goo Gone and WD40 and a credit card (New York HOV stickers). It took me more than 45 minutes to remove one small sticker. I gave up after one. I didn't know about using a hair dryer at the time. I'll try again for the rest. Oh, use an expired credit card. My card was destroyed in the process.