California DMV Launches Internet Ordering for Special Interest License Plates

    SACRAMENTO, Calif.--July 22, 2002--"It's so easy, even I can do it," said DMV Director Steven Gourley, as he announced today that Californians can now use their home computers to order special interest and personalized license plates on the Internet.
    "The activation of this new on-line ordering service makes it easy for our customers to shop for these special license plates from the comfort of their homes," said Gourley. "It's another major step toward the cyberspace DMV of the future, and the latest innovation in Governor Gray Davis' e-government effort to open up State services to computer-savvy Californians."
    The new service is so popular with DMV customers that, without any public announcement, 8,327 personalized and special interest plates have already been ordered via the Web site (as of today 7/22) since the service quietly went online for testing June 24. The first plate was ordered less than two minutes after DMV technicians threw the switch to launch the test period. The number of Internet orders is expected to increase significantly with today's public unveiling.
    Customers can use the DMV Web site, www.dmv.ca.gov, to order special interest plates, including the Yosemite plate, California Arts, Coastal (Whale Tail), Lake Tahoe Conservancy, the Kids' plate and the new California Memorial plate, which commemorates the September 11th terrorist attacks in New York and Washington D.C.
    The DMV Web site also accepts on-line orders for personalized license plates containing special combinations of letters and numbers selected by the applicant, with or without a so-called "special interest" background. Applicants can try out various combinations of letters and numbers on the interactive Web site to find out instantly which ones have already been taken.
    In addition to normal vehicle registration and licensing fees, the extra cost for personalized and special interest license plates ranges from $20 to $90, depending on the type of plate. Special interest plates without personalized numbers and letters are usually delivered in four to six weeks. Personalized plates generally take eight to 12 weeks for delivery.
    Special interest license plates which require the applicant to document their eligibility, such as the special plates for firefighters, ex-prisoners of war, or Medal of Honor recipients cannot be ordered over the Internet.
    On-line orders require the use of a Visa, Master Card, Discover or American Express credit card, with an additional $1 convenience fee. Plates may also be ordered in person at any DMV field office with payment by cash, check or money order.
    "Anyone who hasn't used our services for awhile will be surprised at the number of DMV services now available on the Web," said Gourley. "You can use our Web site to make an appointment, renew your vehicle registration, see a sample of the written driver license test, study the California Driver Handbook, or find answers to almost any question you have about driver licenses or vehicle registrations." Popularity of the DMV Web site is growing rapidly. Californians have used it to complete more than 760,000 vehicle registration renewals in the past year and to make 652,000 appointments via the Internet in the past six months.
    The DMV licenses drivers; maintains driving records; registers and issues titles to vehicles and vessels; investigates auto and identity related fraud; issues disabled placards, licenses vehicle dealers, salespersons, vehicle dismantlers, driving schools, and traffic violator schools. The DMV is a department of the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, Maria Contreras-Sweet, Secretary. Additional information about the DMV can be found on the department's Web site at: www.dmv.ca.gov.