Just got my California license plates and mailed out the HOV sticker application. For California RAV4 EV folks, where did you put your HOV stickers? The side stickers seem to be an easy decision, but how about the rear sticker? On the rear door below the RAV4 logo? Or on the actual bumper which is slanted down and probably hard to see? Anyone have pictures?
Where to put California HOV stickers?
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arnolddeleon
Well-known member
I will post a picture later but I opted for the rear door because I didn't like how it would look on the bumper (as you noted, sloping down). My choices were complicated by the bumper zits (parking sensors that the dealer installed which I didn't end up paying for).
arnold
arnold
arnolddeleon
Well-known member
n3ckf
Well-known member
i did put mine on (5 minutes ago) on right rear bumper becuase it said to put them on the bumper. I debated the door (its much less likely you'll need to replace the *door* than the Bumper, but it said bumper so i figured it'd be ok there. And the 2 quarter panel ones are a lot more obvious than the one on the bumper anyway.
I doubt it *actually* matters though as long as its on the vehicle somewhere an officer can see it.
I doubt it *actually* matters though as long as its on the vehicle somewhere an officer can see it.
miimura
Well-known member
I placed mine almost exactly like Arnold. Looks like his are straighter than mine. 
arnolddeleon
Well-known member
I recommend putting on some masking tape as guidelines. I put the tape on step back to get sense of how the lines will look. I like find a surface that is largely flat so the stickers don't bend. I generally try to follow the instructions on the sticker placement (I amuse myself by looking how people get it wrong, particularly the size) but you can see the I broke the rules here. The side stickers are suppose to be on the body but they are instead on the wraparound bumper and the rear one is suppose to be on the bumper but instead I have it on door.
arnold
arnold
yblaser
Well-known member
I mounted mine down low.
I put mine on just like yblaster. I got pulled over once because the cop said he couldn't see them. I thought someone may have taken them in the parking lot so I tried to give him my regestration. He didn't want it. He finally admitted they were on the car. He tried to give me a hard time and I told him I was just following instructions. I'm sure he didn't even look before he pulled me over because my car is blue and they show up well. He hadn't see a Rave4 EV before and couldn't belive a SUV could get the stickers.
miimura
Well-known member
This is exactly why I did it like Arnold. Much more visible.VQ EV said:
yblaser
Well-known member
Yes I was going for understated while still meeting the spirit of the instructions. I've had no problems so far.
While driving on my motorcycle the other week I saw a Volt with only one large green sticker on the back that looked like it was falling off and it had no plates, just the paper dealer advertisement. I'm thinking he was asking to be pulled over.
While driving on my motorcycle the other week I saw a Volt with only one large green sticker on the back that looked like it was falling off and it had no plates, just the paper dealer advertisement. I'm thinking he was asking to be pulled over.
I first affixed 3M "paint protector film" on my car (due to the ease/cleanliness of removal when the time comes) in the three locations then put the HOV stickers on that film. I'm just not comfortable with putting "bumper sticker" glue directly on my paint job.
I plan to place the stickers on the glass instead of the bumper. I wax my car quite frequently so having stickers on the paint produces a lot of build-up around the edges. Will post pics once I receive/install them.
FWIW, my previous Prius Plug-In had the stickers on the glass as well and I was never harassed by any passing CHP officers while in the HOV lane.
FWIW, my previous Prius Plug-In had the stickers on the glass as well and I was never harassed by any passing CHP officers while in the HOV lane.
miimura
Well-known member
You're not the first one. An earlier thread here says you need to get the dealer to complete and sign a REG 256 form stating that the original paperwork was completed in error. See Section E regarding change of motive power. Clearly the DMV knows the car is electric based on the VIN, but this is their bureaucratic procedure.commasign said:
mark_rivers19
Well-known member
mnml said:
thanks for the idea!
i'm leaning towards doing this as well.
i narrowed down my location for that 3rd small white sticker.
1. Directly above the RAV4 emblem
2. Below it with some bending.. i'm considering cutting it before applying, just to accomodate the hump on the door.
3. Glass
we went a little creative.
we figured, it's on the door for accident/replacement purposes and it's right next to where a cop would look when checking out the license plate.
and we went with the line of the moulding on the bumper. so it's not level with the ground, but slightly angled with the car.
ps.
we WERE going to go above the RAV4 emblem, in line with the angle of the "4", but we didn't.
pps.
we cut out the stickers still on their backing and taped them in different places to see how they looked.
we figured, it's on the door for accident/replacement purposes and it's right next to where a cop would look when checking out the license plate.
and we went with the line of the moulding on the bumper. so it's not level with the ground, but slightly angled with the car.
ps.
we WERE going to go above the RAV4 emblem, in line with the angle of the "4", but we didn't.
pps.
we cut out the stickers still on their backing and taped them in different places to see how they looked.
Bobgirl
Member
We put the rear sticker on the bumper. Yes, it's a bit hard to see, but we wanted to put it exactly as instructed by DMV.
I was stopped on the southbound 405 in West LA by CHP who said the same thing -- he had never seen a car like this that had HOV stickers. He was very polite and apologized for stopping me. Since my car is silver, I expect this to happen more than once.
I was stopped on the southbound 405 in West LA by CHP who said the same thing -- he had never seen a car like this that had HOV stickers. He was very polite and apologized for stopping me. Since my car is silver, I expect this to happen more than once.
Syrinx
Active member
LabDad said:
I followed EDMC's advice and did this as well. I purchased the Scotchguard Film from Amazon and applied my stickers to that. I then cut around the stickers and shaped the film to match. After that, I placed the stickers with the film on the car. It worked like a charm. I don't know if it will make them easier to remove yet, but I figured it couldn't hurt.
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