[jmaz]

For those who live in California, The California Air Resources Board website contains carpool lane sticker rules:

https://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/carpool/carpool.htm

If you bought your EV after Januar 2017, you get a red sticker that expires on January 1, 2022.

If you buy a new EV after January 2019, you get a "new" sticker that expires on January 1, 2023. That's one more year of carpool lane access.

I live in CA and want to buy a Bolt, but will wait until Jan 2019 to buy, so that I get one more year of carpool lane access.

Anyone else thinking along these lines? Will there be a rush of California EV buyers in January for the extra year of carpool lane access? Are there any downsides to this strategy?

 

[Bolt Action]

If my math is right, you'd be getting an extra 9 months of HOV access if you wait until January to buy a Bolt, as opposed to purchasing one in Oct. 2018. Correction: It takes DMV about 6 weeks to issue HOV stickers anyway.

 

[Red Chaplin]

It's not by purchase date, it's when the stickers are issued. If you buy now and apply in Jan you'll be fine.

 

[SparkE]

^^^ --- as clearly stated in the linked page from arb.ca.gov (in the OP).

 

[DesertSprings]

My car came with the stickers, pre-registered to the car by the dealer. So if you want to wait to request the sticker until 2019, make sure your dealer hasn't already gotten the stickers.

 

[GlenandhisBolt1!]

The expiration (and eligibility) dates are based on the date the CAV decals are issued by DMV, not the date of purchase of the vehicle. So you can buy your Bolt today, but not apply for CAV decals until January 1, 2019. Of course, you can't legally drive solo in the HOV lanes until you receive and install your CAV decals.

I have 'white' CAV decals on my Bolt. I applied for 'red' CAV decals just a few weeks ago (mid September): they arrived in the mail last week (about three weeks).

 

[pkim]

Guys,

If you wait, you may put in jeopardy half of the $7500 federal rebate (Chevy may have hit the 200,000 limit or hitting it this quarter). Not sure one year worth of carpool access is worth $3750.

- Peter

 

[GregBrew]

Guys,

If you wait, you may put in jeopardy half of the $7500 federal rebate (Chevy may have hit the 200,000 limit or hitting it this quarter). Not sure one year worth of carpool access is worth $3750.

- Peter

There are income qualifiers. If your household income is over $300k (two earners), you can choose either the $2500 rebate or the red carpool access decal. If income is below that threshold, you can get both.

https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/resources/fact-sheets/californias-clean-air-decals

Also, the $7500 Federal credit is *still in play* for the quarter *after* the 200,000th unit sale, then it phases out after that. So even if GM sells their 200,000th EV this quarter (Q4 2018), the full $7500 credit will still be available Q1 2019.

 

[SparkE]

Guys,

If you wait, you may put in jeopardy half of the $7500 federal rebate (Chevy may have hit the 200,000 limit or hitting it this quarter). Not sure one year worth of carpool access is worth $3750.

- Peter

1) it is a federal tax credit, not a rebate

2) the federal tax credit is completely different, and unrelated, to the HOV sticker. You can file for the fed tax credit without filing for a carpool sticker - and vice-versa.

3) if you are worried about 'losing' a few months of carpool, then wait to FILE FOR the cal sticker instead of waiting to buy

 

[NewsCoulomb]

Also, the Federal Tax Credit might be removed soon anyway. This is the second time in two years that Congress will consider ending the Federal Tax Credit. January might be too late regardless.

Side note: Man, the fossil fuel industry must really be worried.

 

[SparkE]

Congress in the past has not shied away from screwing your after the fact (changing the law such that the tax rules for LAST YEAR changed before taxes are due). Nothing is guaranteed.

 

[GregBrew]

Congress in the past has not shied away from screwing your after the fact (changing the law such that the tax rules for LAST YEAR changed before taxes are due). Nothing is guaranteed.

It's why I closed on my 2017 on December 29th, 2017. Hedging my bets, as much as I could.

 

[pkim]

OK, sorry for mis-stating the federal tax credit as a refund. Yes, it's a credit, not a refund.

I stand corrected that even if GM hits the 200K this quarter, we will still have the $7500 for cars delivered to the owner by Mar 31, 2019. So there is an opportunity for an optimization here. (a bit different situation for the Tesla people with the uncertain delivery date)

I also made the choice of finalizing my purchase on Dec 27 2017 because I also do not trust the current congress - I think the voter allowing all branches of government to be controlled by a single party gives them a mandate.

- Peter

 

[SparkE]

I also made the choice of finalizing my purchase on Dec 27 2017 because I also do not trust the current congress - I think the voter allowing all branches of government to be controlled by a single party gives them a mandate.

Congress can change the tax rules for the 2018 tax year in 2019 if they so wish (they did it last year, changing the rules for tax year 2017 in Feb/Mar of 2018).