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Honda Civic GX & HOV Lane Access
I just purchased a new 06 civic GX. My DMV form was returned saying that it was not listed as a hybrid. I'm not sure if that is what they meant, however on one of the CA ARB lists, the car is not listed yet. There are no 06 Honda cng vehicles.
Anybody else with a new vehicle run into similar problems. Also, it appears that when it is listed it will only qualify for the "yellow" sticker and not the "silver" sticker. Anybody know what the difference is? And any limitations?
Anybody else with a new vehicle run into similar problems. Also, it appears that when it is listed it will only qualify for the "yellow" sticker and not the "silver" sticker. Anybody know what the difference is? And any limitations?
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I will post a message once my stickers arrive. By the way how long did you have to wait for the response from DMV?
Thanks!
i'm still waiting for my plates, but have been told that once registered, it should take only a week or so after submitting form to get stickys.
epi
Mine are worn out ('99) and I have the form for replacements but will wait until I get my new license plates, then they said about a week in the mail to recieve them.
Hope this helps.
J
When I added my car to my insurance they told me that the VIN was not "valid". I had to fax my registration just to get insurance. I believe that the fact that I listed no plates and the weird VIN probably confused the DMV.
One more question to everyone. Has anyone with a 06 actually received the silver stickers. Or are we going on the "sales pictch". I found on the DMV web where all ATPEZ cars get the yellow sticker.
Thanks
Jim
My Phill is scheduled to be installed next week, I'll let you know how it goes. I got the 2,000 discount right off the purchase price.
Jim
Are they still issuing the silver ones?
I noticed all the hybrids have a sticker (gold) on the front bumper, but the NGVs at the SCAQMD in Diamond Bar this morning have no front sticker.
Also I have been trying to find info on the NGV Camrys, I know they only made them 98-01, haven't had much luck, there is a guy offering a finders fee for one.
I hear Clean Energy is offering special incetives on brand new Honda Civic GX.
all that said, i submitted my application with a letter that spelled out what Fastrak told me, citing the manager's names, as well as an individual at DMV that was able to help another CNG customer out, as well as a big fat note to supply me with the silver stickers, and not yellow by mistake.
i'll write more once i've actually received the stickers (if i ever do!)
epi
edit: yes, bay area.
I was under the impression if I drove up there I would have to pay. So maybe I will just put my transponder in a mylar bag and go for it.
Down here in So CA we get no breaks on the tollroads, hopefully that will change.
back to the whole bridge tolls/ fastrak topic: (again, w/out legislative proof) ... i was told by 2 separate fastrak managers that there were no tolls, and therefore no 'special transponder' or use of hybrid transponder. however, they both said there was some confusion on the topic b/c it is such a low occurance request. but i feel the existance of two separate color stickers would support separate benefits ... and what else would there be than tolls?
can't wait to find out for certain! but just throwing more speculation out there ... where are all the bay area NGV drivers at? they should know.
epi
meanwhile, on the PG&E website, they list a number of incentives for NGVs, with free bridges being one of them. until i get the letter from honda, i printed this sheet out from PG&E and keep it in my glove box.
i have spoken to Fastrak and the DMV so many times that my head hurts thinking about it, and after all the talking, i've distilled three things:
1) nobody talks to eachother in these organizations
2) there is no bridge toll for the GX during carpool hours (you must have the stickers)
3) there is no 'special' transponder or need to have a hyrid transponder. you may choose to have Fastrak for times in which you are outside of carpool hours, but having a hybrid version is mute as you'll never be using the flyover outside of carpool hours.
i received my stickers w/out a fastrak acct open for this car, but DID include a lengthy letter 'enlightening' them to these facts. i also put my phone number and demanded they call me if there is still confusion, rather than mailing it back to me 2 wks later. it worked.
i see several GXs up here on my commute ... haven't you folks done the leg work on this long ago?? what was your results??
epi
Did you ever get clarification regarding no bridge toll during carpool hours or 24/7? Also how did you apply for the stickers before you got the plates? I thought you needed the plate number on the application form?
i waited until i got my plates before applying, and though i've heard of people applying prior to that, i thing you're lucky if that works. i, like many people, got rejected the first time i applied for stickers. i highly recommend writing a letter to include with your app describing in clear terms that this is not a hybrid, but rather an alternative fuel vehicle, and therefore gets the white/silver stickers ... and does not require a fastrak account. i also would include your telephone and email info and request they contact you with any problems/questions rather than send it back to you by mail, adding weeks to your journey. i'll happily email you the letter i sent (that worked for me, and a colleague of mine with a GX).
where do you live and work (areas, not necessarily companies) ... i'll happily give you tips on fill stations , etc.
epi (brian)
Thanks
Epi, have you actually used the HOV lane w/o fastrack on any of the bay area bridges outside commute hours? How often? Have you ever been sent a violation, or are they letting you get away with it? I went over the Carquinez bridge last Saturday but was too chicken to go through the HOV lane without a fastrack.
however, now that they are changing things around, it may be that the carpool lane becomes another Fastrak lane outside of carpool hours. if you blow through that, you will absolutely receive a ticket if not a Fastrak member. if you are a Fastrak member, either your transponder will get picked up, or your plates will be photographed and your account charged that way.
conversely, if you go through a Fastrak lane during carpool hours, you will pay $4 regardless if you are a SUV, Civic GX, or legitimate carpool. they are separate systems, Fastrak controlled and patrolled by Fastrak, and Carpool and Cash lanes via California Highway Patrol and Caltrans. i discussed this directly with those agencies while investigating what rights we smart GX'ers actually have
now if you are going through a carpool lane (during hours, which should be the only time a carpool lane is actually even available to you) with a Fastrak transponder, it will beep as you go through. supposudely it will not charge you, but i believe i and others have been charged. and if you have the long-range model that they give to Hybrids, you will get charged definately. so put it in the mylar bag, lock it in lead, and stick it under your seat
let me know if this didn't answer your question! i've been doing the Carquinez and Bay Bridges every day for the last 12+ months w/out a problem. however, i do have a Fastrak acct, and will use the Fastrak lanes once those Carpool lane lights go out.
epi (brian)
I live in Oakland (California) and I work in Benicia. It is clear that CA DMV has free bridge tolls listed. The golden gate bridge has specific instructions to "bag the tag" or stop and ask the toll taker to void the charge on a fastrak.
I have read and reread the bridge facilities information and the metropolitan traspo commission info and the dmv and countless other AB bills. It is very hard to find clear and consistent language granting free toll to CNG vehicles.
Help!
if you have the clean air stickers (and only if!) the rule is that you may go through the carpool lanes on bay area bridges during carpool hours only.
if you do not have these stickers, you can try going through at your own risk. there is no rule that allows you passage w/out them. however, it may be that you do it 1000 times and never receive a ticket. at your own risk! i personally would not do it w/out stickers on my car.
if you go through a Fastrak lane, you will be charged. period. even if you are a carpool, even if the transponder is in the bag. Fastrak operates Fastrak lanes, CHP and Caltrans operate carpool lanes.
there is very limited printed information defining this, but i have been told verbally by Fastrak, the GX expert at Honda in Sacramento, and read it in on PG&E's website where they discuss benefits of CNG. in fact, i've printed that page and put it in my glove box. (you'll have to search for it, i don't know the link)
i will say that i've been using the carpool lanes for 1.5 years now (2 bridges every day) and have never had a problem.
i do also have a Fastrak transponder in this car for those times that i cross a bridge outside of carpool hours. it stays in it's mylar bag so that it never signals when i cross through the carpool lane during carpool hours. of course i pull it out when using Fastrak outside of carpool hours.
bridges that i cross (bay bridge, carquinez) no longer even have carpool lanes outside of carpool hours. they get converted electronically to Fastrak lanes ... so there is no confusion. the bay bridge is extra special b/c it has the flyover carpool lane. outside of carpool hours, that big sign will be lit up that says "BUSES ONLY" ... i doubt you will be able to convince a cop that you are a bus, so wouldn't recommend trying. during carpool hours, you can of course use the flyover just like any other carpool lane (see rules above
let me know if there are any other questions, and i'll happily give them a shot.
epi
(brian)
How long does it take to receive the sticker from DMV?
Victor
In my case I applied with a new car purchase, which was 6 weeks ago. I just got my plates but no HOV stickers. Which may take another 2 weeks, since it would be 4 weeks AFTER issue of the plates (was no 10/30).
Since you got your plates already it should not take more then 4 weeks.
if we were to buy a new one now would she be able to get the
HOV stickers? I saw one the other day that had Silver stickers? Are those the say as the Yellow ones?
What is the fuel cost on these? She is driving about 100 each day round trip.
Will the car last as long as a Gas model? Will the upkeep
costs be greater?
If she is driving 100 miles each way, make sure she has a home filling unit or a filling station near your home or office (Ideally you should be near on at both locations).
I am paying $2.56 near my house, and $2.20 near my wife's work. Prices vary widely. Burbank is one of the cheapest stations, LAX is one of the most expensive. I think the most expensive right now is about $2.75 or $2.80.
Rumor is that because the fuel is so much cleaner than Gasoline, there will be fewer deposits and less wear. Taxis and police cars seem to indicate that a life expectancy of about 400,000 mile to 500,000 miles if you take good care of it.
The Fuel Filters cost a few hundred dollars to replace every 30,000 miles. The price has been dropping lately as it becomes wider knowledge that you don't need to replace the entire filter, just the insert. Other than that, it is about the same.
If you buy used, do not buy a used GX between 2001 and 2006. The transmission is not very reliable.
everything else he said is spot on. i'll add that the silver stickers are nicer up here in the Bay Area, as they get you free bridge crossings during commute hours. i cross two bridges on my commute for a savings of $8 / day!
for current prices (which are as high as i've ever seen them) check out www.cngprices.com for a google map of CNG stations. i'm regularly paying 2.26 / GGE and get 40mpg.
epi
Do the home fill units cost alot?
Are the full filters hard to do yourself or do you take it to a dealer to do?
We have the 91 toll lane and the 241 toll roads done here in So.Cal. dose any one know if the Silver stickers save on the cost of tolls on these?
Thanks for all the great info and insite guys it is a big help.
Phil or Fuelmakers cost about $4k or so + install. worth it monetarily in the long run, obviously worth it very quickly convenience-wise. search around the site for more info on those...lots here.
filters can be done by decent garage jockey ... and as dejapooh said, people are realizing that industrial fuel supply (PG&E) is very clean ... so perhaps you may not to replace them very often afterall.
don't know on toll road.
epi
yourself in So.Cal. ?
Did anyone find one on a dealer lot in SoCal and were you able to test drive?
This seems like the car for me but I at least want to drive it first.
epi