Sooo...I wanted a car that is sticker eligible and we preferred Model S due to interior space, particularly rear legroom; decided on CPO for a variety of reasons. We started following cars on Tesla-info, found some we liked, we called the DMV Special Processing Unit Hotline:
916-659-8035
They have long to very long waits (up to 90 minutes). Once the queue is 90 minutes, you get an automated recording saying call volume is high and they hang up on you. They are open 8-5 MTThF and 9-5 W. You can request a call back so you don't need to wait 90 minutes on hold listening to govt muzak. Once you get a call back (note a few times I called at 2 pm and never got a call back, but if you stay on hold
after 5 they will answer!), you can provide 3 license plates or VINs using
NATO phonetic alphabet they will then look them up.
NB even non-California cars they will look up, and we had a few outside California that were 'sticker-ineligible' due to prior reg in CA. About 10 calls/waits and we got results on ~15 cars, most of which were sticker ineligible.
We had found three cars in CA that we were told were eligible.
We picked one that DMV Agent told us was '3-year' sticker eligible - had gotten a carpool sticker in 2018 and thus was eligible for sticker until 1/1/2022. Went through reservation, arranged financing, arranged delivery date. Pictures had a WHITE sticker; on day of delivery called DMV again:
DMV SPU Agent: 'this is for a 2018 car'?
Me: no....2015
SPUA: I have a 2018 Tesla with that VIN
Me: ?
SPUA: let me check (hold....
Me: panic...
Agent: (minutes later): I found the 2015 car, sticker in May 2015, this car is not eligible. This VIN has duplicate records.
Me. WTF