Posted on

What Does Instant Gratification Mean for Car Dealers?

what does instant gratification mean for car dealers

It’s no secret that instant gratification is real. People want things quickly and hassle-free, so much so that 45% of consumers will switch brands if companies don’t actively anticipate their needs. If you want someone to blame for this problematic trend, point the finger at the on-demand economy, which consists of tech giants like Amazon, Netflix, and Uber. These brands have conditioned shoppers to expect companies to be fast and responsive in our always-on culture. Long wait times and general statements like “we’ll handle it when we can” are unacceptable, and that’s not just true for retail brands. 

Regardless of your industry, you can’t shrug off instant gratification, believing it only impacts e-commerce companies. In a world where most people—especially millennials and Gen Z—prefer immediacy and a click-and-collect model, every market must consider how instant gratification affects them. That means you need to ask yourself an important question: what does instant gratification mean for car dealers?

Faster Transactions are Crucial 

While in-person visits haven’t disappeared, you can’t bet your dealership’s success on them. More people are buying cars online, with some shoppers completing transactions on their mobile phones. 

One general manager of an auto retail shop said in an article that the majority of their brand’s purchases came from mobile devices. In that same article, an automotive retail consultant said they noticed that 30% of U.S. new car sales in 2021 happened online. Before the pandemic, that number was less than two percent. So, what’s the deal? 

According to Progressive, one of the primary reasons for the increasing number of online sales is the time savings associated with it. Having the opportunity to browse cars online, research the best options on a laptop or mobile device, and complete paperwork digitally allows consumers to finish their car-buying process almost instantaneously. And that reality means your car dealership needs to start moving its sales process online. 

If you want to compete in today’s environment, you need an intuitive, speedy website, a consistent social media presence, an online chat option, and educational content that answers consumers’ most common questions. These elements will ensure car buyers have everything they need to receive quick answers and make fast decisions. However, an online sales process isn’t the only thing you need to succeed with consumers these days.

Supercharge Your DMV Processes

There’s one thing most people agree on: the DMV is slow. No matter the day or time you visit or the item you need, the DMV can take weeks or months to provide any documents. For most, this situation was frustrating before the on-demand economy birthed instant gratification. But now that patience is no longer a virtue, dealing with the DMV is a headache for almost everyone. 

No one wants to stand in long lines or experience lengthy hold times on the phone to get the DMV documents they need for their cars. After purchasing a vehicle, people want to have all their legal documents in hand within days. Fortunately, there’s one way to achieve this difficult goal, and that’s to work with a private DMV services company like Barry Risk Management. 

These types of companies are designed for car buyers who crave instant gratification, primarily because they do everything digitally to provide DMV documents hastily. For example, when working with our team at Barry Risk Management, your dealership can give car buyers the following items in a timely manner. 

1. Car Titles 

A title is one of the most important documents car buyers need. Without it, no one will believe they own their car, making it critical to deliver this record as soon as possible. Luckily, when partnering with our representatives at Barry Risk Management, all you have to do is go online and provide a few pieces of information. Then, we’ll give those details to the DMV and make sure your car buyers receive their titles in little to no time. 

2. License Plates

Your customers can only drive with temporary license plates for so long. Eventually, they’ll need their official plates. If you want to provide this quickly, our team at Barry Risk Management can help. All it takes is providing some information about the car buyer via our online platform. Then, you can sit back while we work with the DMV to deliver your customers their license plates within days. 

3. Tags & Vehicle Registration 

For your buyers to drive their cars legally, they’ll need official tags and vehicle registration. Instead of visiting your local DMV to handle this step, you can use our services. After going online and answering some questions, our representatives at Barry Risk Management will handle what’s necessary to give your customers their tags and vehicle registration in a timeframe that makes them happy and you satisfied.

Giving car buyers instant gratification

Experiencing success isn’t as simple these days. For your dealership to thrive, you must adjust to consumers’ desire for instant gratification, which means transitioning to online sales and quickening your DMV processes to ensure your car buyers get what they need in a timely manner. Only after taking those two steps will you put your business in a position to gratify consumers instantaneously.

If you want to supercharge your DMV process for car buyers, call Barry Risk Management at 1-888-995-TAGS(8247) to learn how we can help.

Posted on

The Top Tasks to Outsource in The Car Dealership Sales Process

car dealership sales process

If you’re an auto dealer, there’s one thing you know for certain: the industry is experiencing unique challenges in the sales process. Most of these challenges aren’t easy to solve. Some even require significant shifts in how your dealership does business. However, if you want to be successful in today’s competitive environment, you need to be able to solve your organization’s most pressing sales concerns, and that can only happen if you have time to address them. 

But how can you get that time? The only way you typically can: you must outsource specific sales-related tasks to create an opportunity to handle others. This idea may sound scary initially, especially since sales are a pivotal part of your business, but don’t worry. The tasks we recommend outsourcing happen after you’ve completed a transaction, leaving the beginning of your car dealership sales process intact. 

If you’re wondering what tasks we’re referring to, we’ll get to them soon. But first, let’s dive deeper into the sales challenges you’re facing that make it necessary to outsource certain responsibilities.

Low inventory remains a top concern

The first problem your dealership may be experiencing is low inventory. With the ongoing shortage of semiconductor chips, manufacturers have had trouble producing new vehicles, and it’s left dealerships like yours in a bind. In fact, many dealers can barely get 1 million vehicles in stock when they’re typically used to having 3 million cars in inventory. 

Some dealerships are handling this problem by reducing sales incentives and increasing prices. You might even be doing the same things. However, while these responses are normal and understandable, they don’t prevent consumers from becoming frustrated during the car dealership sales process. 

Car shoppers are competing for fewer options while facing significantly higher prices. In December 2021, the average price for a new vehicle cost more than $47,000, which is $12,000 over the average price at the beginning of 2020. These high prices, along with increased competition, mean you have to educate consumers on why there’s low inventory while trying to ease their frustration to ensure you don’t permanently damage the relationship. 

Even if shoppers can’t buy a vehicle immediately, the last thing you want to do is let them walk away angry and unwilling to work with you once inventory increases and prices stabilize. So spending ample time managing consumer relationships is essential for long-term success. 

Navigating a different sales process 

navigating a new car dealership sales process

Outside of managing consumers’ emotions and low inventory, your team also has to learn a new sales process. Before the pandemic, your salespeople were primarily responsible for test-driving vehicles with walk-in customers and delivering compelling sales pitches face-to-face. But today, many customers are shopping for cars from the comfort of their homes, meaning your sales team has to shift their efforts to the digital world. 

If your dealership wants to make sales, your team has to focus on answering online requests quickly and delivering vehicles to buyers who bought their cars online. Doing this requires your salespeople to become more analytical and tech-adept than ever before. Additionally, they’ll have to navigate a new consumer journey and discern which digital touch points will allow them to make the most impact. 

The learning curve can be steep, so your sales team will need to spend sufficient time understanding it. Otherwise, your dealership could face more challenges than necessary.

Outsource tasks to address the big issues

With low inventory, consumer frustration, and a new sales process for your team to learn, you can’t afford to focus on tasks that can easily be outsourced. Instead, your full attention must be on the most significant obstacles affecting your business. So, to make time for what matters most, you should outsource the DMV responsibilities in your car dealership sales process.

These responsibilities include the paperwork you have to fill out to get a buyer’s tags, vehicle registration, license plates, and more. Tasks like these are easy for private DMV services companies. These types of organizations can gather the necessary paperwork to turn it in so that your customers get what they need in a timely manner. 

The only essential factor to consider is the DMV services company you work with—some of these organizations have minimal experience in the DMV industry. Additionally, many of them don’t know which forms to complete for certain DMV services. However, a reputable company will know all the ins and outs of getting tags, vehicle registration, license plates, and more, making it easier for you to trust outsourcing these tasks to them. 

A reputable company for your DMV Needs

If outsourcing your DMV tasks will free up your time and benefit your dealership, you don’t have to look far for a reputable company to help. In fact, our team at Barry Risk Management can step in to handle all of your DMV-related responsibilities. 

We have over 30 years of experience in the DMV industry and work with dealerships across the U.S. Even better, we do everything online, so you don’t have to visit our office to get the help you need. You can remain at your dealership to focus on increasing inventory, maintaining customer relationships, and conducting sales online. 

So, give us a call at your earliest convenience. One of our representatives will answer any questions you have and start completing the DMV paperwork for your most recent customer. 

Dial 1-888-995-TAGS(8247) to get in touch with one of our representatives at Barry Risk Management!

Posted on

How Auto Dealers Can Quickly Handle DMV Paperwork

DMV paperwork

If you’re an auto dealer, business is about to get busy. The intent to buy new or used cars is increasing amongst consumers. Research suggests that 94% of people are looking to buy a new car, and 97% of consumers have intentions to buy a used car.

These numbers have significantly increased since 2020, which means you can expect to ramp up sales and bring in more deals. But while you’re speaking with eager consumers and showing the vehicles on your lot, keep in mind that making an official sale won’t be a walk in the park, and that’s not because customers will be demanding. It’s because the DMV will be more challenging to work with than usual. 

The DMV wait times are increasing 

You may have heard that businesses spanning various industries are currently facing staff shortages. According to the Job Opening and Labor Turnover Survey by the Department of Labor, there were 11.3 million job openings in January 2021. 

Of course, when an organization is short-staffed, you’ll experience longer wait times than usual, and unfortunately, this is especially true with the DMV. There’s no reason to sugarcoat it—the DMV is notoriously slow, and when you throw in labor shortages, getting things done will move at a snail’s pace, and that’s not an exaggeration. 

DMVs across the U.S. have fewer employees than usual, leading to longer wait times. In fact, a DMV in Oregon recently reported that it’s trying to keep things going with only six employees on most workdays when it usually has 17 employees on hand. 

With these severe staff shortages, you’ll have a tough time completing the forms you must give the DMV after you sell a new or used motor vehicle. Most likely, you won’t even know which documents to fill out and submit to make a transaction official. 

The DMV requires a plethora of paperwork, and keeping up with it can be challenging, which is why it’s tempting to call the DMV or go in person to figure everything out. But because DMVs are so short-staffed, it’ll be incredibly difficult to get someone on the phone. And speaking with an associate in person could take hours or an entire workday. 

How to skip the long DMV process

the best ways for auto dealers to handle DMV paperwork

While the DMV may not be able to assist you in providing necessary paperwork, you can’t let that stop you from making sales. Otherwise, you won’t have a dealership. However, how can you figure out which documents to give the DMV so that your customers can drive their vehicles legally? 

The best step is to use a private DMV services company, which will act as an intermediary between you and the actual DMV. A good, reputable company will know the exact documents to submit to the DMV and will even deliver the forms for you. With this type of business working by your side, you’ll not only complete the necessary forms to make your transactions official, but you’ll also have the opportunity to give your customers essential items, including the ones below. 

1. Titles

Without a title, who’s going to believe someone owns their car? You need to get this document to your customers as soon as possible, and a private DMV services company will make that happen. It’ll handle and submit the required information to the DMV, ensuring you get titles to your customers in a timely manner.  

2. License Plates 

After you make a sale, you need to give your customers a temporary license plate. However, keep in mind that you may need to provide the official license plate as well. Some customers will prefer you to do it instead of handing it themselves, but accommodating this request can be quick and painless with a private DMV services company. 

This type of business will gather all of the necessary forms and give them to the DMV. Then, your customers will have an official license plate in their mailbox in no time. 

3. Tags and registration 

Other items your customers may want you to provide are their tags and vehicle registration. And no, this doesn’t include the temporary tags and registration you give them before they drive off the lot. 

Most likely, you’ll also need to provide the official documents, which a private DMV services company can handle for you. Instead of filling out the paperwork yourself, a private DMV services company will get everything together, submit it, and make sure your customers receive their tags and registration quickly. 

The best DMV services company to use

Using a private DMV services company may sound like a good idea. But this good idea can fail fast if you don’t use a great DMV services company. An inexperienced one won’t know which documents to submit to the DMV after you make a sale, leading to chaos, confusion, and unhappy customers. 

However, our team at Barry Risk Management isn’t inexperienced or unknowledgeable. We’ve been working in the DMV industry for over 30 years, so we know exactly what you need to provide to legitimize your transactions and help customers get what they need. 

Even better, we handle everything online, so you don’t have to take a break out of our busy schedule to visit us. You can focus on making deals and give us a call in between to let us know what you need. We’re available and ready to provide the DMV services you require, so reach out to speak with one of our representatives so that you’re equipped to handle your increase in sales. 

Use a team of experts to handle your DMV needs by calling Barry Risk Management at 1-888-995-TAGS(8247). 

Posted on

Can You Transfer License Plates Online?

Can You Transfer License Plates Online

Sometimes, you get attached to certain things. Maybe it’s a person or pet or something a little more random, like your license plates. 

If you have personalized or historical plates, there’s a good chance you’ll want to keep them when you buy a new car or trade in your old vehicle. After all, your license plates might say a lot about you. It may represent your alma mater, showcase your favorite hobby, or indicate your number one sports team. 

With these personalized touches, wanting to keep your license plates is not uncommon or strange. It’s a normal attachment to have, which is why it’s possible to transfer your plates to another vehicle.  

Of course, the vehicle you transfer the license plates to must be in the same category as the old one. For example, you can move them from one passenger vehicle to another. 

But in a practical sense, how can you actually go about transferring your plates? And more importantly, can you transfer license plates online? 

In a digital world where convenience reigns, the ability to go online to move your plates from one vehicle to another is the best-case scenario. However, this article will let you know if it’s even possible. 

Can you transfer your license plates online? 

Ultimately, the answer is yes and no. How you transfer your license plates depends on the organization you choose to do it with. There are three available options. 

The first one is the Department of Motor Vehicles. If you go with your state’s DMV, you’ll have to transfer your plates in person. There is no online service for this request. You’ll have to visit one of the DMV offices. 

The second option is to use the dealership. If you purchase a new vehicle from an auto dealer, you can ask them to transfer your license plates to the new car. However, you’ll need to do everything in person. The paperwork and transfer fee must be filled out at the dealership. 

However, the third and final option is not like the other two. If you go with a transportation agency, you can transfer license plates online. Unfortunately, this does not apply to all transportation agencies. You’ll need to figure out which ones provide this service, but some do exist. 

Which transportation agencies transfer plates online? 

Barry Risk Management is one of the few transportation agencies that transfer license plates online. We only offer online DMV services—nothing we do requires physical paperwork or in-person meetings. All you need to work with us is internet access and the willingness to talk on the phone when necessary. 

These two things make our services convenient, which is a top priority for our representatives. But what’s even better about our team at Barry Risk Management is that we have more than 30 years of experience in the DMV industry. 

When you’re working with a transportation agency, thorough experience is paramount. Without it, you may walk away with more problems than you brought to the table. 

Understanding and navigating the ins and outs of the DMV space is not easy. There are different processes and paperwork for every single service, so you must work with a transportation agency that knows what it’s doing. 

If you choose our team at Barry Risk Management, you can trust you’ll be well taken care of—with three decades of experience, we know how to get things done. 

Transferring your license plates online is not a problem, and it doesn’t matter where you live. We can help you no matter which state you call home.   

What do you need to transfer your license plates?

Can You Transfer License Plates Online

If you decide to transfer your plates online, there are a few things you’ll need to provide first. These required documents are similar to the ones you’d need in person. But in case you don’t know what those documents are, here’s a brief overview of what to get.

1. A copy of your vehicle registration 

A government official likely gave you a copy of your vehicle registration when you registered your car or moved to another state. This document includes your name, your vehicle’s tag number, and the registration number. If you can’t find this paperwork for some reason, you can request a new copy before you do a plate transfer. 

2. The title to your new vehicle 

Getting the title to the new vehicle you want to transfer your plates to is necessary. The title proves you own the motor vehicle that will have the transferred license plates, so you must have it. Otherwise, you can’t move forward. 

3. Proof of insurance for the new vehicle 

Before you transfer your plates, you need to get insurance for your new car. This step will only require you to transition the insurance from your old vehicle to the new one. Once that’s complete, have your insurance card or a physical copy of the form you received from your insurer after you purchased a policy.  

Transfer your license plates online 

With your insurance, registration, and title, you can easily transfer your license plates online with a transportation agency. Our team at Barry Risk Management uses an online platform that makes it easy to provide necessary documents. That way, we can take care of everything quickly and simply. All you have to do to get started is call us. 

Call 1-888-995-TAGS(8247) to speak with a representative from Barry Risk Management to transfer your license plates!

Posted on

How to Look Up a Car’s License Plate Number

How to Look Up a Car's License Plate Number

Looking up a car’s license plate number is quite common. Every day, hundreds of people provide a vehicle’s license plate number in the hopes of getting something in return. Sometimes, it’s the identification of a driver who’s abandoned their car. Other times, it’s a vehicle’s history and market value. 

Today, there are plenty of reasons to look up a car’s license plate number, making it imperative to know how to accomplish this task. You never know when a situation will arise where you’ll need to identify a specific driver or learn about a vehicle’s background. 

For example, what if someone committed a hit and run? Remembering the perpetrator’s license plate number and knowing how to look it up will come in handy if you want justice. Additionally, what if you decide to buy a car but need information on the vehicle before you make a purchase? Knowing how to check out the license plate number will lead to the details you seek. 

Undeniably, you need to understand how to look up a car’s license plate number to save you stress in various situations. But if you’re unsure how to go about this task, you’re in the right place. This article will provide everything you need to know. 

What is a license plate number?

Regardless of the state you live in, if you have a car, that vehicle will have a license plate. Every state requires the DMV or a transportation agency to assign a registration number or license plate to a motor vehicle upon registration. 

On that metal or plastic plate, you’ll see a unique number that doesn’t exist anywhere else. This unique number is the license plate number, and it helps identify a vehicle. 

Typically, most states will have distinct-looking license plates. You’ll likely notice a specific logo, color scheme, and registration number format for the license plates in a certain state. However, it is possible to choose the number and letter combination on the license plates by ordering vanity or custom plates. 

Still, one thing that doesn’t usually change is where the license plates go on a vehicle. To ensure the plate number is easily accessible, the license plates must be mounted on the front and back of a car or just at the back. 

What information do you get from a plate lookup?

As previously mentioned, there are many reasons why you may want to look up a car’s license plate number. But there are a few common reasons that typically come up. 

For example, you may want to check out a plate number to find out the following: 

  • The owner of a car
  • A vehicle’s make and model 
  • A vehicle’s market value 
  • A vehicle’s safety rating
  • A vehicle’s specifications 
  • A car’s manufacturer recall or warranty
  • Signs of potential auto fraud and theft 

Depending on how you look up a car’s license plate number, you can get more or less information. But if you need simple details, it should be easy to get that regardless of the method you use. 

The best ways to look up a car’s license plate number

what you need if you want to learn how to look up a car's license plate number

When trying to look up a license plate number, there are three ways you can go about it. Each path is quite different, so the one you choose will ultimately depend on personal preference. 

1. The DMV

In some states, the DMV will provide details about a license plate number for a fee. If your state DMV does this, you’ll need to go on its website to find the link for Plate Inquiry or Request for Record Information. If you don’t find one of these things, look for something similar. 

From there, once you’re in the right place on the site, enter the plate number into the search field. Then, you’ll receive basic information about the car, but you won’t get any personal information. 

2. Private Detective 

This strategy may seem like something you only see in movies. But the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act allows real-life private detectives to access the database that houses license plate numbers and the names of those who own a vehicle. 

Of course, because this route can provide a bit more information, it is the most expensive, so you shouldn’t use it unless it’s absolutely necessary. And if you do decide to hire a private detective, make sure you avoid giving them money before you have a conversation about the information you can expect to receive. You don’t want to be misled, which can easily happen in this scenario. 

3. A transportation agency 

Using a transportation agency to look up a car’s license plate number is the easiest solution out of the three. Depending on the agency you use, you’ll get more information than the DMV. For example, transportation agencies like Barry Risk Management can provide more personal details like the owner of an abandoned vehicle. 

What’s also important to note is that transportation agencies will do the research for you. Unlike the DMV, which makes you use a website that’s not user-friendly or easy to navigate, a transportation agency like Barry Risk Management will look up a car’s license plate number so that you don’t have to worry about it. 

Additionally, transportation agencies are much more cost-effective than hiring a private detective. You can easily pay hundreds of dollars for a detective to do a plate lookup, while a transportation agency will be significantly cheaper to accomplish the same task. 

Take the easy route

Looking up a car’s license plate number can be as hard or simple as you want it to be. If you go with the DMV or a private detective, you’ll get little to no information or run into high prices. But if you use a transportation agency, you’ll get more insight from a license plate and better prices. 

Barry Risk Management, for example, has over 30 years of experience in the DMV industry and knows how to get the information you seek for a cost-effective price. Our team is knowledgeable and does everything online, so you won’t have to wait long. All you’ll need is the license plate number that you want our representatives to look up, and we’ll have the details for you in no time. 

Call 1-888-995-TAGS(8247) to speak with a representative from Barry Risk Management to look up a car’s license plate number!

Posted on

How to Surrender License Plates

how to surrender license plates

Sometimes, you have to give up things in life. 

When you have a goal, you have to let go of distractions. When you have a job, you have to give up your time. And when you have a motor vehicle, you have to surrender your license plates in certain situations. 

Whether you have vintage license plates or regular ones, there are specific times in your life when you’ll have to return them. And when this happens, it’s easy to wonder how to surrender your license plates. After all, no one really talks about it. 

Are you supposed to go through a specific process? Or, can you throw the plates in the trash? Depending on the circumstance, both of these answers are actually correct. But to truly understand which route to take, this article will explain everything you need to know about how to surrender license plates.  

When to surrender your license plates

As previously mentioned, there are certain times when you need to surrender your license plates. Specific rules will vary depending on the state. However, usually, there are a handful of reasons you might have to return your plates: 

  • You sell or get rid of your vehicle, and you don’t plan to use the license plates again
  • You drop the liability insurance for your vehicle for whatever reason 
  • You’re getting repairs or storing your vehicle for a lengthy period of time, and you prefer not to maintain your liability insurance
  • You move to a different state and register your vehicle in that state
  • You transfer your vehicle’s ownership to someone else

Again, the rules will vary depending on the state, so make you check your state’s guidelines. Additionally, it’s important to know if your state even requires you to surrender license plates. Currently, only the following places ask for old plates:

  • Alaska
  • Connecticut 
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana 
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • Nebraska
  • Nevada
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • Pennsylvania
  • Rhode Island 
  • South Carolina 
  • Vermont
  • Wyoming
  • Washington D.C.

If you live in one of these states, make sure to turn in your license plates at the proper time. But if you don’t call one of these states home, you don’t have to worry about surrendering your license plates, although you still need to render them useless. 

How to dispose of old license plates

how to surrender license plates that are old

When you live in a state that doesn’t require you to return your license plates, it’s still in your best interest to destroy them when necessary. If you keep old, unused plates, they could fall into the wrong hands, and someone could use them to commit a crime. This situation can create a significant problem since you’re the original owner of the plates, so make sure to destroy them when you’re done using them. 

You can easily do this by recycling the plates at a local cycling center. Just make sure you remove all insurance and registration stickers in advance. Also, another option is to deface the license plates so that you obscure the letters and numbers. Then, you can put these damaged plates into the trash or recycling bin. 

Can you surrender license plates temporarily?

When you live in a state that requires you to surrender your license plates, you don’t always have to take a permanent approach. For example, perhaps you want to stop driving for a while. In that case, you can cancel your insurance and surrender your plates until you want to start driving again. 

However, maybe you’re not in a position to choose whether you keep your plates. Perhaps you’re getting forced to surrender your license plates because you’ve lost your driving privileges. This situation can happen if you’ve been driving recklessly or have received a DUI. And in these cases, you have to give up your plates for a specific amount of days or months. 

What happens if your license plates are stolen, lost, or destroyed?

Inconvenient things always happen, and that’s true no matter what you’re doing. If your license plates are stolen, destroyed, or lost before you turn them in, the best step is to file a police report. That way, someone doesn’t use your plates to commit a crime. 

Once you’ve completed that step, you need to decide whether or not you want new plates. If you do, you’ll have to show the DMV or transportation agency the police report to prove your license plates are no longer in great condition or even in your possession. Additionally, you’ll likely need to pay a small fee and provide the following information: 

  • Driver’s license
  • Proof of insurance
  • Vehicle registration

If you have no intentions of getting new license plates, you don’t have to do anything but file a police report. After that, you can wipe your hands clean and call it a day. 

How to surrender license plates 

When it’s time to surrender your plates, there are two ways you can go about it. The first one is to use the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). If you take this route, you can return your license plates through the mail or in person. 

For example, in New York, you can surrender your plates through the mail by following the specific steps:

  • Updating your address if necessary 
  • Removing plates and stickers
  • Completing the PD-7 application 
  • Mail the application with your plates in an envelope 

If you’d prefer to visit a local DMV office in New York, you’ll complete steps 2-4. But instead of mailing in your application and plates, you’ll just bring them into the office. 

While these options sound straightforward, the DMV is never as straightforward as it seems. The long wait times and constant back-and-forth can leave you feeling drained and frustrated, so if you want an easier process, you should consider the second way to surrender your plates: use a transportation agency. 

Not every agency is great, but the best ones will speed up the process to make it as simple as possible for you to return your license plates. You just need to find a good transportation agency that you can trust. 

Why you should use Barry Risk Management 

Barry Risk Management is the best transportation agency that you can use to surrender your license plates. Not only does the company have over 30 years of experience in the industry, but it also allows you to do everything online. 

Most transportation agencies are like the DMV. They require you to come in person or mail things in to complete your tasks. But with Barry Risk Management, you can surrender your plates using a completely online process. There’s no reason to leave the comfort of your own home. 

What’s even better is that Barry Risk Management can help you no matter where you live. The representatives can tell you if your state requires plate surrender and help you do it successfully and efficiently. That way, you’re not stuck doing the research and process all by yourself. 

To surrender your license plates in your state, contact Barry Risk Management at 1-888-995-TAGS(8247).

Posted on

How to Get Personalized License Plates Online

find out how to get personalized license plates with All State Tags

When you get a new vehicle, you probably like to personalize it. You like to pick a sleek color for the exterior, select a nice color for the interior, and choose rims or tires that give your car an extra oomph. 

Some people may not bother with all of this hassle—they may not personalize every detail of their vehicle because the design isn’t the most important thing to them. Perhaps they care more about safety. It’s equally important to have a car that can go from point A to B. 

However, if you’re someone who cares about personalizing every aspect of your vehicle, then you need more than just a safe car. You need something that’s tailored specifically to you. 

Whether it’s a car, truck, or motorcycle, custom vehicles are essential to you. They act as an extension of your identity, and they give people a glimpse into who you are and what you like. That’s why you put so much energy into personalizing your vehicle and maybe even your license plates. 

Custom license plates can say a lot about you. They can reveal your interest, hobbies, favorite sports team, alma mater, and whether or not you’re active military or a veteran. But getting these plates is not always easy, especially when you go through the DMV. That’s why you need to learn how to get personalized license plates online. 

What to know about personalized license plates

Before you learn how to get personalized license plates online, you need to know something else first: custom plates can backfire from time to time. These pitfalls usually don’t occur if your personalized plates simply include a picture next to your license plate number. 

For example, maybe you want to include your favorite team’s mascot or your college logo on your license plates. In this scenario, you’ll rarely face issues with personalizing your plates.

However, when you go beyond choosing an image and try to select the numbers and letters on your new license plates, problems can sometimes occur. It’s not uncommon to see people who’ve chosen a combination of letters and numbers for their license plates and unintentionally and surprisingly faced hurdles. 

In fact, here are just a handful of stories that illustrate what can happen when you try to personalize your new license plates. 

Learn how to get personalized license plates for your motor vehicle.

1. License plates that say NOTAG

Multiple drivers have experienced the consequences of having NOTAG on their license plates. In 2004, a man with a Suzuki motorcycle received more than 200 citations because of Delaware’s computer system. According to the Associated Press, the system linked any ticket regarding a lack of plates to the man’s personal information. 

A similar incident also happened to a woman in 2012. While living in Florida, she found herself with 145 tickets that cost more than $8,000. And it was all because her personalized license plates had NOTAG on them. 

2. License plates that say NO TAGS

In Washington DC, a man had slightly different license plates than the one in the above example. Instead of NOTAG, his license plates read NO TAGS. And, of course, this variation also led to issues. 

The man kept his license plates for nearly 30 years, and during that time, he got more than $20,000 in tickets. He told an NBC affiliate that he had to visit the courthouse every few months to get the tickets removed. 

But eventually, city officials spoke to authorities to resolve the issue. Moving forward, ticket writers had to write down “none” instead of “no tags” if they came across a vehicle without license plates. 

3. License plates that say NONE

The next example comes from Los Angeles in 1979. According to LA Times, the state allowed people to write down their top three choices for a custom license plate. 

A sportsman who loved the ocean wrote BOATING and SAILING as his top two choices. Then, in the third slot, he jotted down NO PLATE, assuming the DMV would realize he wanted a standard license plate if his top two choices didn’t work. However, the DMV never made this realization. 

The characters on his license plate read NO PLATE. And after seven months, he had 2,500 citations. The LA Times reported that the DMV had to inform the authorities to stop writing “no plate” on tickets and start saying “none.”

4. License plates that say NV

In 2004, a man in California decided to use NV on his new license plates—these characters were his initials, and for a while, things were great. He didn’t run into any issues. 

But one day, he discovered something interesting. In California, NV stands for “not visible” to traffic cops. And it wasn’t long before the man started to get tickets, which he handled one-by-one. However, when something happened with Oakland’s computer system, the man started to receive tickets across different counties, totaling more than $3,000. 

Choose your new custom license plates carefully 

The list above offers just a handful of examples to showcase how tricky it can be when you get personalized license plates. But those examples shouldn’t scare you off. 

You can still personalize your plates, regardless of whether you want an image or your own sequence of letters and numbers. Just keep in mind that if you choose the ladder, select a combination of characters wisely. You don’t want to find yourself in a situation where you’re getting tickets on a regular basis for no fault of your own. 

Your state will try to do what it can to help you out—city officials are not required to approve your request for personalized license plates. So if your state notices that your combination of letters and numbers is problematic, they will reject it. 

But states are not going to catch every potential blunder. If you want to prevent any problems, you need to make sure the letters and numbers you’re picking won’t lead to any obstacles. 

Get personalized license plates online  

Once you figure out what you’re going to put on your personalized license plates, you have two options to get it done. You can either go through the DMV. The organization allows you to come in person, mail in a form, or use their website to get personalized plates. 

Or, you can have a transportation agency like Barry Risk Management, Inc. handle everything for you. Unlike the DMV, Barry Risk Management, Inc. makes things easy. Everything is online. Their processes are convenient, simple, and easy to go through. And there are representatives that are waiting to help you if questions arise.

With over 30 years of experience in the DMV industry, Barry Risk Management, Inc. knows how to get you new personalized license plates. It doesn’t matter what state you’re in or what the rules are. If you want custom license plates, Barry Risk Management, Inc. can help you quicker than the DMV. 

For help getting new license plates that are personalized to your tastes, call 1-888-995-TAGS(8247) to speak with a representative!

Posted on

Why You Don’t Need the DMV to Get New License Plates

get new license plates

One of the worst things about going to the DMV is waiting hours to complete small, simple tasks.

You expect certain services to take awhile. For example, getting your driver’s license or Real ID always takes more than a few hours—sometimes, you can find yourself in the DMV for an entire day trying to complete those tasks.

But with straightforward services, like registering your vehicle, it shouldn’t take that long. Yet, still, you can easily find yourself waiting in a long DMV line or sitting in a crowded room until sundown, expecting someone to call your ticket number. 

What makes this situation worse is when you book an appointment, believing your proactive nature will save you time. Despite your motivated approach, you may still end up at the DMV for hours. This agency is notoriously slow, and if employees are running behind, your appointment gets pushed back.

However, it becomes even more frustrating when you’re only at the DMV to get new license plates. On the surface, this task seems so simple. You register your vehicle and fill out an application, and in return, someone hands you your license plates. 

But this straightforward process is far from the norm. It’s true that you do have to take a couple of steps. Yet, the time it takes to complete those steps is the discouraging part. 

What’s interesting, though, is that there was a time when you didn’t need to go through the DMV at all to get new license plates. 

The history of getting new license plates

the history of license plates

New York was the first state to require vehicles to have license plates. On April 25th, 1901, Governor Benjamin Odell Jr. signed a bill that demanded owners of motor vehicles to get license plates.

However, instead of going through a state agency, people could handcraft their own. Most owners used leather or iron to create their license plates and lettering. But others chose a simpler route and just painted the letters directly on their motor vehicles. 

Many people were happy with these identifiers and had no objection to producing the plates on their own. In fact, when the law passed, the Times reported that 17 drivers applied for new license plates in May.

By September, that number jumped to 715. And in the following year, there were 1,566 license plates on people’s vehicles. These new commodities afforded drivers equal rights with those who were still getting around on horses. 

As a result, the number of license plates continued to increase throughout the state, and New Yorkers happily handcrafted their plates until 1910. They were unbothered by the time they had to spend making them. While it wasn’t a 10-minute process, it was still a simple one. 

It didn’t require long lines, waiting rooms, unhelpful employees, or appointments. There wasn’t a DMV to visit. All anyone had to do was get the tools, find the material, and start building. 

When did the DMV start issuing license plates?

In 1903, almost two years after New York’s bill passed, Massachusetts became the first state to provide state-issued plates. These license plates were iron and covered in porcelain enamel. Their background color was cobalt blue, and their lettering was in white. 

While first to provide state-issued plates, Massachusetts set an example for other states. Governors across the U.S. started to distribute license plates to their citizens. And by 1918, every state in the U.S. was providing state-issued plates. Drivers were no longer allowed to make them on their own.  

Today, the DMV handles this responsibility. This is the only agency that’s allowed to provide new license plates to drivers. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. 

For fleets with federal vehicles or cars owned by foreign diplomats, a federal government agency provides license plates. Moreover, some Native American tribes in the West issue their own license plates and registration to members. 

Why you shouldn’t use the DMV

When the DMV started issuing license plates, the agency opened the door to personalized plates. For example, in New York, you can get license plates that fall in one of the following categories: 

  • Historical
  • I Love NY Adventure Plates
  • Sports 
  • Colleges
  • Sororities
  • Fraternities
  • Causes 
  • Military and Veterans
  • Organizations
  • Professions

While the opportunity to get custom license plates is a great idea and a benefit that many people enjoy, obtaining them is not always easy. When the DMV started issuing new license plates, they unintentionally created a tiring process to get them. 

As discussed above, getting your license plates at the DMV can take a long time. But most DMV agencies don’t tell you this information. In fact, many of their websites only outline a few simple steps: register your motor vehicle, submit an application, pay a fee, and get your license plates. 

None of them suggest the hours you might sit or stand at a DMV office or the frustration that’ll likely build during your wait time. 

How to get new license plates without the DMV

Thankfully, modern times and technology have created new ways for you to work around the DMV. If you want to complete simple tasks, like getting new license plates, you no longer have to rely on this state agency. 

In fact, you can get new license plates without ever leaving your house. Companies Barry Risk Management, Inc. makes this possible. 

Instead of waiting in long lines, you can work with a representative from Barry Risk Management, Inc. to get your license plates easily and efficiently. After registering your car, all you need to do is contact an agent, and they’ll help you fill out the application for license plates. 

The representative will help you over the phone. There’s no need to meet somewhere in-person or go to an office. You never have to leave the comfort of your home to complete this task because it happens online. 

All you have to do is call Barry Risk Management, Inc. and gain access to a computer. Once you do those two things, you’ll get your new license plates in the short amount of time that it should actually take. 

Ready to get new license plates? Contact a representative with Barry Risk Management, Inc. today to get started!

Posted on

How to Transfer Your License Plates Without Any Hassle

When you think about a new car, you don’t think about the license plates that you’re going to put on it. You might think about the stereo and whether it works well or the smart features on your dashboard. But the license plates are probably not top-of-mind. 

However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider the plates that you’re going to use. In fact, to make things easy, you should contemplate using your current license plates on your new ride. While rarely talked about, transferring your plates leads to several benefits, including the ability to keep something that’s significant to you. 

For example, maybe your license plates hold sentimental value. Do you have something special on it? Did you write a unique message, hinting to your favorite hobby, sports team, or school? Or, do you have historical plates that you don’t want to give up? All of these examples are sentimental reasons why you should transfer your license plates onto your new vehicle.

But if your plates hold zero significance, there’s still a benefit that might interest you: the savings you can experience. By using what you currently have, you can take advantage of the full registration year. That means you don’t have to fork over any additional cash on unnecessary items. 

Transferring your license plates saves you time, money, and a potential heartache from separating with something you value. But how do you go about this endeavor? Surprisingly, the process isn’t as straightforward as you might think.

how to transfer your license plates

The steps to transferring your plates

Putting one set of license plates onto another vehicle sounds easy. You just unscrew the plates and screw them onto your new ride, right? 

Unfortunately, no. 

Transferring your license plates requires a few different steps. Usually, the process includes three specific parts. 

1. Register your new vehicle 

Before you transfer your plates, you have to get your new vehicle registered in your name. Otherwise, you have no authority to move plates from one vehicle to another. 

2. Fill out the application

Typically, there’s an application for transferring your license plates. The paperwork is easy to fill out. It only requires you to provide simple information, like the registration number for both vehicles and the license plate number. And as long as you have this material on hand, you should have no problem filling out the application. 

3. Pay the fee 

Transferring your license plates is not free. You’ll likely have to pay a small fee. But the amount is typically more cost-effective than getting registration and new license plates for your vehicle. 

These three steps outline a very basic process to help you transfer your plates. However, this framework can get longer and more intricate, depending on the state that you live in. In fact, if you want to transfer your plates, you might encounter a long and confusing process if your state has various rules and stipulations. 

State laws on transferring plates 

When it comes to transferring your license plates, the laws vary from state to state. There’s no uniform process. Every state does it a little differently, so you can’t go by what your friend or family member did in the state they live in. The process they followed might be entirely different than what your state requires.

For example, say you live in Hawaii. If you want to transfer your license plates from one vehicle to another, all you have to do is submit a request. Of course, you have to own the vehicle that you’re putting the license plates on. But if you do, you shouldn’t have any trouble. The DMV will likely grant your request. Then, you’ll be on your way to transferring your plates. It’s as simple as that. 

However, maybe you live in Pennsylvania. In that case, the process is a little trickier. If you want to quickly transfer your plates in that location, your new vehicle has to be the same type as the previous one that initially had the license plates. If it’s not, you have to go through a slightly longer process that requires you to return your plates and undergo an application process. 

You also have to consider who you’re transferring your plates to. In Pennsylvania, you’re prohibited from transferring license plates to most people. This rule is a standard across many states, but not all of them have this law. Yet, Pennsylvania does offer an exception. 

If you have family members who own or lease a car, you can transfer your license plates to them. But that family member must be a parent, spouse, or child. Otherwise, they can’t receive your plates. 

These are just two examples of how different laws can be across the U.S. Despite the few instances of overlap, transferring plates in one state is different from the process you’ll see in another state. What’s even worse than this confusion is that you have to go through the DMV to complete this process, which is never an easy organization to deal with. 

Visiting the DMV to transfer your license plates

Regardless of your location, you’ll have to interact with someone at the DMV to transfer your license plates. 

The DMV is where you’ll receive and return your transfer application. It’s where someone will approve your transfer request. And it’s where you’ll pay if there’s a fee to transfer your plates. 

But if you’re like most people, you probably don’t want to visit the DMV. Waiting hours to get or submit all of the necessary information to complete a task that should take minutes sounds miserable. Transferring your license plates shouldn’t be time-consuming, which is why other options are available to you. 

How to transfer your license plates without the DMV

If you want to transfer your plates without looking up your state’s laws or contacting your local DMV, use Barry Risk Management, Inc. 

A representative from the company will ensure you do everything your state requires to transfer your license plates. With knowledgeable agents eager to help, Barry Risk Management, Inc. can quickly discover the steps you need to follow to move license plates from one vehicle to another. 

What’s even better is that the process is all online. You don’t have to go to the DMV. You don’t have to pick up an application. Everything you do with Barry Risk Management, Inc. happens on your laptop and in the comfort of your own home. 

If you want to save time transferring your license plates, contact Barry Risk Management, Inc. now, and a representative will give you everything you need to jumpstart your process!