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  • CarTagz

Overview

CarTagz has a rating of 1.96 stars from 77 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Reviewers complaining about CarTagz most frequently mention convenience fee, extra fees, and registration renewal problems. CarTagz ranks 15th among DMV Other sites.

  • Service
    5
  • Value
    5
  • Shipping
    4
  • Returns
    2
  • Quality
    4
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What reviewers want you to know

Positive highlights

No positive highlights yet

Critical highlights

  • They even make the site look like the DMV site right up until the payment is received.
  • It is not an actual DMV website and charges very high additional fees for the registration.
How would you rate CarTagz?
Top Positive Review

“Car Registration”

James K.
6/12/15

The Cartagz website offers the opportunity to renew your vehicle registration online. They advertise expedited service within 3 days. I received my registration in 3 days, as advertised and will likely use the service again.

Top Critical Review

“What a SCAM! BEWARE!”

Richard C.
3/26/15

I made the same mistake as many of you. I am so angry! I tried to contact my bank to stop the transaction, but could not. I was told I would have to dispute it after the fact. I contacted DMV and the customer representative was so rude! She would no allow me to pay them directly, stating that CARTAGZ had already paid it. If I dispute it the late payment from DMV will still be less than all the bogus charges CARTAGZ charged me. I'm disputing it. How else can we get the message out to warn others!

Reviews (77)

Rating

Timeframe

Other

Reviews that mention popular keywords

dmv site (16) dmv website (8) vehicle registration (4) registration renewal (5)
Thumbnail of user richardc93
1 review
14 helpful votes
March 26th, 2015

I made the same mistake as many of you. I am so angry! I tried to contact my bank to stop the transaction, but could not. I was told I would have to dispute it after the fact. I contacted DMV and the customer representative was so rude! She would no allow me to pay them directly, stating that CARTAGZ had already paid it. If I dispute it the late payment from DMV will still be less than all the bogus charges CARTAGZ charged me. I'm disputing it. How else can we get the message out to warn others!

Thumbnail of user darlaa
1 review
7 helpful votes
March 13th, 2015

I too was brought to this site thinking it was the official DMV site. After seeing the outrageous extra costs for my registration, I decided to look them up on line. You can go directly to the DMV page, but it is several websites down. I left the DMV a nasty complaint stating they need to relay this information to their customers. This site is a total scam. Thankfully I inquired in time. For those of you who did pay these extra fees, please let the DMV know that it is not ok.

Tip for consumers:
Don't !!!

Thumbnail of user maryellenb6
1 review
0 helpful votes
April 17th, 2017

You guys are a scam
Glad I checked the comments out, Better safe than sorry... If I have to enter 100 character I will be using a bad word

Thumbnail of user diannac2
1 review
9 helpful votes
January 29th, 2015

Oh my gosh, I wish I would have read reviews on this company, completely messed up our order and took forever to get back. Horrible customer service, and not helpful at all to fix THEIR screw up!

Tip for consumers:
stay away and fight the lines at the DMV

Thumbnail of user troyg10
Fatima M. – CarTagz Rep

Hi Dianna, I'm sorry to hear you were not happy with our service. I would appreciate the opportunity to speak with you directly. Please email me at online.media@cartagz.com with your name, license plate number, and the best number to reach you.

Thank you,

Fatima M
Online Media Manager
Cartagz Inc.

Thumbnail of user dawnp19
1 review
9 helpful votes
April 20th, 2015

I found that when i went to the DMV website they kept sending me to Cartagz and gave me no other option to pay my registration. I tried to go to pay online at DMV. They charged me $45 over my $103 fee. Every time i clicked next the price changed. Then you can't get shipping without paying an arm and a leg for it. Will be looking for a different site next time.
Dawn Palmer

Thumbnail of user jamesk92
1 review
0 helpful votes
June 12th, 2015

The Cartagz website offers the opportunity to renew your vehicle registration online. They advertise expedited service within 3 days. I received my registration in 3 days, as advertised and will likely use the service again.

Thumbnail of user ericp29
1 review
13 helpful votes
March 31st, 2015

Ya, it's my fault for not paying attention till I completed my payment, but I can't believe DMV would let these people do this. They even make the site look like the DMV site right up until the payment is received. A $37 mistake, what a bummer.

Tip for consumers:
Don't

Thumbnail of user eglem1
1 review
8 helpful votes
February 5th, 2015

When registering your car online watch out for this SCAM website that is called CARTAGZ! It is not an actual DMV website and charges very high additional fees for the registration.

Thumbnail of user jazl1
1 review
5 helpful votes
October 8th, 2014

I'm still waiting to hear back about my proof of registration. It's been four days now. I've called them emailed them multiple times after going online to their site. Please don't purchase your registration from these scammers. You pay more for terrible service.

Tip for consumers:
Just don't.

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user ginad12
1 review
15 helpful votes
April 10th, 2015

I almost paid, but I realized at step 3 that the DMV never has charged all the other fees! This place needs to be reported for disguising itself as the Ca DMV! I just reported this to the local news stations and the Attorney General.

Thumbnail of user tomp52
1 review
8 helpful votes
February 13th, 2015

Although I felt "duped" by this site... it was my own haste that created this situation... I don't care for all the fees and their position (on the website) when you type in "DMV.CA.GOV" as stated on my registration renewal form. I did, however, receive my "Tags/Registration Card" in record time (3 days)... I'll be more prudent in the future!

Service
Value
Shipping
Thumbnail of user andrewb68
1 review
4 helpful votes
August 10th, 2013

I saw a lot of flak about this website, calling it a scam etc, waste of money, etc etc. Non the less I needed to register my car over the weekend so I could visit some buds. The standard DMV site wouldn't allow me to register my car because it was past the renewal date. I would have to wait until Monday to get my car registered.

I decided to give this website a shot and see if they could get me registered before Monday. Sure enough with an hour or two they provided me the a pdf of my updated registration. So yes, they do charge for a service, and yes you can do it free online at the DMV site if your within your renewal deadline date... but if you were in a similar situation then this website is far from a scam. Food for thought.

Thumbnail of user peggyb6
1 review
4 helpful votes
June 28th, 2014

I emailed the company about my tags and I got a response within 3 min. My tags are being shipped within two days. Great work!

Thumbnail of user maryj59
1 review
7 helpful votes
April 5th, 2014

I accidentally accessed this site while renewing my vehicle registration on line. As soon as I saw the extra fees involved I realized I was on a third-party web site. Have to hand it to them for having great search optimization in that they come up even before the DMV. They may provide a service but their methods are deceptive. Don't use them unless you absolutely have to.

Thumbnail of user sallym16
1 review
7 helpful votes
January 11th, 2014

Typed DMV.CA.Gov and this is the first site that came up. I was in a hurry and typed all the information and paid. Shoot this site charged so much and didn't realized I wasn't in the right DMV website. I called to see if I can cancel the transaction but no answer instead you have to leave a message. I do not recommend using this site... it was my fault I was not reading but paying the renewal registration in a hurry...

Thumbnail of user deborahc16
3 reviews
3 helpful votes
May 20th, 2014

The DMV said they had a glitch in their system. I just got divorced and followed all DMV guidelines to get my registration sent to me so I could pay it timely. I never got my registration from DMV. I called them and they said their system had a glitch regarding name changes. DMV charged me 50.00 late fees anyway. When I saw Cartagz, I thought Thank God. DMV refuses to take Visa card over the phone. I cannot register my car with DMV online because I have handicapped plates. DMV punishes you for being crippled. I don't care what anyone says about Cartagz. I registered my car today. Yes, they are expensive. However, I don't have to worry about paying further late fees to DMV because DMV is stupid!

Thumbnail of user joes36
1 review
5 helpful votes
April 6th, 2011

CarTagz.com is the best way to avoid those awful lines at the DMV. I'll I needed was to replace the registration card for my car, and the current wait time at the DMV was over 3 hours. Instead I found this site, paid around $65, and got the registration the next day. Well worth it! Not to mention the customer service was stellar. They answered all my questions quickly and efficiently. I will definitely be referring everyone to these guys from now on.

Thumbnail of user joed72
1 review
7 helpful votes
February 2nd, 2015

This is a company that practices deceit and at the best case has customer unfriendly polices. They pop on the web when you search for DMV. They don't answer their phone in person, you cannot alter their order and they don't behave in a straightforward honest fashion. Beware!

Tip for consumers:
Don't use this site

Thumbnail of user josepha30
1 review
3 helpful votes
July 6th, 2014

I had to pay late fees for my registration renewal since the dmv did not mail me a reminder, i couldn't do that on the dmv site, and i definitely do not want to wait those long damn lines at the dmv. I saw cartagz as my solution, yes i felt it was a ripoff but its fine cuz of their service! The real ripoff is from the dmv for charging those pricey tags annually and not providing a decent way to pay. I feel that my hard work and money was stolen from me.

Thumbnail of user briana40
1 review
1 helpful vote
October 22nd, 2013

Had no problems... prompt service and delivery. Would recommend.

Thumbnail of user greggv2
1 review
8 helpful votes
December 7th, 2013

I was online today renewing my vehicle a week early. The CA DMV site sent me directly to Cartagz.com. Cartagz pumped my DMV fee from $72 to $96. That's adding $24 (33%). Then they add a $29 "service fee", and then... they add a "convenience fee" of $2.66. That's paying an extra $54.66 in fees in addition to my $72 standard DVM fee. Total $126.66... 75% more for this convenient service. This kinda behavior makes me want to scream FRAUD! What a sham(e).

Thumbnail of user rachelb30
3 reviews
5 helpful votes
August 20th, 2014

I was extremely frustrated with this site. I HAD to have my proof of registration in about three days so I paid $16.50 for priority overnight shipping. I did not receive my registration card/stickers for FOUR DAYS. I don't know if it was Cartagz bad or GSO (Golden State Overnight) but either way I will not be using this service again.

Service
Value
Shipping
Quality
Thumbnail of user mariam131
1 review
8 helpful votes
March 21st, 2015

Cartagz is a total scam!

Thumbnail of user edwardt18
1 review
4 helpful votes
October 23rd, 2014

Scam. Received e-mail on Oct 13 confurming that my registration had been completed, and that I should get my new registration within a week. It is now Oct 23rd and I am not able to contact anyone at Cartagz. All I get is a wrong number recording. No return calls.
The worse thing is that my charges to my credit card should have been $48.53 BUT they charged me $183.64 Maybe a mistake.? Hell no.
The good thing is that I was able to get Capital One to reverse the charges and credit my account.
Stay away from this scam.

Tip for consumers:
Dont use them... They will take your money and you will never hear from them again.!

Thumbnail of user jm42
1 review
3 helpful votes
January 14th, 2012

They rape your wallet. I still did it because I had expired tags and wanted to get the instant email copy of the registration on a weekend (so I'm somewhat legal). Not only do they charge you outrageous shipping fees, they charge $5 to send the e-copy too.

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From the business

www.Cartagz.com is California's largest online vehicle registration service. Skip the DMV lines and register your vehicle online to avoid future penalties

Company Representative

Thumbnail of user troyg10
Fatima M.
Online Media Manager

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