COE Renewal

[Helmut]

Good day everyone,

Tried searching but couldn't get an answer. My COE expires in 65 days but when I log on to CFARS it won't give me an option to renew.

It gives me this message: "Your COE has 65 days before it expires.
You do not have permissions to access these functions"

Do I need to start a new application or have to wait within a certain days of expiration to apply?

[epags]

" A COE is a pre-requisite licensing/permit requirement for all prospective licensed firearms dealers, licensed ammunition vendors, manufacturers, certified instructors, gun show promoters, explosive permit holders, and other firearm related employment activities, including, any agent or employee of a vendor who handles, sells, or delivers firearms and ammunition. The initial COE application process includes a firearms eligibility criminal background check and issuance of a certificate, which is valid for one year. Thereafter, the COE must be renewed annually. A COE can be revoked, at anytime, if the COE holder becomes prohibited from owning/possessing firearms and ammunition....."

Looks like you have to take action to renew....well worth a call to find out what is going on.

[Nardo1895]

Originally Posted by Helmut

Good day everyone,

Tried searching but couldn't get an answer. My COE expires in 65 days but when I log on to CFARS it won't give me an option to renew.

It gives me this message: "Your COE has 65 days before it expires.
You do not have permissions to access these functions"

Do I need to start a new application or have to wait within a certain days of expiration to apply?

I'm pretty sure you have to be within a 60 day window before the system will let you renew.

[Quiet]

Originally Posted by Nardo1895

I'm pretty sure you have to be within a 60 day window before the system will let you renew.

What he said.

60 days from expiration is the soonest CFARS will allow a COE renewal application to be available for submission.

[nbk992h]

Originally Posted by Nardo1895

I'm pretty sure you have to be within a 60 day window before the system will let you renew.

Yes....you do....I check every year when it comes times to renew my COE, and if you try to do so before 60 days, there is no way to do so. As much as you want to, you just have to wait. I remember in one year in the past, I forgot to do so right away at the 60 day out mark, and i did it closer to the expiration date. I was hoping it would renew quickly so their would be no lapse, and thankfully it did. I was able to call (when they still had people and a # to call to get a live person to answer), and spoke to someone in the department who handles COE applications and renewals, who really was not able to tell me much other than "it should be processed soon," whatever that meant (I know vague, but it was the best I could get). I was just happy I spoke to a live human being and did not have to wait for a reply back to an email.

Bottom line.....do it ASAP when you are at your 60 day window, to ensure giving yourself the most time possible for them to process your renewal application (no guarantee it will take any less time, as it probably depends on how busy they are and/or staffed/understaffed). Yes you may get an automated email asking your for your driver's license number/information and/or your 03 FFL number, but reply back to the email or on CFARS quickly (see other COE threads if you need to know where to put this information), and this should get your application to be finished processing. I am not going to get into whether or not they can legally be allowed to do so, I just know, they can probably get the info from the DMV or your CLEO (i.e. police chief or sheriff) if they really wanted to. While many of those who told them to basically "Go pound sand i.e. you have no right, cite the penal code, etc," got their COE renewed shortly after this reply, I found for me personally, that some years, it was immediately approved (or other years, within a day or 2) after I submitted my DL or FFL info. You have to do what you feel is best for you, as ultimately its your COE.

Sorry if some may feel this is a long winded reply....I just wanted to share my personal experience, as someone who has being doing it for over 5 years now, and sometimes have had different experiences each year I do it. Things I am sure have changed since March 2020, but hopefully since life has gotten back to as normal as it can be as before then, it will not take too long for you this year. The key with renewal of any license document, be it the CA COE, the 03 FFL, or even your CA DL, is to do it as soon as you can when they first allow you to/receive the notice you can.

[poff]

I renewed my COE last year as soon as I could and I didn't get the renewal until 2 months after it expired. Is anyone familiar with litigation about this? It seems intentional and potentially illegal to require me to wait until 60 days before expiration to renew then issue it 2 months after it expires. Basically I couldn't use it for 2 month out of 12. I anticipate the same issue this year.

[Helmut]

Just a heads up. My renewal took only 1 week from submittal.

[SkyHawk]

My 60 days until expiry is today, but so far I do not see the renewal option

Your COE has 60 days before it expires.

I will check again tomorrow I guess, but this is not how it usually works - 60 days is what the CFARS manual says and that is when I have usually always done it.

[SkyHawk]

UPDATE: Well it is day 59 until renewal and now I see this:

Time to renew COE. Your COE is expiring on 11/15/2023.
Your COE has 59 days before it expires.

...and now I see the link to renew.

So either they changed the code or my memory isn't what it used to be

[D_K]

Originally Posted by SkyHawk

UPDATE: Well it is day 59 until renewal and now I see this:



...and now I see the link to renew.

So either they changed the code or my memory isn't what it used to be

The process is very streamlined as long as you upload your driver's license at submittal and they have your FFL number. It took 1 and a half week from start to finish for me. Got my renewal 3 days ago

[becxlt]

They processed my new application in 13 days! Will see how Renewal will go a year from now.

[SkyHawk]

Update: Renewed COE issued 5 days after renewal was submitted.

[D_K]

Originally Posted by SkyHawk

Update: Renewed COE issued 5 days after renewal was submitted.

Isn't it crazy when the California government wants to keep track of us using coe's they are able to issue them in less than 2 weeks but when they are CCW license requests it takes them over a year and a half.