General idea:
If your car has been registered in CA and had white stickers assigned to it (or green for a more general example) it is NOT eligible for red stickers.
Scenario:
- 2013 registered in california, no white stickers - eligible for red
- 2013 registered in california, white stickers issued and expiring in jan - not eligible for red
- 2013 registered in arizona, sold to a CA buyer, registered in CA today - eligible for red
- 2013 registered in CA with white stickers, sold to a buyer in AZ and registered, sold to a buyer in CA today and registered - not eligible for red stickers