randychase Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 Anybody recently registered a built car in Texas? I understand that Texas has had some more unique requirements and just in the last months have started removing street registrations for Ariel Atoms. I would like to understand the process in Texas better if anyone is familiar with it. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James A Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 Randy, I registered my Caterham 13 years ago in Texas and it was very straight forward, I can't help with any recent changes though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestTexasS2K Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 It used to be if you register a car as a replica then it is still fairly easy. Problem begins when you say "kit car". If you go the kit car route now you have opened a can of worms. They have to meet regulations of all new cars. This means crash worthiness, full emissions etc. Since AA cant really be done as a replica because there is nothing like it before. The Lotus 7 has a heritage that is well documented. So it is fairly easy to get on the road. But since Texas pulled all the titles on the AA cars something has happened, but I haven't heard the reason why the state did it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestTexasS2K Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 I found this on the FFR forum discussing it. http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?10180-No-more-home-made-vehicles-allowed-to-be-registered-in-Texas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmustang Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 Two links you need to read: http://www.txdmv.gov/publications-tac/doc_download/3080-title-manual http://txdmv.gov/reports-and-data/publications-reports/doc_download/3449-assembled-vehicle-manual Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusaNostra Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 Yeah... I reported that in my last post: http://www.usa7s.net/vb/showthread.php?10357-Do-you-think-I-can-stay-here/page2 They revoked all the Atom ownership - Title & registrations. That sucks big time !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randychase Posted March 5, 2015 Author Share Posted March 5, 2015 I found this on the FFR forum discussing it. http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?10180-No-more-home-made-vehicles-allowed-to-be-registered-in-Texas Seems like many things seem to indicate that earlier it had to be a replica or it was not registerable. Then I see the last post on this thread in FF forum and it seems to not require that. But then I am now reading that all Ariel Atoms are having their registration pulled. ??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randychase Posted March 5, 2015 Author Share Posted March 5, 2015 We already have one Zenos sold in Texas and I am concerned of course about this. Strange to me that for all the perceptions of Texas being an individualistic red state, it has some interesting rules. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NVP66S Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 I registered my freshly built (by me) car in Texas last year. First, it is a go/no-go thing as to whether the car was purchased through a US importer or whether you are doing this as a one-time thing. My kit was imported by Manik, so that hurdle was passed. Second, that 'Assembled and Rebuilt Vehicle Manual" that mrmustang referred to, is their bible. I registered my car as a "custom vehicle" per section 4.3 of that manual. That followed the decision that my car is a replica of a 1962 Lotus, which the AA is not. I showed them photos of the Lotus to clarify that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusaNostra Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 "I am now reading that all Ariel Atoms are having their registration pulled. ???" Here's another thread: http://www.arielatomchat.com/forums/thread2198.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffersonRaley Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 We already have one Zenos sold in Texas and I am concerned of course about this. Strange to me that for all the perceptions of Texas being an individualistic red state, it has some interesting rules. I spent some time researching this before I bought my Seven. My interpretation was that as long as the car was a replica of a legal production car, you're fine. Anything that wasn't had to register as an "assembled car" and have all of the required safety equipment for the year it was assembled. That made me worried about Atoms, Zenos, etc. Emissions is one thing, and fairly easy to pass. But it would be prohibitive (and dangerto add airbags. I agree that it is weird for such a red state that theoretically should be against government overreach. My experience of Texas is that they are all for banning things typical suburban housewives don't approve of (low production cars, gay marriage, marijuana use, buying alcohol on Sundays, recycling, science, literacy....) Wait - did I just jump a political shark? I love my state, but I also live in Austin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NVP66S Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 I agree that it is weird for such a red state that theoretically should be against government overreach. My experience of Texas is that they are all for banning things typical suburban housewives don't approve of (low production cars, gay marriage, marijuana use, buying alcohol on Sundays, recycling, science, literacy....) Wait - did I just jump a political shark? I love my state, but I also live in Austin. The part of TX government that makes DMV regulations is: Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) 4000 Jackson Avenue Austin, Texas 78731 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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