Title and Registration in TX today

[hahuang65]

Wondering if anyone has any tips or pointers here to get through it smoothly. I have my insurance set already.

 

Thanks in advance!

[IamScotticus]

TITLE and register as a replica or reconstructed vehicle. Last time I checked.

Since my car is over 25, I'll be registering as a Classic.

 

Nobody at the DMV will know what a Caterham is, it won't be in the system, and they really don't care.  It is what you say it is and have photos.  If a DMV officer starts picking you apart with "that looks like a race car", take your stuff and respectfully withdraw your application. Get a different person at a different office on another day.

 

But most everyone knows what a Cobra is.  THAT is a recognized vehicle. However Cobras are registered are ways you can register. Just ask.  Don't oversell your situation to the person at the window. They really don't care.  The information on your title is more important to get right for post-ownership transferring. Not all states have kit car or replica so RCVE is more recognized.

 

Registration is just a tax system. As long as you're paying something,  they really, really don't care.

 

I would call Craig Eubanks at Speedstar in Pasadena or Jeff Sloan at British Auto Specialists in FtWorth

Edited August 20 by IamScotticus

[hahuang65]

Just talked to Craig, but he hasn't done any titling yet. I'm gonna try Jeff in a bit.

[hahuang65]

Jeff suggested I title as a Custom Vehicle Replica in order to avoid the required emissions testing. 

 

However things aren't looking great.

 

On this page it seems that Custom Vehicles can be allowed to bypass emissions

 

Quote

A custom vehicle is a vehicle at least 25 years old and of a model year after 1948 or built to resemble a vehicle at least 25 years old and of a model year after 1948.

 

However, the section on Kit cars (specifically the second part) suggests that they won't allow it.

 

Quote

Kit Cars

    Vehicles are required to meet the emissions standards for the year the vehicle is assembled. Vehicle manufacturers have to certify that their vehicles meet EPA emissions standards. Many kit car manufacturers comply with this requirement. If you purchase a kit car, follow the instructions on assembly, including the emissions components. The vehicle must pass an emissions test just like any other new vehicle.

    Just as the EPA does not allow an individual to reverse engineer a vehicle to defeat emission standards, they do not allow an individual to build a brand new "old" vehicle to bypass emissions standards. It is possible if you actually use old parts (like a 1965 engine, or complete 60s frame and power train) that the vehicle will be registered as that model year (replica), but that is determined by Texas DMV. The inspection station will follow the registration classification on the vehicle in determining the inspection criteria.

 

 

If anyone has any guidance on how I should approach this, that would be fantastic. 

 

Currently I'm assuming I just only put that it's a replica of a 1957 Lotus and make no mention of Caterham or the model year (although it states both on my Manufacturer Statement of Origin).

[IamScotticus]

This:

• A custom vehicle is a vehicle at least 25 years old and of a model year after 1948 or built to resemble a vehicle at least 25 years old and of a model year after 1948.

stop there. Don't let the rest of the emissions and other garbage get to you.

[hahuang65]

@IamScotticus I just read this on the Factory Five forums

 

Quote

Things changed with the title process back in 2014.
"Previously vehicles applying for the Custom Vehicle or Street Rod specialty plates were titled in a manner to reflect the year and make the vehicle resembled. Effective immediately, these vehicles should be titled in the same manner as assembled vehicles. The year of the vehicle must be the year that the vehicle was assembled. The make of the vehicle must be ASVE (Assembled Vehicle) or as shown on the Manufacturer’s Certificate/Statement of Origin (MCO/MSO) for kit vehicles."

 

[IamScotticus]

Do you live in an emissions county? you may not. Then Registration is simpler for you.  Harris County is still emissions. also, you can register in other states with a PO Box.

 

The inspection for assembled vehicles:

Prior to applying for title and registration, you must obtain a letter issued by a Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) Regional Service Center (RSC). The RSC will determine if your assembled vehicle is eligible for title and registration and if you have provided all required documents.

 

This is the "it is what it is" portion.  The inspectors can't work with something that isn't there. If you don't have a OBD plug, then it isn't necessarily an automatic fail, it may just change the class of vehicle you are attempting to register it as.

 

When you bring in this car, there is a big difference between you and the cheap guy who just pulled a POS from a field and dropped a Lincoln V8 in it for $500.  Its not going to be the same thing, they will see that, and I doubt they will send you down the road rejected.

 

Ok, they may reject you, but you have time and patience.  a different office, a different DMV officer.  

You can visit these guys and ask them questions beforehand.

 

What is interesting here is that safety inspections are no longer an annual requirement, so why impose them on these cars?  A good question..

Edited August 20 by IamScotticus

[hahuang65]

I do live in an emissions count: Montgomery.

 

From what I gather, the only inspection is done by an ASE tech. I don't take my car to the DMV nor the tax assessors. There is a different form for the ASE tech depending on how I want to title it I guess?

 

https://www.txdmv.gov/sites/default/files/form_files/VTR-852.pdf

 

Vs

 

https://www.txdmv.gov/sites/default/files/form_files/VTR-64.pdf

 

So I think if I just fill out the forms as a Custom Vehicle Replica, I may be fine. The only trip up is that the MSO states it's a 2024 Caterham that is a replica of a 1957 Lotus. I'm wondering if that's a snag at the DMV/Tax Assessor when they look at the paperwork. 

[IamScotticus]

4 minutes ago, hahuang65 said:

So I think if I just fill out the forms as a Custom Vehicle Replica, I may be fine. The only trip up is that the MSO states it's a 2024 Caterham that is a replica of a 1957 Lotus. I'm wondering if that's a snag at the DMV/Tax Assessor when they look at the paperwork. 

As long as you're paying a tax, they really don't care.  There's always a way. don't worry.

[TexasDreamer]

They recognized Caterham as a manufacturer when I transferred the title on my 1991/1 car. It already had a Texas title. The Caterham is titled just like my Toyota. I'm in Montgomery County also and used the office in the Woodlands.

 

[hahuang65]

Just now, TexasDreamer said:

They recognized Caterham as a manufacturer when I transferred the title on my 1991/1 car. It already had a Texas title. The Caterham is titled just like my Toyota. I'm in Montgomery County also and used the office in the Woodlands.

 

Do you have issues with emissions testing? 

It doesn't seem like our cars can do the OBD2 testing.

 

Also whereabouts are you? We should meet up sometime, along with @IamScotticus too!

 

I'm in Spring

[hahuang65]

11 minutes ago, TexasDreamer said:

They recognized Caterham as a manufacturer when I transferred the title on my 1991/1 car. It already had a Texas title. The Caterham is titled just like my Toyota. I'm in Montgomery County also and used the office in the Woodlands.

 

So to be clear, I think the recommendation to title as a Custom Vehicle is so we can title as a 1957 Replica, and thus skip all required state inspection, including emissions. 

 

When you titled as a 1991, what year was it? It may have been the case that your car was already more than 25 years old, which allows you to skip emissions. 

 

My car won't be more than 25 years old if it's titled as a 2024 Caterham. I don't think it's possible for me to do emissions, hence the thread.

[Gene_W]

Appreciate this thread. Will be very interested in your final process and outcome. I'm about to start a build out in the hill country. Luckily there is no emissions testing in my county.

[hahuang65]

@Gene_W

 

here's what I found out about titling and registration in Texas... Take this with a grain of salt as I haven't done it yet.

 

I was going to do it this coming week so I did a ton of research including talking to tax assessor employees but that got pushed since I have to deal with this clutch leak now.

 

So the process is

 

1) collect your documents:

I've got a bill of sales for the drivetrain (engine and transmission) and a bill of sale for the rest of the stuff. It's important it's two separate receipts for reasons revealed soon.

Also the Manufacturers Statement of Origin. This is what has your chassis code (which will become your VIN). Having this means you won't have to go to the sheriff's office for a VIN verification.

 

2) do your ASE safety inspection. Pay attention here as there are two forms. You want to fill out VTR-852

https://www.txdmv.gov/sites/default/files/form_files/VTR-852.pdf

 

You do NOT want VTR-64

https://www.txdmv.gov/sites/default/files/form_files/VTR-64.pdf

 

The reason is because if you title as a Custom Vehicle that is a replica (1957 Lotus), then you're only subject to the inspections for that year...in our case, even though we have OBD2s, they aren't compatible with emissions testing. So we want to be able to never have to do any inspection. A regular assembled vehicle will be subject to the year it was assembled. 

 

The key difference here is why I got two bill of sales, so that it doesn't constitute a single kit. I technically bought the power train separate from the chassis. You want to be able to say it's not a single source.

 

If you fill out the VTR-64 and take that to the DMV, they will ask you to get your emissions inspection done and bring that paperwork. 

 

3) fill our your title and registration application according to the same make and model as you stated on the previous form

https://www.txdmv.gov/sites/default/files/form_files/130-U.pdf

 

4) fill out VTR-61 making sure to show you bought the parts separately 

https://www.txdmv.gov/sites/default/files/form_files/VTR-61.pdf

 

5) go to the county tax assessors office to get a One Trip permit. This is the only permit that doesn't require a VIN. This will let you drive to the ASE inspection and Catscale weight certification.

 

6) get your ASE inspection done (take form VTR-852 for them to fill out). Make sure they also print our the inspectors ASE current certifications. You'll want to call around to find a shop that can do this service. 

 

7) get your weight certification at a Catscale station.

Note that after this you don't need to take the Caterham to the DMV nor the tax assessors office. They never need to see the car in person.

 

8) Take and print pictures from all sides of the vehicle, as well as dash and VIN in the engine bay. Also needed is a photo of the car you're supposedly replicating.

 

9) take ALL of the above to the DMV and hope you get a good agent that will accept everything and give you a letter to allow you to title.

 

10) take that letter and ALL the previous docs back to the tax assessors office and get your title and registration. 

 

https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/publications/96-254/home-shop-made.php#:~:text=Motor vehicle tax is due from the person who custom,to build the motor vehicle

[IamScotticus]

Omg...

You're a saint for doing this work and sharing.

 

For the bringing a photo of the car you are replicating,  bring Tony Weale's book for pictures. Since his coverage stops mid 90's, you won't be showing a trail to current production.

Tony's book isn't very applicable to current production but you should have it anyway.

Edited August 24 by IamScotticus

[panamericano]

Great job of listing the steps.  Things have changed since I did anything similar.  However, for step 5, I always just get a 30 day temp tag.  It allows a lot more leeway than a trip tag, which is supposed to be for a single one-way trip.  You can get up to 3 x 30 day tags per year for a single vehicle.  They will take any chassis # for the 30 day tag.  I once got one for #003 on a Shelby CanAm.  

[hahuang65]

@panamericano I tried to. Couldn't do it without an active VIN in their system. Unfortunate, cuz having a 30 day would have been awesome 

[hahuang65]

@panamericano I will likely have to get another pass cuz of my clutch issues...so I'll try for the 30 day next time with a different agent.

[hahuang65]

5 hours ago, IamScotticus said:

For the bringing a photo of the car you are replicating,  bring Tony Weale's book for pictures. Since his coverage stops mid 90's, you won't be showing a trail to current production.

Tony's book isn't very applicable to current production but you should have it anyway.

I'll definitely pick up a copy of the book... I was just going to bring this image I found off the Internet 

 

Hah

 

[hahuang65]

@panamericano @240 so I was able to get a 30 day with just my chassis code from Caterham. Been driving around with that.

 

I went to the DMV for the first time today...and I got rejected. I had all my documents in order. However the supervisor there was adamant than I get a VTR-68A. That's the form from a law enforcement inspection to verify the VIN/chassis code. 

 

The instructions on the application say that a Manufacturer Statement of Origin can stand in for that, which we do get from Caterham... But the supervisor was not okay with that. I went to the Houston DMV Regional Service Center. 

 

Now my choices are to get that VTR-68A and go back...or try another DMV.

 

I've set up my appointment for the inspection, but it's not until 10/21.

 

In the meantime, I will try to go to the Beaumont RSC and see if they'll grant me the title letter. 

 

Will update again.