New Jersey Inspection

[jlb169]

Looking for information on what passes or fails for NJ's titling and inspection process. The cars done but I don't want to drag it there twice. Any tips on what to watch for is helpful. Thanks!

[mrmustang]

Anything that hangs down below the frame will come in to question. Imagine your car with four flat tires and riding on the bare rims, anything that might drag will also come in to question. Low brake pressure light on dash (red) and some type of low pressure switch attached to it. Paperwork,paperwork,paperwork....Clean and organized in a binder, receipts for everything related to the car, engine, transmission, etc. VIN numbers and casting numbers for the block and transmission will be required as well.

Of course there are kit specific items that need to be addressed, but since you have not told us which kit you have, then we are at a stand still as to what else the inspectors may be looking at.


Bill S.

PS: Your geographic location is also helpful as each inspection station and it's employees have their own unique "quirks".......

[jlb169]

The kit is a B&B and I'm in south Jersey. The brake light switch is a new one to me. My lower radiator hose goes below the frame but would not rub if the tires were flat. Is this still a problem? Bumpers or Jack Stands, seems to be an issue, yes or no, if you know. How do they handle receipts on items you don't have them for, do they access their own value to a part? Anything else you can think of is helpful. Thanks!

[mrmustang]

What don't you have receipts for?
Quick jacks are not an issue.
It's not the value part NJ inspectors are worried about, but whether the parts you have could have been reported stolen.


Bill S.

[jlb169]

Alot of the parts were Ebay or completed by friends in the business, ie body and paint. The kit was purchased from someone in the western US that went bankrupt

[jlb169]

I do have the MSO from B&B. I thought the issue with these guys was sales taxes, not stolen.

[mrmustang]

Ebay purchases can be traced with hard copies of the auctions printed out. Bodywork and paint is not something the inspectors will care much about.

MSO in your name is great, MSO with someone elses name and a notarized Bill of Sale will work just as well. MSO in someone elses name and not legal transfer from them to you means you'll need the assistance of an attorney to get your car registered and titled in NJ.

Bill S.

[jlb169]

How do they put a value on it for taxes? And do you think the hose under the frame is acceptable or do I need to reroute it? I appriciate your help. We've spend almost four years getting to this point and I'd like to get it right the first time.

[ztarum]

I did my inspection at Winslow early this year. I have a Superformance, which comes pretty well put together, so they hardly looked at the car at all. The only thing they really cared about was the engine block number and that the documentation I had stated the same number and the year.

That said, I've heard folks up North have a tougher time. Maybe I got lucky. Of course I did go on the snowiest day of the year, so maybe they cut me some slack.

I did a big write up about the process and my experience that you can check out. It is in the tri-state cobra section under clubs.
NJ title registration and inspection answers

You will be taxed on the total value of your receipts that you haven't already paid sales tax on. This can be tricky. If you try to low ball it and only provide some receipts they may call BS and deny you a title. I played mine straight up and provided all the receipts. The net result was a $4000 tax bill. Ouch!

[jlb169]

Big help thanks! I looked at your post in Feb. Did you have a bill that was used to figure 4g tax bill? I assume since yours was a superformance is was bought complete from a dealer or private party. My receipts amount to a bill of sale, and parts from local auto supplys and summit and so on.

[Roscoe]

Ahhh, where's Titles Unlimited when you need them? Remember them?

Roscoe

[ztarum]

I really only had thre major receipts. One for the roller, one for the engine, and one for the install.

Since you built yours, you shouldn't have to pay tax on parts you bought on NJ and already paid taxes on, but I'm sure you will need to show the receipts to prove it.

[cbmax]

Other issues I recall for the title inspection were heat shields on the side pipes and no exposed fans ( should you have external pusher fans already installed remove them).

Not to be a kill joy, but I don't know how folks will get their Cobra's through the final inspection now that collector car status is not an option. Even with a letter stating engine block is pre '74 and emissions exempt, I don't see how the car passes safety requirements for the year it will be titled which is the year the kit is completed.

[RAO-3]

Has anyone heard any more regarding the SEMA legislation in NJ?

Ray

[Snakebit]

SEMA said the bill has not been considered as of yet. They hope it will be introduced for a vote early next year. NJ polititions top priority is filling thier pockets and pading their pension funds. Unless there is something in it for them, they don't put it on top of the pile.

Just look at our Govenor, he thinks he is going to get re-elected. I'd sooner vote for a dead horse it they could put him on the ballot. If you or I did what the politions do, we would be behind bars, But in NJ it's just normal politics "everyone does it and gets away with it!"

[ztarum]

cbmax, passing final inspection is not a problem. There are no requirements for airbags or anything like that. It's about headlights, blinkers, horn, and stuff like that.

To clarify, just because the block is pre-74 does not mean it is exempt from emissions. It will still be tested, although the standards are not as stringent.