New Cobra Title & Registration in Arizona

[PHMCobra]

I recently purchased a new Backdraft Cobra out-of-state. Getting Title and Registration with Historic Plates was rather straightforward at the Scottsdale DMV. I drove the vehicle from my home directly to the Class 1 Inspection Area at the DMV. (I had a 15 day temporary out-of-state license.) The inspection took just a few minutes with the inspector confirming the mileage and the VIN and very little else. I then proceeded to the main office and awaited my turn to meet with a DMV rep. I had an ADOT Title and Registration Application Form filled out (Make-Roadster, Body Style-Convertible, Year-1965, Model- Cobra). (Application Form readily available on the ADOT website). I also had my out-of-state Title (titled as a 1965 Cobra Roadster--an MCO-Manufacturers Certification of Origin--would have also worked), Proof of Insurance, and Final Sales Receipt. I asked for Historic Plates. No questions asked. I did pay for two years registration at a cost of $35.25 per year and I had to pay AZ State Tax as the purchase out-of-state involved no tax payment. All accomplished within a two hour period on a Thursday morning. I hope this helps those seeking Title and Registration in the future.

[Bob Broberg SPF667 460BB]

Thanks Mr PHM for the steps. You were prepared. We will try to remember this thread link for the future.

AZ Bob

[Karl Bebout]

PMH, welcome to the totally safe and sane world of the AZ Cobras. Please feel welcome to join us whenever we get together. We have no rules, no dues, and very little whining (except from some of those not living out in God's Country-the East Valley) I'm sure you've noticed the thread about the Tucson run coming up next month. That would be an excellent opportuinty to meet a bunch of the gang as well as get some quality seat time. Join us, if you like. BDR's are sweet and your's sounds like a goodie.

[Danr55]

To quote one of the more famous members of the East Bumscrew Crew, "What he said!" Don't forget to bring your first dues.. Oh, we don't have any dues.. and not many don'ts either..

[jrbruc84]

To add to this thread, has anyone registered a NEW build Cobra in AZ rather than out of state title transfer? Is the process any different from what was mentioned above? Is the inspection diffferent? What do I do and what do I need to prepare for?

[moore_rb]

Originally Posted by jrbruc84

To add to this thread, has anyone registered a NEW build Cobra in AZ rather than out of state title transfer? Is the process any different from what was mentioned above? Is the inspection diffferent? What do I do and what do I need to prepare for?

A new build can go one of two ways - If you have the manufacturer's MCO sheet, then take it with you, along with your proof of insurance, and MAYBE you'll get lucky and they will issue you a title, all in one trip.

The procedure is pretty much the same as described above - Step one is always to drag the car down to the DMV, and get the level 1 inspection done - Cross your fingers that they don't put you in the queue for a level II ($20) or a level III ($50). Then go inside and wait your turn...

The worse case scenario is that they reject the MCO, in which case they will have you fill out a bonded title affidavit, and force you to go find a title company to issue your Surety bond (DMV sets the amount- most bonds will be in the range of $100- $150 for each 5,000 worth of vehicle value). Then, after you have your Surety bond in hand, you get to go back to the DMV office, and wait your turn (again).

So, the worse case scenario is that you end up paying the $50 for Level III inspection, followed by obtaining a bond (say $400) and then whatever your plates and tags cost (usually about $15 per year)

The BEST case scenario is that they pass you through the level one inspection, then they rivet an Az ID number to the car, then you go inside and they look over the MCO and issue you a title and reg for just the $15-$20 plate fees...

Then, if you want the antique vehicle plates, or a personalized plate, you also have to pony up the premiums for those as well...

I wish I could give you advice on how to avoid or get around any of the potential roadblocks, but I have titled probably 10 classic and custom vehicles over the past 25 years, and every single experience was different- it all depends on who you get on any given day, because the person you are dealing with in the moment always gets to decide what your next step will be.

One piece of advice - Do not refer to your car by the year it was assembled - refer to it by the year that you want on the title (ie: refer to it as a "replica of a 65" , or as a "custom 66 replica, etc) - If they do make you fill out a bonded title affidavit, specify on the form that you are seeking a title for a custom built replica of a 1965/1966 cobra, manufactured by Factory Five (or whoever).

[Gofastoldguy]

PHM...In what state was it purchased? When I registered my California car here I did not pay
any sales tax. I guess maybe the original owner paid Cali tax on the initial reg.
Bill B (BTW check post re: car show at Chandler Indian Dealership on October 10th)

[likenu2]

Welcome to Arizona and to AZ Cobras PHM Cobra. Where did you come here from? As said above you can get to meet many of us at any of the outings that they do. Another that is coming up is Cars and Coffee in Scottsdale on Saturday October 5th at Doubletree Ranch Road and Scottsdale Road.
Joe

[DrDuc]

Joe,
Isn't Saturday, Oct 3 and the weekend we're all going on the Coronado Trail Run? Not many cobras will be in town this weekend.
Bruce

[Karl Bebout]

Joe, BTW, isn't the early morning show this Saturday at Gainey Ranch shopping center, at 8777 N. Scottsdale Rd. or is that the same place you mentioned?

[LMH]

PHMCobra, if you don't mind telling me, what did they base the tax on? Stated value? Purchase price? Or?
Larry

[jrbruc84]

Moore rb thanks for the info on this. LMH has a good question. How do we price the car for sales tax? My build is an old hand-me-down from Danr55 (CCX3209) which was previously wrecked. I finally got it put back together and want to get it titled as a new build since I had to use a new frame and body. I would like to come out and see some of you guys at one of your roundups. There was a lot of back and forth and confusion about this weekend. So whats the latest for Oct 3?

[moore_rb]

Originally Posted by jrbruc84

My build is an old hand-me-down from Danr55 (CCX3209) which was previously wrecked. I finally got it put back together and want to get it titled as a new build since I had to use a new frame and body.

Ok, in that circumstance, you obviously can't do a transfer of Dan's old title since it would indeed be a salvage record.

In my opinion (Opinion: meaning take it or leave it ) The Bonded title (abandoned vehicle) route is going to be the only way to get a new Az ID number riveted to the car, and a clear title for the rebuild. The process will be more expensive (since you have to purchase the Bond) but it will meet your goal.

The process will still be the same- Take the car down for inspection, and tell them you bought it for cash, as an incomplete, non-running project car, from someone who never finished the assembly, and now you have finished the car; and you want a title and registration for it so you can go out and terrorize little old ladies in crosswalks (ok- maybe leave that part out )...

They will ask you for documents (an old title, an MCO sheet, or a Bill of Sale)- Just tell them that you possess no documentation, and hand over your title and registration application form. Remind them that you bought it for cash out of some dude's backyard out in BFE.

Don't name any names about where you got the car. It's better to say "Oh man, I got it 5 years ago, off of Craigslist, for 1500 bucks. - I don't even remember exactly where the guy lived anymore. I had his address on my old cell phone that I lost a year ago....I think maybe his name was George? and he was somewhere up in north Peoria"

(Never name any names; I learned this lesson the hard way the first time I did a bonded title- When you name names, they make you write and send certified letters to everyone you named, and then they make you wait 2 additional weeks for the letters to come back undelivered, before they will set the bond amount )

Likewise- Don't tell them you got the car from a friend or relative, because they will ask you to go get your friend or relative, and drag them back down to the MVD office with you...

Just play dumb... Playing dumb will get you a title and registration twice as fast as playing smart will.

After you fill out the bonded title affidavit, they will set the bond amount and send you off to find a title insurance company that will take your money, and issue your bond.

Then it's back to the MVD office, where you get to pay more money, and you should then get your plate, tag, and title...

Good luck in your quest. I hope any of this information becomes useful.

And for anyone wondering why I know so much about this process- No, I'm not a salvage vehicle trafficker - I buy old Jeeps and other vintage 4x4's and restore them (I'm working on a pair of old 1960's vintage Nissan Patrols right now). So, I have gone through this process many, many times, since a lot of these old Jeeps come down from people's houses up in the mountains, where they have sat for 20+ years, and even when they do have a title, usually it is so old that the number has dropped off the MVD record system (MVD title records only go back 15 years), and I usually have to do the bond title process to get these old trucks back on the road...

[Karl Bebout]

jr, a bunch of us are going on the Coronado Trail Run, leaving the Gas Station at the 60and Idaho Rd. in Apache Jct, at 8:15. Others will meet at the early car show at Gainey Ranch shopping center, starting about 6-7am Saturday. This show is scheduled for the first Saturday of every month. Many really high dollar cars at the show.

[Danr55]

How can it be CCX 3209 if you have a new body and frame? Did you save the ID plate? Won't that be a salvage title? what ever it is, fire it up and bring it along with us this weekend on the Coronado Trail. It's about the best run of the year...

[LMH]

Robert, would it be the same process (bonded title) if it were a scratch built car? One completely built at home with no MSO or any paperwork. (could be any car, not necessarily a Cobra)
Larry

[moore_rb]

Originally Posted by LMH

Robert, would it be the same process (bonded title) if it were a scratch built car? One completely built at home with no MSO or any paperwork. (could be any car, not necessarily a Cobra)
Larry

I think that all depends on whether they accept your ADOT Title and Registration Application Form as it is written, or whether they decide to make you purchase the Bond...? I've had it go both ways.

MVD has 6 different categories for 100% custom, special construction (SPCON) vehicles:

Your car has to fit into one of these categories:

1. Kit Vehicles
2. Dune Buggies
3. Sand Rails
4. Homemade Trailers
5. Motorcycles
6 Custom Street Rods (pre-1948)
7. Glider Kits

Here is a clip from the policy regarding how they are supposed to fill out the inspection form for "Kit Cars":

1. Kit Vehicles
In general, there are two types of kit vehicles:
a. A kit can be a replica (commonly known as a replicar) of a vehicle originally made by another manufacturer. Inspection form should be completed as follows:
MAKE What the vehicle represents (Ford, Chevrolet, etc.)
BODY STYLE Actual body style
SERIAL AZ serial number
YEAR Year the vehicle represents
MODEL SPCON
b. A kit can also be an original of a vehicle never before manufactured. Inspection form should be completed as follows:
MAKE Manufacturer name of kit
BODY STYLE Actual body style (roadster, coupe)
SERIAL AZ serial number
YEAR The year on the MSO - if none, the current year
MODEL SPCON
The vehicle verification form must contain the following information in the remarks section:
1) The kit name
2) The kit serial number
3) Any other numbers found
4) All parts that were used in the construction process
5) All ownership documents submitted and/or examined
6) Approximate value (when bonded title required)
7) Results of NICB, ACIC, NCIC checks
A vehicle with a foreign state title that already shows the vehicle as a kit must be assigned an AZ number if the out-of-state title shows the original manufacturers vehicle identification number. A vehicle with a foreign state assigned serial number is acceptable, provided the assigned serial number is on the vehicle. The make and body style of kit vehicles from out-of-state must conform to Arizona requirements.

Here is the clip of the policy regarding pre-1948 Street Rods:

5. Specially Constructed Street Rods
A specially constructed street rod is a vehicle that is constructed from custom after market frames, bodies and other custom parts. In accordance with ARS 28-2411, a street rod vehicle is a vehicle with a body design which retains at least the basically original style as manufactured in 1948 or earlier and which has been modified for safe road use. This modification may include:
a. Modification of the drive train and suspension and brake systems
b. Modifications to the body through the use of materials such as steel or fiberglass
c. Any other safety or comfort features
In general, specially constructed street rods are constructed form custom frames, bodies and parts to resemble a specific year vehicle 1948 or earlier.
When inspecting specially constructed street rods the vehicle verification form shall be completed as follows:
MAKE What the vehicle represents (Ford, Chevrolet, etc.)
BODY STYLE Actual body style (roadster, coupe, etc.)
SERIAL AZ serial number
YEAR Year the vehicle represents
MODEL SPCON
When completing the vehicle verification form, the following should be included in the remarks section:
a. All serial numbers found
b. All ownership documents submitted and/or reviewed
c. Approximate value, when bonded title required
d. Results of NICB, ACIC, NCIC checks
A vehicle with a foreign state title which already shows the vehicle as specially constructed must be assigned an AZ number if the out-of-state title shows the after market frame VIN or engine VIN. A vehicle with a foreign state assigned serial number is acceptable provided the assigned serial number is on the vehicle.
Specially constructed vehicles, reconstructed vehicles and homemade trailers built using manufactured vehicle parts (i.e. frames, bodies or truck beds) will be required to undergo a Level II vehicle inspection. Homebuilt trailers built by private individuals and not using manufactured vehicle parts may only require a Level I inspection.
When a Level II or III inspection reveals that the Public and/or confidential VINs have been removed, altered, obliterated, defaced or displays a number different than the true VIN, all VIN plates and decals that do not match the true VIN must be removed from the vehicle or major component part. The removed VIN plates and/or decals are to be attached to the Level II/III inspection form and retained in file.When the built-up VIN has been attached to the vehicle, the Officer shall access the vehicle record on the Title & Registration database and place a status code 50 (VIN plate reassignment – built-up replacement VIN) on the record. If no record is located, a pseudo record is to be created and a status code 50 is to be placed on the record.

The one point that jumps out at me is the point about Model year- It says that if you don't have an MSO/MCO, then they are supposed to put down the current year as the model year ?- I'm not sure what that would mean regarding emissions testing - My replicobra is titled as a 1965 (as I think most are in Az)- Hopefully they would mark yours down as a 65 on the inspection form, as well..?

I would still defer back to my earlier advice: Refer to the car by the year that you want on the title (ie: refer to it as a "replica of a 65" , or as a "custom 66 replica, etc) - If they do make you fill out a bonded title affidavit, specify on the affidavit that you are seeking a title for a custom built replica of a 1965 or 1966 cobra...

[mikiec]

Please tell me you did not paint it Black.


Mikiec

[LMH]

Interesting! Thanks for the info!
In my case, I have an MSO for both cars, ( I have two) so for me it should be a straight forward process. I was curious though, how the process went if I built a home-made car out of a pile of steel tubing and sheet metal. The "current year" thing scares me away!
Larry

[jrbruc84]

Ha Ha, no I didn't paint Dan's old car black. Might be bad luck if I do. I would love to bring CCX 32xx (formally known as 09) to Coronado but she's not ready, not registered, not yet. I would love to come out and see what's there at Gainey Ranch on Saturday Morning. Is that off of Scottsdale Rd and Doubletree? I tried to located Gainey ranch shopping center and nothing comes up with that name. What are the cross streets? And again, I thank those who contributed to this thread. It has been very helpful.