Recent registration ???

[DougR]

Mike, there wasn't any luck involved. When I originally registered my car Nevada did not have a "Replica" law and the DMV didn't have a clue as to what to do with these vehicles. Horror stories ran wild about endless red tape and multiple trips to the DMV in attempts to register a car here. Over the last 5 years or so most of the builders who had a Arizona address available to them (they owned AZ property or a relative owned AZ Property) simply took the easy road and made the trip to Bull Head City and registered their cars there. I did the same.

Arizona registration is good for 2 years. So when my 2 years were up, I went to the DMV here to register it in Nevada. I handed the lady my title, the VIN inspection form, a check and walked out with my new registration. Although a Nevada title is not required, I did request one. The car was originally titled in my name only and I wanted to add my wife to the title. Outside of that, there was no requirement or reason to change the title.

So I'm sticking with my story: If you have to register a new, previously unregistered car then the new law is the way to go. But if it's already titled in another state, why go through the hassle? Get the VIN inspection and take your paperwork to the DMV and walk out with your plates.

[vegasmike]

I think the pertinent point here is to get the VIN Inspection done anywhere but the DMV. The supervisor I talked with there made it very plain and was very blunt about these cars. They will have them re-titled as an Assembled vehicle, period, no matter what the previous title says. He seemed to have a big chip on his shoulders with respect to these cars. I had guys in Carson City and Emissions guys in LV tell me to avoid LV DMV offices for less hastle and a smoother process.

My car is not titled anywhere as of yet, but it would be easy to get it titled in Idaho as something other than an "assembled Vehicle".

I don't think it makes much difference though as long as I can get it in under the new "replica" law, like you said. But I also think you are dead on, if you can get it titled one way in another state and bring it here and get the VIN Inspection done by a police officer who will list it on that inspection the same way it is on your existing title, that is the way it will most likely stay, with or without the replica form.

[DougR]

Originally Posted by vegasmike

I think the pertinent point here is to get the VIN Inspection done anywhere but the DMV.

But I also think you are dead on, if you can get it titled one way in another state and bring it here and get the VIN Inspection done by a police officer who will list it on that inspection the same way it is on your existing title, that is the way it will most likely stay, with or without the replica form.

We're in agreement. In your first post I thought you said that the car would come with a Idaho title. If so I didn't understand why you'd go through all the hassle of the replica business. But if it comes untitled, you'll have to go the replica route.

As far as the VIN Inspection form goes, I filled it out in advance. The officer that came to my house just verified the information and signed it. He looked at my title, checked the VIN# and signed it. Took about 1 minute. But afterwards he and his partner spent about 15 minutes drooling over it and asking questions.

Which ever route you take you'll soon forget about the process once you get it on the road. These cars have a tendency to make all your problems and worries disappear.

[vegasmike]

The only part of my process that might be undecided at the moment is whether I have it titled in Idaho first. I can have Gear 6 get it titled in Idaho, but I do not know what that title might read or how long it might take, effectively delaying me longer here if I have to wait for Idaho to send them a title. Idaho may not title it the way I want anyway. I think Gear 6 told me that they title it as a 1965 Ford replica.

Anyway, it's clear that getting it inspected prior to going to the DMV is the way to avoid some hastle.

[vegasmike]

If/when it comes to that, you can register your car using an LLC in Montana and do the whole thing in Montana. Many race/kit cars are done this way. Montana ends up getting the revenue on cars that are not even located in its' state due to it's favorable treatment and no other states can do anything about it as the car is owned/registered by a Montana LLC. Nevada or whatever state giving us the hard time loses out on the revenue. They will catch on eventually and do what is right, but it might take a while. Given that, I think it is time to start writing/calling our representatives and letting them know what our alternatives might be.