Licensing and registering in Washington State

[TLF]

Hi People from the the NW. I would like any information on the do and don'ts about licensing a Cobra in Washington State Thanks TLF

[Back in Black]

I am in the Lacey/Olympia area...here there are no smog checks !
In Tacoma, (Pierce county) there likely are. If you have any way to register it in a non smog area, do so!
Aside from all that, if you can, get it registered as a 1966. etc... to forestall/eliminate any potential future changes in federal/state emissions laws. They are almost always "grandfathered in".

There is no inspection in WA state for kit cars, or cars newly registered from out of state, etc..., so all you do is pay and play, minus the emissions testing possibilities!

Have fun, summer is finally here! It will be 80 degrees here today ! (June 10th) My turnkey WCC will be here in July !

[Bob Parmenter]

Welcome aboard,

Depending on what your motivations are it might be more practical to buy an existing car that is already titled, especially with a '60's date.(and they're almost always more cost effective if you find a well built one equipped the way you can live with) Now that the vin inspection stations no longer exist, any legitimate title can be transferred without the inspection hassles we used to deal with.
If you must build your own, make sure you get the MSO (Manufacturers Statement of Origin), and keep every receipt, especially for the major components (engine, trans, wheels, etc. etc) as these will be required for both titling and our beloved excess (I mean excise!) tax (yet another area where buying the existing car can be less costly).

[RogerC]

It seems this topic comes up every few years. Here is a "reprint" from 7/6/00 that I submitted shortly after going thru this ordeal. Maybe some things have change, but I think as a whole these rules will still apply.

The car is registered by the year of the Chassis and not the engine. That means if you live in an area with emission control you will have to fight a battle. If there is not Manuf. I.D. number stamped on the chassis the State Patrol will provide you with a number plate for about $25.00.

The State Patrol only checks for stolen parts when registering the car. They did not look at my car for road worthiness.

You will need receipts for all "major" components with V.I.N. numbers from the vehicle the parts came from or if you buy the part from a retail outlet (such as a crate motor) just their receipt will do. I heard from one person that the receipts needed to be notarized also. If your receipts don't have the V.I.N. number, as in my case, you can register the car but can not title it for three years.

Now that we don't pay excise tax the pain to register the car is not as bad, but don't forget you will be asked to pay sale tax on the receipts you bring in on items that were bought out of state or at swap meets. This could be a big number, so some might bring in only the receipts for the kit, engine and drive train.

Good luck!

….. The WSP wrote right on the document that I had to take to DOL, along with my receipts, that the car was to be registered as a 1996 or the year the chassis was made.

I must admit there seems to be allot of confusion on how this process works within both the WSP & DOL. I guess they don't do this every day and the people they hire at DOL are sometimes not the sharpest knifes in the drawer.


I would heed Bob's advice. It is easier and cheaper to buy a completed car that is registered than to build your own. That is unless you're like me and just like to put things together yourself.

Good Luck,
Roger Carlson

[Back in Black]

That ended a year ago! It cost too much and the state ended it!

And I suspect that as a turnkey, the paperwork provided by my manufacturer will decide what year the car will be registered as...it will say 1966 cobra

As a home built kit, I do not know how they determine year, it may be by chassis completion date...call the local (privatized) dept of lisc and ask them about your specifics.

[Go Hard or Go Home]

I think the rules changed in June or July last year and it is alot easier to register. I'm not anywhere close to doing it but some other people should know more. Is Neal out there? He will have to do this with his 40 and Donovan did it last year with his FFR.

Carman

[NealM]

State law indicates that your car's registration date may not be older than the MSO or Certificate of Origin date. Prior to 2002, all cars registered prior to 1973 are subject to smog testing (King County). You have a five year waiver if registered in the current model year. Now "specialty vehicles" don't require smog.

A few have had the DMV register their cars as the replica module year (i.e. 1965). This is not typical though and actual not correct as far as the law reads.

Make sure to bring all documentation for parts and your kit when you do a State Patrol inspection. They just want to make sure you didn't steal any parts.

[Back in Black]

THERE NO LONGER IS A WASHINGTON STATE PATROL VEHICLE INSPECTION IN WASHINGTON STATE !

That ended a year ago! It cost too much and the state ended it!

[NealM]

Washington State Law - Kit Vehicle Registration

[RogerC]

I'm still confused! The RCW 46.16.680 does not address smog testing. Are you saying that if you have a KITV on your registration there is no more smog testing?

[Back in Black]

A home built kit. I do admit that I asked only about a turnkey at the local lisc location, since that's what I am getting, but there will be NO inspection for my new turnkey, OR any cobra brought in from out of state, that was registered prior....

Pretty dern sure about this, too. Why don't we all call our local Lisc shop and ask, and post what we found out?

[White Snake]

Maybe that is what is going on.

I went through the State Patrol Inspection in 1997 (no problem) they issued me a VIN numbber and checked my receipts and certificate of origin from Factory Five. They gave me all the paperwork to get my plates and title at the any licensing place. I licensed it as a 1997 KITV 427 Cobra Replica.

I have never been asked for a smog inspection when I get my tabs.

[Zderf]

I went through the State Patrol Inspection in 1997 (no problem) they issued me a VIN numbber and checked my receipts and certificate of origin from Factory Five. They gave me all the paperwork to get my plates and title at the any licensing place. I licensed it as a 1997 KITV 427 Cobra Replica. White Snake

White Snake...If you registered as a 1997, then 2002 would be your 1st year to be tested with the 5 year waiver. Have you received your 2002 tab renewal yet? If so, have smog been removed?

Roger C... I'm still confused as well. I knew of the initial 5 year waiver (mostly intended for new vehicles), mine ends in 2003. I've been thinking that I have to obtain another waiver when my 5 years is up.

Is it true? Did the Dept of Ecology remove the smog requirements for Kit vehicles??? I want it to be so....

Zderf

[White Snake]

I am good until October. I will let you know. I still have all the smog stuff including cats if I need to put it all back on.