New York Registration Process

[767Jockey]

Back when I lived in NY (11+ years ago) there was a woman in the Albany offices that handled Cobra and assembled car titling/registration issues who was an absolute nightmare to deal with. She was somewhat infamous and known by name. I can't recall what her name is/was. I wonder if she's still lurking around, or hopefully she has retired and gone to pasture. She was a nightmare, and at times that seemed to be her deliberate intention. If she's gone, good riddance.

[Mark IV]

Originally Posted by 767Jockey

Back when I lived in NY (11+ years ago) there was a woman in the Albany offices that handled Cobra and assembled car titling/registration issues who was an absolute nightmare to deal with. She was somewhat infamous and known by name. I can't recall what her name is/was. I wonder if she's still lurking around, or hopefully she has retired and gone to pasture. She was a nightmare, and at times that seemed to be her deliberate intention. If she's gone, good riddance.

he retired some time ago. The guy who runs the department now is very helpful and uses common sense on some issues. As long as you do not Bullsh!t him, he will be generous with some of the regulations.

We have helped several people through the NYS DMV process and they didn't purchase their cars from us. Just today I had another dealer ask for help with a customer they sold.

[767Jockey]

Originally Posted by Mark IV

he retired some time ago. The guy who runs the department now is very helpful and uses common sense on some issues. As long as you do not Bullsh!t him, he will be generous with some of the regulations.

We have helped several people through the NYS DMV process and they didn't purchase their cars from us. Just today I had another dealer ask for help with a customer they sold.

Great to hear, and great for Cobra folks in NY. That woman was a disaster.

[Cashburn]

Originally Posted by 767Jockey

Back when I lived in NY (11+ years ago) there was a woman in the Albany offices that handled Cobra and assembled car titling/registration issues who was an absolute nightmare to deal with. She was somewhat infamous and known by name. I can't recall what her name is/was. I wonder if she's still lurking around, or hopefully she has retired and gone to pasture. She was a nightmare, and at times that seemed to be her deliberate intention. If she's gone, good riddance.

That would be Kathy.

[BobP607]

I don't know if I just got really lucky or if there were seismic changes in the NY DMV. Everyone I dealt with in anyway (on the phone, email, or in person) were very friendly and helpful. From the time I called to get my application package, right up to registering at the local DMV office, these folks could not have been any easier to deal with.

I called for my application package and the gentleman I talked with was very interested in my project asking several questions about it. I actually butchered my paperwork and through an email echange the DMV office helped me straighten it out. My appointment with Division of Field Investigation was on Feb 28 on Taft Road in North Syracuse. Its 80 miles one way from my house and of course a winter storm was scheduled that day. So, I called Albany to see if there was a way to reschedule. The guy I talked to gave me the number of the inspection station so I could contact them directly. I talked to the inspector and he said it wouldn't be a big deal if I couldn't make it. I would just have to reschedule through Albany. I thanked him for his time and hung up. Maybe 5 minutes later my phone rang, it was the inspector calling me back. He said he pulled my paper work and noticed they would be 30 miles from me in a couple weeks. Perfect! Saved me 100 miles of trailering. The inspection went perfectly as well. Sent the validation form to Albany and the guy I emailed with earlier sent me the VS-103 (this is the form you need to actually register the car) later that day. After that and a regular NY safety inspection, I just needed to visit the local DMV office to register and get plates.

Many thanks to Rick Muck (Mark IV) for his assistance in getting the application filled out and advice on the padded dash requirement. Also to Blackbart for sharing his reverse light solution. Lastly thanks to Blas for his detailed schematics which were very helpful in wiring the 4 way flashers.

And many thanks to my neighbor, John, for helping me to transport the car in his enclosed trailer!

The NY process takes some time but isn't that bad and the DMV folks really seemed interested in the car. Now, my car is a Superformance so the only used part in it was the engine block and I only had 2 receipts (one for Superformance and one from the speed shop). If you're building a kit on any type, make sure you have receipts for any and all major components. If you bought a kit already completed, you will also need all those receipts so make sure the car comes with all of them. As Blackbart said earlier, plan on 7 or 8 weeks to get through it.

Bob