New York Registration Process

[Blackbart]

Recently I purchased ERA #804 from the original owner in CT. The car was completed in 2014 and titled and registered in CT as a 1966 Cobra. This was after all the inspections required by CT to register a non-production car were met. ERA provides a chassis/body ID on the Manufactures Certificate of Origin, but this is NOT a legal VIN number as far as most, if not all State DMV departments are concerned. CT issues its own VIN for the car once all inspections have been passed.
Since I live in upstate NY, I was not sure of the process of getting the car titled and registered in my name in New York. A call to DMV confirmed my worst-case concerns, i.e. NY would not recognize the CT title or registration and I would have to start from scratch to get a NY title and registration.
The process begins by sending in an application to two different DMV agencies, Technical Services and the Auto Theft Fraud Division. Technical services wanted all the DOT SAE numbers on all the lights/lenses, four-way hazard flashers, padded sun visors, a backup light, DOT tire numbers and sizes, including photos of the car from all four angles. This seemed to be the “safety regulations” part of the process. All these requirements were relatively easy to meet. Four-way flashers were wired using the existing flasher wiring. An aftermarket back up light (had to be DOT SAE certified) was found and mounted. The Tremec 600 already has the backup light switch on the trans and it was easy to wire it from there. Padded visor “socks” were made that slip on and off the visors easily. This part of the process did not require any physical inspection at this point, other than I had to trailer the car to a Certified Weigh Station to get a Weight slip.
The other agency, Theft Fraud division, did require I trailer the car to their Albany NY inspection garage. This was about an hour and half tow from my house. The inspection is done by profoundly serious armed Troopers. I was instructed to drive the car into their facility where it was put up on a lift for the inspection. This inspection was done to verify all the parts on the car were legally obtained. I had to present the Certificate of Origin, along with all the receipts from ERA for the car chassis and options that were installed or purchased from ERA. They then went to the engine and verified the date code and block number. A 1966 Thunderbird had been purchased for the engine, so I needed the bill of sale and title transfer from that transaction. The Tremec was new and they looked at the receipt and verified the serial number of that component. The rebuilt JAG XJ6 rear axle assembly had been purchased from ERA and they had provided the bill of sale and title from the “donor” car for that unit. Again, the serial numbers were verified against the bill of sale.
The car passed this inspection with flying colors thanks the impeccable record keeping by the previous owner. If I did not have all the required documentation for all these components the car would not have passed. Once passed, this Division issues a NY VIN for the car and the new VIN sticker was placed directly below the CT VIN sticker, which they said had to stay in place for “tracking” purposes. The troopers were very complimentary once the inspection was completed, why wouldn’t they be, it’s an ERA after all! So, at the end of the inspection they give me a form that shows the car has passed the inspection and shows the NY VIN assigned to it. The form also said that the car should be titled as a 1966 ERA. This form then had to be sent to the Technical Services department who would then send me another form authorizing me to take the car to a NY Safety Inspection garage for its safety inspection. But wait, after submitting the Theft Fraud form to Technical services, they reject it saying the form was improperly filled out by the Theft Fraud Division. I had to return to the Theft Fraud garage and have the form “fixed” to satisfy Technical Services concerns. I went back the next day and met with the inspectors and showed them the email I received from Technical services. There were three areas of concern. Number one, the field for “what is the true VIN of this Car” was left blank. Technical services wanted a number in there. Number two, the check box for “is this car to be titled as a rebuilt of salvage vehicle?” had been left blank by the inspectors and number three, Technical services would not accept the car being registered as a 1966 ERA. The Troopers called Technical services to make sure the corrections they would do would be accepted before they made the corrections to the form. The true VIN was marked N/A as there was no “true VIN”, the salvage car checkbox was checked No, this is not a salvage or rebuilt car and the car HAD TO BE TITILED as a 2020 Custom! WTF? Whatever, I just wanted to get a title and registration so I could legally drive the car on public roads. Mind you, this process had started in mid-August and it is now early October. I wanted at least one nice drive before the snow flies here in the Adirondacks.
After the corrections were made I received authorization to get the car safety inspected and to get the car titled and registered in NY. All went well with that and I believe I am now the owner of the newest 1966 Cobra registered in NY as a 2020 Custom. Whatever…..
In summary, it was unfortunately a long process and at times very frustrating as I felt that one agency did not know what the other agency was doing or should be doing. Some of the requirements were almost laughable, (padded sun visors for impact/crash protection? Give me a break) At least since the engine is 1966 Vintage, no emissions tests were required. Oh, I forgot to mention what all this cost me…$25! Yes, the entire fee for all this paperwork and inspections was a whooping $25! Well, add another $10 for the final safety inspection and the total is $35 bucks. A real bargain considering I live in the most taxed state I know of. Our fine legislators are constantly looking for new things to tax, so please do not show them this letter!