Oddball New York registration question

767Jockey · #1 (**permalink**) 05-31-2007, 04:54 PM

I bought a Cobra that was previously registered in New York State as a '84 Homebuilt. I live in New York as well. Normally this would be an easy registration, but here's the problem.

When they originally titled and registered the car, the State rep that did it placed the yellow VIN sticker on top of the cowl, behind the windshield. It's glued down on the painted area right behind the spot on the windshield where the registration and inspection stickers go. I can't get the sticker off without destroying it, and I want to repaint the car. Painting around it would look horrible, and probably wouldn't be possible since there's already 2 coats of paint on it, and I want to strip the car completely. It's in a very conspicuous area, and I want to do this right..

I called, and even went in to my local DMV office (Amityville, Long Island). They're totally clueless, and they clearly just couldn't care less. They can't even tell me who to call in Albany. Does ANYONE know what my options are here? Ideally I'd just like to get a duplicate sticker. I would think that would be fairly easy, but then again it's the State of New York we're talking about....

JCoop · #2 (**permalink**) 05-31-2007, 06:28 PM

Joe, call (518) 474-5282 Technical Services Bureau. They may scratch their heads as well. The other alternative is to go to the Babylon inspection facility (where mine was inspected) and ask the guys there what they suggest to do since they put them on in the first place.

They may ask that you go through the whole process again to get a NEW VIN if they don't issue dupes.
http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/homemade.htm

Let me know what they say...I have the sticker in the same place and from what I understand, they are now agreeing to place the sticker on the bulkhead inside the engine bay. If this is so, and one can get a duplicate, then I'd get one myself and put the sticker in the bulkhead.

Cheers!

avanti-176 · #3 (**permalink**) 06-01-2007, 05:17 AM

I am not sure about the duplicate sticker ,but my Contemporary is registered as a 1983 homebuilt and the vin sticker was put on the dashboard support steel tube just under the steering wheel. Pretty easy to see by just looking under the drivers side dash. And it does not mess up the ability to repaint anything.

Good luck,
Dan

ERA-FIA · #4 (**permalink**) 06-01-2007, 06:19 AM

WHAT EVER YOU DO DON'T GIVE UP THAT STICKER SINCE YOU ARE AT THE END OF ANY EMISSION REQUIREMENTS. New stickers require emission test after two years.

767Jockey · #5 (**permalink**) 06-01-2007, 07:09 AM

This is not looking good. I called the Technical services division of NY DMV and the lady was sort of annoyed. First of all, she said, I shouldn't have titled the car after I bought it since it's not running. Second of all, it shouldn't be a "homebuilt", it should be a "custom". Lastly she says, since I called her she now already knows about the situation, so just dropping the whole thing is no longer an option - I'm now in the tenacious grip of the NY DMV incompetency machine. What a mess.

Cashburn · #6 (**permalink**) 06-01-2007, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 767Jockey

This is not looking good. I called the Technical services division of NY DMV and the lady was sort of annoyed. First of all, she said, I shouldn't have titled the car after I bought it since it's not running. Second of all, it shouldn't be a "homebuilt", it should be a "custom". Lastly she says, since I called her she now already knows about the situation, so just dropping the whole thing is no longer an option - I'm now in the tenacious grip of the NY DMV incompetency machine. What a mess.

Sounds like Kathy

berzerko · #7 (**permalink**) 06-05-2007, 04:22 AM

I feel for you I am tring to avoid reg. the car I am building in NY,I have family in florida. As for them knowing about it I would not worry come 5 pm They forget everything. After tring to reg a motorcycle and being told the paperwork was not proper the supervisior at the dmv told me that she was going to contact tax & fiance (why I do Not Quite understand)and wanted to make copies of everything. I said go ahead we will all be dead before it makes it to Albany. All this after waiting on line 2 days in a row for over 6 hrs

Needless to say I finally after 3 trips got some one that knew somthing besides renewing registrations and entered the proper #'s in the computer and took my check for $2000 in taxes I love New York

I am quite surprised no one has started shooting since it seems everyone you speak with has a story about the dmv and most are not pleasant