Registering in NY

STEVE-O · #1 (**permalink**) 02-11-2008, 05:31 PM

I'm in the process of purchasing a Superformance with Roush 402,and will be registering it and applying for the VIN in NY state.
Has anyone else gone thru this process in NY state or maybe can answer my questions anyway?
Im reading over the paperwork and in addition to asking for the 4 pics, which other people have mentioned, I see items such as 'side marker lights', 'license plate light' 'padded dash' 'horn' etc...
Does the state really check for ALL these items?? I can understand the state wanting some control over a person building a dune buggy in their garage but the Superformance is professionally built.
Do I need to worry about a VIN not being assigned until changes are made to meet the state requirements?? or do they realize its a replica of a '65 and judge it accordingly?
After the state does its inspection and if the car passes, how much time until a VIN is assigned so I can continue with the remaining registration?
Thanks

dmorse · #2 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 06:16 AM

Hi Steve-O. I have a BDR Cobra coming in sometime this week or next (I think). I contacted NYS DMV many months ago and got the paperwork before ordering the Cobra to make sure I could get it registered. The paperwork I got was two packets that go to two separate places in NY. I don't have the information with me but I don't recall there being anything where I had to take pictures of the car. The paperwork I have indicates I have to get the car inspected prior to obtaining a NYS VIN and NYS registration (they won't accept the BRD VIN). Unfortunately I have to trailer the car to the inspection site. It appears this process will take many weeks and I ordered the car so I would get it and be able to get the inspection/registration done prior to good weather. The process doesn't seem to be too bad but, as noted, it will take several weeks, but hopefully not several inspections. A gentleman that lives nearby has a SPF that he registered quite some time ago and he has offered to help me with my registration. I will be contacting him soon to see what he recommends and I will be starting the process soon. I can keep you informed through the process as to how it is going if you think that will help. But, you may have yours registered before mine. I also have the phone number of a very nice, knowlegable, gentleman at NYS DMV (Tom Noonan) at home I could send you tonight if you want to talk to him. Let me know if you want his number or if you want to follow my progess - I would like to follow your progress if you start before me. Good luck.

Jim Kellogg · #3 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 10:40 AM

Hi, Steve
I would be glad to help out with your NYS registration.
You can give me a call at work (days at Kent Brown Toyota) 607-796-9600

There are a couple of good threads here on CC that have info helpful to you..
Here are a couple...

Bad experience with NY registration! Help! Long message but please read.

Registration?????? in New York

The anticipation of having to deal with the DMV is worse than the actual experience

There are a couple of real nice car guys/gals that work at the DMV - unfortunately, there are a few that will make your experience difficult. Try to contact one of the (helpful) people listed on some of the NYS threads.

It is definately worth the time and effort to do it right.
Hope this helps,
Jim Kellogg
Breesport, NY

dmorse · #4 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 12:39 PM

Hi Jim. You are the gentleman who offered to help me that I referred to in my email to Steve. I am near the time when I will be attempting a registration, etc. as my Cobra may be shipped from Florida any day to my engine guy. He works full time so the drive train installation will be over a few weekends then I will be ready. I don't anticipate the problems noted in the threads as my engine will be a Ford Performance crate engine and the tranny is a new Tremec. However, I would like to take you up on your offer of assistance. We went out to dinner last Fri. and I saw your Cobra in the lot (looking good) and almost stopped but figured you would be ready to leave (it was around 5:00). I am off work next Tues. and was wondering if that would be a good time to stop to see you. I can call first if that is practical.

Steve, as noted, I am more than willing to keep you abreast of my progress if you would like - I believe it is called pay it forward.

Jim Kellogg · #5 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 05:00 PM

dmorse, give me a call next week to make sure I am in. I will be in and out of the office for the next couple of weeks... my wife is scheduled for more surgery tomorrow.

It would be good to see you again, and if the SPF is there when you stop by, maybe we can fit in a "quick" ride

I'm looking forward to seeing your Backdraft. You've chosen a good color combination - be sure to post photos as soon as you can!

It would be helpful for Steve (and all here) if you kept and posted a log on CC of your progress through the NYS VIN and registration process (actually 2 separate processes).

If it would be helpful for me to pull some of my old registration notes out, let me know and I will look for them (we've moved since I originally registered the SPF, and they are still packed away - somewhere).

I drive the SPF to work most every day (except when it snows, although once in awhile it snows when I am at work - now THAT'S Cobra excitement most folks here haven't experienced!!!).

Steve, looks like you've got some offers of guidance! You can email me (best right now) and I will try and help. Enjoy that SPF!!!

Jim Kellogg
Breesport, NY

Jim Kellogg · #6 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 05:29 PM

Just one more link to post for you....

I"ve been doing some searching here on CC, and for anyone looking to properly register their replica in NY State, this link will be very helpful!!!

Ray went through the NY registration and VIN process with his SPF, and kept us posted all the way through....

NY Registration Advice

Jim Kellogg
Breesport, NY

dmorse · #7 (**permalink**) 02-13-2008, 05:13 AM

Thanks Jim. Sorry to hear about your wife having health problems. I am more than willing to post my progress (or lack thereof). I will give you a call before stopping and if it is not convenient I will just call again at a later date. I don't plan on driving it until April or later anyways. I would rather take my time and do it right the first time since I have quite a bit of time.

My car left Florida yesterday afternoon so it will be here soon depending on how much sleep the driver needs. I will take pictures when I go to sign for it and attempt to post them here (I will have to do some research to see how to post them first). In the meantime you can check out what I have at
vintage-motorsports.com. Look under Photo Gallery, BDR #632. The lighting is very poor so the pictures don't have high quality. Actually, each picture makes the color look different so I am anxious to actually see it to see what it will look like. A "Quick" ride would be fantastic. Thanks again.

dmorse · #8 (**permalink**) 02-13-2008, 05:16 AM

Steve: Tom Noonan's phone number is (518) 474-5282, then 4. He is one of the good guys.

Don Morse

JCoop · #9 (**permalink**) 02-13-2008, 05:45 AM

I was going to jump in and post the links that answer your questions but Jim beat me to it. Don't worry, it should be fine.

As an update, I had concerns about the NYS inspection when it came due. The inspection station was not familiar with "custom" registrations but when he punched in the VIN, although the requirement was indeed a dyno and sniff test, the required standards were verrrry liberal. My SPF was wayyy below the requirement and passed quite easily.

Good luck!

Jim, hope you're not driving today. You'll have to go backwards in reverse all the way!

STEVE-O · #10 (**permalink**) 02-14-2008, 04:41 PM

Jim,Don, Ray,
Thanks for the posts as well as the informative links!
I have read over the info in my packet from the DMV and it looks like the first step is to take the 4 pictures (sides, back and front) and mail in the form with the requested part numbers to Technical Services. They will get back to me with an appointment time for inspection.
Additionally a form needs to be filled out and sent to Field Investigation requesting a VIN along with $25. Sounds like this can be sent after the car passes the inspection or it can be sent at the same time as the request for inspection. The issue being that if the car doesnt pass inspection, the $25 is lost BUT, if it does pass inspection, the time to get the VIN is decreased. If the VIN form has been submitted, maybe the VIN is assigned right at the inspection?
I'm going to send in both forms at the same time since 1) the guy who assembled the engine and trans has already gotten thru 4 other SPF cars and he seems to know the routine. The inspectors are also familiar with his work and the SPF car. This is a BIG plus!
2) Hopefully it passes and I get my VIN right away... The sooner I can get the car registered and one the road the better!!

Don, whats the state of your car? Have all the parts arrived at the assembly shop? How did you decide to go with BDR?
The other question I have is related to insurance. Anyone have suggestions as to companies? Should I be looking for 'agreed value' in the policy and how is that determined? Does the car need to be appraised or is selling price good enough?

Is there still a cruise night on Saturdays in the Horseheads area? Is it Arnot mall?

Hope to get down there in the summer.
Thanks for any info.
Steve

dmorse · #11 (**permalink**) 02-14-2008, 06:49 PM

Hi Steve. You were correct about the pictures - actually, it's the first or second thing on the list. I believe you can send both forms in at the same time but, like you say, you could lose the $25. I was told that if you do sent them in at the same time to put a note on them that the other was sent. It makes things move faster if both are done at the same time from my understanding.

All my parts we could think of are at the shop and we are awaiting the arrival of the rolling chassis that is somewhere between here and Fla. It is expected tomorrow or Sat. I went with BDR as I thought it was the best value for what I had to spend. I went to their shop in Boynton Beach last spring and also checked out different models at the Carlisle show last spring. The guy doing my drive train also thought highly of the BDR. He had built a FFR previously and he thought the BDR was quite impressive. The SPF are certainly very nice but I would have had quite a bit more in one than I will have in the BDR. The friend doing the drive train is also saving me quite a bit.

I got insurance today from Robbin Terry. He is with Midwest Classic Insurance. I would highly recommend him as he is knowledgable and had the patience needed to get me through the process. His email address is robbin@midwestclassicins.com. His phone number is (888) 271-4000. If you call him tell him I recommended him as I think highly of him. He wrote the policy at agreed value (you want this if you want to get the insured valued for a total loss as they will depreciate if you use stated value) and wrote it at about $7,000 more than I will have in the car because I wanted to have it at replacement value (with the recent price increases at BDR and an expected increase at Ford Performance, and if I would have to pay a regular shop for the drive train, it would cost me about $7K more at this point). He did not require an appraisal but I did send him an email with the Bill of Sale for the rolling chassis, engine, and tranny. An added bonus was that my current insurer (Allstate) wanted more than double to write the insurance, and at stated value. He wrote the policy with the VIN given by BDR but I told him NY will probably assign their own VIN when I register it. He didn't have a problem with this.

There was a cruise night Sat. at the Wal-Mart parking lot. This is at the Consumer Square Mall, a short distance from the Arnot Mall. They also have cruise nights now and then at Eldridge Park on Fri. nights. I will attend when the weather allows so I do hope to see you there. Wal-Mart is opeing a new Super Store at the former A&P plant. This is also only a short distance from the Arnot Mall. The manager at the old Wal-Mart welcomed the cars so I hope he will also welcome them after they move in March.

There was a thread back in Nov. about possibly getting a rally going for upstate Cobras. Perhaps at one of the casinos or elsewhere. I hope somebody gets this started again as I think it would be awesome to get serveral Cobras going down the road together. Drop me or Jim a line if you are headed this way and we can hook up. My email address is dmorse1@stny.rr.com. I don't know Jim's address but you can apparently contact him through CC somehow - I am still learning about this site.

Good luck on your registration. Keep me posted.

Jim Kellogg · #12 (**permalink**) 02-14-2008, 07:02 PM

Steve,
Good idea taking care of both forms at the same time. My VIN was assigned after it was inspected (same time/same people).

My SPF is insured by Allstate (along with my other vehicles and home) with an 'agreed value'. Full coverage (comp/collision) with no limitations. My agent had to look at the vehicle. She likes it

I had looked into having Allstate insure the car back in 2001, and they weren't interested at that time. After a couple of years (no accidents or tickets with the Cobra) they were OK with it.

Remember, your registration will probably show the vehicle as a "2008 Custom". This makes the insurance/inspection deal pretty simple.

As far as I know, the cruises will continue in Horseheads for 2008. I don't know if they will continue at Wal-Mart, or move to the nearby Arnot Mall. Wal-Mart is moving up the street to become a Super Wal-Mart (largest in NY State, from what I hear). I only hit it a couple of times a year. Let me know if/when you will be coming down!!!

If you haven't done so, be sure to join SCOF also (Superformance Cobra Owner's Forum). They have lots of events every year - cruises, track events, ect, and another great group of people (many are also here on CC).

Enjoy. And be careful!
Jim Kellogg
Breesport, NY

Midwest Classic · #13 (**permalink**) 02-15-2008, 08:00 AM

Don thanks for the great comments. We appreciate the review on the site and members of this site have been very good to us with calling and giving us the opportunity to work with them on their insurance coverage. We are a small agency compared to some of the "big boys" which gives us the opportunity to treat people as people not just numbers.

You know Jim I am kind of curious as I got an email this morning that was forwarded to me from an Allstate agent that states their rates are high and they really only due the cars as an accommodation. I would really check into your policy to make sure in black and white it is an agreed value. I have never found a standard market that would insure a vehicle for an agreed value. Many agents, as painful as this may sound, do not know that Stated Amount is not an agreed value. Just a suggestion check to find in black and white where it states the agreed value option, generally this will be in the policy that states how we handle a loss. I am sure you know and respect your agent and as an agent I never take offense in educating my insureds to show I am doing a good job for them.

Steve, I would suggest you insure the car before it ever leaves the shop this way you have someone on your side in case of a loss. If you need help with the insurance we would be glad to do so. There are a lot of great shipping companies out there but they have insurance companies on their side and if there is a loss it would be nice to have someone on yours as well.

Back to the real job.

Robbin Terry
Midwest Classic Insurance
1-888-271-4000
robbin@midwestclassicins.com
Cobra Replica Insurance

Trueoo7 · #14 (**permalink**) 02-15-2008, 01:06 PM

dmorse
Any idea why NY won't accept the BDR VIN since it is a 16-17 digit VIN which is what they require?

Midwest Classic · #15 (**permalink**) 02-15-2008, 01:19 PM

I might be able to help you with that VIN question. If I input the VIN into my system it will not come back with a Make and Model for the vehicle. The car is really not a "production vehicle" so it is not in a normal VIN listing with different agencies, therefore I think they rely on their own process for these type of vehicles.

dmorse · #16 (**permalink**) 02-15-2008, 01:33 PM

Not a clue. Actually, maybe they would and someone mentioned that it might be worthwhile to attempt to register it from the information I get from BDR. My Bill of sale notes a 17 digit VIN but it also notes that it is a 1965 BDR Roadster Replica, not a 1965 Cobra or a 2008 vehicle of any kind. Perhaps when I get the MCO, whatever, it will be more clear rather than saying BDR Roadster Replica.

When I went to the DMV web site months before putting my order in for the car the information led me to believe I needed to register it as a custom vehicle and that is the path I have followed. Perhaps this is not needed, I really can't say. If you know someone who registered their vehicle from the data provided by BDR or another company many of us would certainly like to hear from them.

I went back on the DMV web site last week and it noted that a title is not needed for a 1965 - apparently a transferable registration is used instead of a title. The site also noted that a temporay tag (or something similar - I really can't remember) would be issued giving the registrant X number of days to get an inspection (I think it was ten). This also led me to believe that maybe a registration/inspection could be effected from the paperwork to be provided. Beats me. I certainly wouldn't want to do anything that might jeopardize an eventual registration.

Any thoughts out there?

dmorse · #17 (**permalink**) 02-15-2008, 02:04 PM

I guess I was typing at the same time Robbin was. I think his answer explains it. Thanks for chimiing in Robbin.

Jim Kellogg · #18 (**permalink**) 02-15-2008, 06:58 PM

Robbin,
Thanks for the heads up. I will check with my agent again. Hopefully, I will never need the coverage, but better safe than sorry

This would make a good reminder for everyone else out there.

Jim Kellogg
Breesport, NY

STEVE-O · #19 (**permalink**) 02-19-2008, 02:42 PM

Don,Jim,
Got around to getting my pics together with the forms and mailed everything in to the both depts.
Hopefully the state call back for the inspection date willl be quick!
Don, a couple of things to be aware of if you aren't already. The car needs to be transported to and from the inspection since it cant be driven. so you'll need to arrange for a trailer or car transport if your builder doesnt have one available already.
Also, for registration they need an 'official' weight on the car so you'll need to find a business that has a scale. My builder uses the scale at a nearby gravel delivery business so its a quick, trailer weight without car and trailer weight with it.
Hope the build is moving along!
Steve

dmorse · #20 (**permalink**) 02-19-2008, 02:59 PM

Thanks Steve. Mine was delivered yesterday and I took a bunch of pictures but couldn't figure out how to post them. I thought I had a few posted but when it said it was uploading I all of a sudden got a disconnect so I gave up. If you are interested you can see the delivery and engine pictures at

Vintage Motorsports Gallery :: Backdraft #632

Do you have any pictures of your SPF I could check out?

It will probably be awhile before I start the registration process as I don't even have the MCO, etc. yet. Good luck with yours.