Texas registration help please

[jlkendri]

I have a brand spanking new cobra now after 8 years of sweating. I know this subject has been discussed before but a lot of the info is several years old. I am bound and determined to register this as a 1966 cobra so I can use the black plates. I have read from various sources that if your insurance card says 66, then the inspection will say 66. I have also read you can obtain a title from titles unlimited or places like that. My MCO says 65 replica on it and I doubt FFR would be willing to make me a new one that says 66 and not replica. Then I'll read somewhere else that you don't necessarily need the MCO. The good news for me is I live in Angelina county which is a small county in east Texas. Most of the people I will be dealing with are very sweet old women or went to school with one of my parents (haha). Any help would be very greatly appreciated.

[Gregg(What's his name)?]

I got mine registered with out an MSO. My insurance has 1966 cobra replica. Once the police inspected the vehicle for not being stolen or no stolen parts. The County was pretty easy to deal with and get plates. I have OIF Vanity plates. I live in Austin, where the red tape is pretty thick. I would have the Sheriffs stolen vehicle division inspect and sign the form then take it too county tax office with proof of insurance and I think you should be square. I also got my title and it came in the mail today. PM me if you need more help.

[tgitchel]

At the risk of sounding naive, what difference does it make if it's registered as a '65 or a '66?

[jlkendri]

I apologize for not responding to any of you. I thought I had it set up to email me when I had a response. I was very surprised to see I had 9 replies. Thank you so much for all the good information.

[jlkendri]

Originally Posted by tgitchel

At the risk of sounding naive, what difference does it make if it's registered as a '65 or a '66?

Texas plates in 64 and 66 are black. 65 plates are white. I know it's kind of a petty thing but I'm gonna have to register it anyway I would prefer to do it that way. thanks.

[392cobra]

His MSO says 1965.

[jshel1]

What part of Texas do you live?
Probably best to follow the tried and true method that others have followed in your area. Perhaps another way to put it; don't ruin a good thing by trying to skirt any regs. We have it pretty good here in Texas; hate to see anything jeopardize that.

I think the only way to go is the way DPS in your jurisdiction has done it in the past.

That said, there are benefits either way, assembled vehicle in 2009, or 66 cobra (replica). You get your vintage plates if 65 or 66, but will have to pay sales tax. You get your plates without sales tax on the assembled vehicle, and might still be able to run 65 or 66 plates if you register in a small locale (and are on a first name basis with the ladies at the tax office).

[jlkendri]

Originally Posted by jshel1

What part of Texas do you live?
Probably best to follow the tried and true method that others have followed in your area. Perhaps another way to put it; don't ruin a good thing by trying to skirt any regs. We have it pretty good here in Texas; hate to see anything jeopardize that.

I think the only way to go is the way DPS in your jurisdiction has done it in the past.

That said, there are benefits either way, assembled vehicle in 2009, or 66 cobra (replica). You get your vintage plates if 65 or 66, but will have to pay sales tax. You get your plates without sales tax on the assembled vehicle, and might still be able to run 65 or 66 plates if you register in a small locale (and are on a first name basis with the ladies at the tax office).

I'm in Lufkin, TX. (Angelina County) thanks

[madmaxx]

You can read, pray, bullsheet yourself and in the end of your hand wringing it will be titled the year constructed 2009 and under remarks is will say 1965 Ford Replica. My MSO said 1965, My green inspection sheet said 1965, my notorized paperwork said 1965, my insurance card said 1965 my reciepts showed 2008. At the courthouse they simply crossed out the 1965 and wrote 2008 as they should have. Do a search on how to title. Your car is not a 1965, back in the eighteis, early nineties you could get away with it now if you do it is by mistake and they will suspend your title until the investigation is complete. YOU DO NOT PAY ONE PENNY OF SALES TAX WHEN YOU TITLE IT CORRECTLY IT WILL COME TO $185. YOU ARE THE ASSEMBLER. The second and subsequent buyers have to pay sales tax.

[elgecko]

I'm oh so close to getting things finished on this car and soon will be dealing with the paperwork.
My Cobra is handbuilt without a MSO. Can I create a MSO? I have all receipts for parts.
The fun will soon begin.
Keep these threads up and running. It sure helps to see what others have done to deal with the process.
I'm in the Texas panhandle.
Dave

[madmaxx]

you need to search club cobra and there is a detailed instructions if you cant find email me and I will send them to you

[elmariachi]

FYI I went through this back in May registering my car. The local tag office here in Harris County (Houston) showed me a memo from TXDOT to all county tag agencies warning them to STOP allowing replicas to be titled as 60's era cars. It spoke of significant penalties for fraud if someone even tried to tag a car like that going forward.

However, you can still run the black '66 plates. The tag office titled/registered my car as a 2009 Assembled Vehicle (ASVE) and I had a new set of 1966 vintage plates I had bought and had them with me. They inspected the plates for authenticity, checked them in the system to confirm they weren't tied to another car, and then assigned them to mine.

[jlkendri]

Originally Posted by elmariachi

FYI I went through this back in May registering my car. The local tag office here in Harris County (Houston) showed me a memo from TXDOT to all county tag agencies warning them to STOP allowing replicas to be titled as 60's era cars. It spoke of significant penalties for fraud if someone even tried to tag a car like that going forward.

However, you can still run the black '66 plates. The tag office titled/registered my car as a 2009 Assembled Vehicle (ASVE) and I had a new set of 1966 vintage plates I had bought and had them with me. They inspected the plates for authenticity, checked them in the system to confirm they weren't tied to another car, and then assigned them to mine.

That is exactly what I'm trying to accomplish. thanks. If I can register it as an 2009 assembled vehicle (no sales tax) AND be able to run the black 66 plates I would be a very happy camper. If my MSO and insurance card say 65 replica, can I still do that? Or do I need to get my insurance company to send me a card that says 66 cobra or 66 cobra replica? Did y'all have to have wipers as well? Thank you for your help.

[elmariachi]

Originally Posted by jlkendri

That is exactly what I'm trying to accomplish. thanks. If I can register it as an 2009 assembled vehicle (no sales tax) AND be able to run the black 66 plates I would be a very happy camper. If my MSO and insurance card say 65 replica, can I still do that? Or do I need to get my insurance company to send me a card that says 66 cobra or 66 cobra replica? Did y'all have to have wipers as well? Thank you for your help.

Titling and tagging are two separate issues. So this can go a couple of ways:

1. You can assert that its an assembled vehicle and make a big deal that you need it titled as an assembled vehicle (Texas calls that ASVE) and you should then not have to pay sales tax, provided you have receipts and the appropriate paperwork for the kit and the engine. You can then have them attach your 1966 TX tags, provided that they pass inspection by the person doing the titling and that they are not registered to any other TX vehicle, or;

2. You can hold fast that you want it registered per the MSO and it will be registered as whatever the MSO says. Now arguably you should STILL not pay tax because you bought it as raw components and assembled it, but they may try and levy the tax on you anyway. Even if you go this route, you can still run the old plates per above. FYI, I have seen some registered this way that still say "Replica" in the remarks section on the title face, so what's the point....

As MaddMaxx says, it all starts with the insurance, followed by the safety inspection. If your insurance says 1966, and you tell the inspector its a 1966 Cobra (NOT Shley, NOT Ford) then when you arrive at the tag office, you have a well-established trail going, along with your MSO, that its a 1966. But you'll still likely pay tax because they will know its a replica when you hand over an MSO. And at 6.25%, I'd rather not pay tax and have it titled as a 2009 than to pay tax and have a title that says 1966. Nowhere I seen that having one of these cars titled as a 1965/1966 versus current year makes a penny's worth of difference on resale. A Shelby CSX, maybe, but not a kit or non-Shelby replica.

I do have wipers. But the guy who inspected mine didn't even mention them or look at them. You might get by the first time but eventually some bonehead inspector will want wipers.

[CowtownCobra]

Just my 2 cents; but I suggest you be honest and register it for what it is, a replica. I suspect one of these days Texas is going to go back through the records and investigate all these 'original' 60's cobras, 32 Fords and 41 Willys and that won't be fun.

[madmaxx]

Your insurance agent will write what ever you want. I use classic and it is like 450 per year for $65K policy. I live in Houston. It does not really matter what the MSO indicates unless the ding dong at the inspection station (any gas station) does not recognize your car as a 65 cobra replica. Even if they dont take a picture with you to the court house.

[Stoney FFR]

It was my experience that the people at the sub-courthouse are going to register it according to however they interprete the laws. There are significant differences between sub-courthouses. It's doubtful that you will change their minds about how THEY decide to title and register your car. I wouldn't worry about it a whole lot, because it's pretty much out of your control. Just take your paperwork with you and let the chips fall where they may.

Joe - -

[elmariachi]

Below are the pages from the TXDOT book for reference. FYI, notice the comment on page 38 on how they are supposed to do the title if you have an MSO:

[cscobra]

Thank you for sharing these pages. Having this information will save a lot of time.

[jlkendri]

elmariachi is a good man. thank you sir.