texas title issues revisited

[paul cass]

G-Pete
Your DMV people are just as misinformed as most. I'm still dealing with the State DMV people and believe me I've talked to everyone from local registration people, local DMV, State DMV, the DMV State Board in Austin, the Attorney General's office and my local State Representative. The short version of all of this is that the State DMV admits that they "may have made some mistakes" but that doesn't matter. They have put a hold on my registration saying that I must do basically two things. One send in my current title so that they can re issue me another title. If I do this it will be the 4th time they have changed the title. And secondly that I have to have the FIA re inspected by an ASE master tech. Currently I'm trying to get a legal opinion from my attorney as to what to do next. For what it is worth I've done an awful lot of investigating on this issue and I think I know more than the people I'm dealing with. I think you said that you paid over $200 for your inspection. The inspection form has 10 things to check and nothing else and the fee should be the same as any other inspection. Here in Corpus Christi it is $14.50. As for as I understand the DMV will stamp an ID number on a plate and attach it to the vehicle. Mine is on the edge of the door, like 60's Mustangs. For me to list everything that I've been through would end up taking a week and no telling how many pages on this blog. If you want to talk send me a private message and a phone or email to contact you. In the meantime, good luck.
Paul

[G-Pete]

Paul,

good luck to find a ASE master mechanic certified A1 trough A8 for $14.50. The requirement is not a "normal" state inspection. The car goes on the lift and every bolt, connections, lines, welds, mechanical, electrical and fluids will be checked.

All that took 1 1/2 hrs including test drive. I had to pay the shop where the mechanic works - I think for all that work and someone check my work and I get thumps up from someone who knows what they doing, it is $280 worth.

Just on a side note: Not ONE dealer ship here in the DFW area (Chevy, Ford, Dodge, Toyota, Mercedes, Audi, Porsche, Maserati, Nissan...called them all) has a master mechanic with a current certification ASE A1-A8 on staff. Took me 2 days to find one. Some these guys on the inspection stations have, if you are lucky, an A1-A4 - most have no ASE certification.


I feel you pain to speak to these guys after reading their manual, following every step and presenting all required paperwork and still having no registration.

I'm very inclined just to go to a judge and issue a court order. The title is a proof of ownership nothing else. The VIN reflects the number on the MCO (birth certificate of a vehicle) ---- but before that, I will give one more try next week and talk to the chief...

[paul cass]

G-Pete
Since I started this quest almost a year ago, there are several things that the DMV has changed because of the problems that I went through. The original forms that were given to me had conflicting information. I followed both the directions given to me by DMV personel and the forms. Becaues of the inconsistancies after I would complete one form then I would have to do something else, and so on and so on. Finally I got fed up and said enough is enough and that is where I am currently. The inspection form to be filled out by the ASE Master tech is vtr-852. I'm looking at the latest version and it is not anything like the first one that I sent in. However the check list is almost the same, except that they have added several new items. Since this is a one time safety inspection it still should not cost what you paid. I can't find anywhere that says what if anything the inspector can charge but since they are doing basically the same thing as when they inspect a regular car I can't see how they could charge more than the inspecion fee of $14.50 or whatever it is in your area. And you are right about the difficulty in finding an ASE master tech. There are none here in CC. The DMV said that I would have to take my car to San Antonio or wherever I could find a master tech. Someting is wrong with this picture. If anyone can do the typical saftey inspection on all other cars then why do we need the master tech for our specialty cars. The story from the DMV to me is that all replica's, etc. will all be flagged and forced to re register and go through this idiotic process. As I mentioned earlier, I did everything I was asked only to end up being asked to start over agian and agian. So now I'm trying to contact an attorney to see what my rights are. Good luck on your end and I'll update once I know more.
Paul

[G-Pete]

Paul, here is the newest Manual of April 2014.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...69837884,d.aWw

As for the tilting process, if your application is denied and meantime the Texas Administrative Code, Title 43, Part 10, Chapter 217, Subchapter A, Rule paragraph 217.2 and 217.3 (main focus on 217.3) changes, you have to oblige. Your Attorney will tell you the same.

Sorry Paul.

[G-Pete]

First off
HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!!!
...and to you guys a good holiday!!



Finally I found time to go to the DMV yesterday. The Chief of title division in Texas was available and spoke on the phone with me.

I was prepared and explained to him what the situation was and why I'm not willing to change the frame number.

The discussion went on, very professional and he stated his points and he had to follow the statute. The one hanger in that whole process was the affixed VIN on the "door post" on the body.

I suggested to fabricate a small aluminum plate, stamp the frame number in there and rivet to the "door post".


THAT DID IT !!!

Doing that it follows the requirements and it was a good to go on the titling process. I asked if I need to come back after I made the plate, he stated "NO - Sir you are fine just sent me a picture next week. BTW: nice car, have a good weekend"
I handed the phone to the supervisor of the Plano DMV after short exchange of words she hung up.

15min later I had my registration and the plates in my hand - paid $97.63 and walked out with a grin on my face (ear to ear)

I probably set a precedence here with the new titling process, and the little plate on the 'Door Post" will be on record - no reassigned VIN, even you have to fill out the form. Because of that it will be waived. The number has to be the same as on the MCO and all the other forms, that's all.


Again happy 4th July!!







Note: this is not the final plate - next week I get my custom vehicle custom plates, but this is another story.....

[SSSammy]

Pete .. you are relentless! Congratulations on achieving your goal

I hope this helps others of us in similar situations ...

Sam

[Grey 65]

Originally Posted by G-Pete

Paul,

good luck to find a ASE master mechanic certified A1 trough A8 for $14.50. The requirement is not a "normal" state inspection. The car goes on the lift and every bolt, connections, lines, welds, mechanical, electrical and fluids will be checked.

All that took 1 1/2 hrs including test drive. I had to pay the shop where the mechanic works - I think for all that work and someone check my work and I get thumps up from someone who knows what they doing, it is $280 worth.

Pete,

I know of a place that has three (3) ASE Master Techs (A1-A8) and they charge $14.95.

Firestone Complete Auto Care
5758 Rufe Snow Drive
North Richland Hills, Tx 76180

Kevin.....

[G-Pete]

Kevin, I'm pretty stunned. I called them and sure they have an A1-A8 master on staff. The boss said - leave it here for a couple of hours, make sure everything works and we will do it ------ for $14.95

This is a 20 point inspection plus brake test. The technician signs that paper ....."I have inspected the vehicle listed, and certify it is structurally stable and meets the necessary conditions to operate safely on the public highway"....

wow, and they can and will do it for $14.95

[Grey 65]

Originally Posted by G-Pete

Kevin, I'm pretty stunned. I called them and sure they have an A1-A8 master on staff. The boss said - leave it here for a couple of hours, make sure everything works and we will do it ------ for $14.95

This is a 20 point inspection plus brake test. The technician signs that paper ....."I have inspected the vehicle listed, and certify it is structurally stable and meets the necessary conditions to operate safely on the public highway"....

wow, and they can and will do it for $14.95

Oh yes... They did mine this morning.... I made sure they actually did it for that price before I posted it....

You gotta learn to trust me.. I told you that Germany was going to win the WC and they did didn't I......

Kevin.....

[G-Pete]

So they filled out the VTR-852 (Rev 2/14) and gave you a copy of the current certifications A1 thru A8 of the ASE Master Technician?

Hey wait a minute, I thought your car is already titled in Texas?

[Grey 65]

Originally Posted by G-Pete

So they filled out the VTR-852 (Rev 2/14) and gave you a copy of the current certifications A1 thru A8 of the ASE Master Technician?

Hey wait a minute, I thought your car is already titled in Texas?

Yes, VTR-852 (Rev 2/14) all filled out and signed by the tech along with 2 copies of the techs certs....

Yes, it was already titled in Texas but there was an error on my title that I didn't catch when I had it titled originally and my local DMV wouldn't fix the error without all new paperwork...

Monday I will go to DMV after work to file for a corrected title now that I have all the paperwork the lady said I needed to have to get them to fix THEIR error.

Kevin.....

[Howard Jones]

I am just about to finish a Race Car Replicas SLC. I currently live in California but bought a little land in Texas and plan to build a house there just out of the city limits of New Braunfels.

My question is would it be better for me to wait until I am living in Texas to register my SLC or do it here in Calif, then transfer registration to Texas.

It's not the money I am most concerned about but the difficulty. I know how to do a kit car in Calif as I also have a GTD GT40 and did that here under CA SB100 several years ago.

Should I just do a SB 100 again here for my SLC and transfer when I move to Texas? Can a specially constructed vehicle legally registered in Cal be re-registered as a similar type of vehicle in Texas and keep the favorable Smog requirement rule. I currently do not do smog inspections ever on my GT40 and no specifications are made for it under SB100 here in CA.

I should add that I have a SBC (sorry Ford guys) with a Holley and a roller cam in the car and I am SURE it won't pass any smog inspection standard. This would be fine here in Calif.

What do you TX guys think.

[dallas_]

Originally Posted by Grey 65

Firestone Complete Auto Care
5758 Rufe Snow Drive
North Richland Hills, Tx 76180

Kevin.....

That's great, but does anyone know of someone else who can do this in the North Dallas area?

Last time I went to the Ford dealership at 121/Tollway, but they don't have an ASE guy anymore.

[paul cass]

Hey guys. I haven't had time to write a follow up to this story. It is quite lengthy but I will try to print it in the next week or so. I will say this. If you check around you shoud be able to find an ASE Master Tech that will work with you. Usually they work at a garage not at a dealer. After doing some research I found that there were a couple here in Corpus Christi. Through a friend I found one that was not anal and did the inspection for $70. Unfortunatley the State does not suggest a set fee so it is up to the Tech as to how much he wants to charge.