The process wasn't much different for me in Louisiana. Lots of stupid hoops to jump through, but in the end, all they really wanted was the money. I gave the lady a stack of receipts, she totaled them up and told me how much the taxes were. I gave her a check and walked out with a title.

The main problem with the process here is that there is no formalized way to appeal their decisions. If you can't supply the correct paperwork, you have no recourse. Most folks don't know what they need to keep up with and the local tag offices pretty much know nothing of titling an assembled vehicle. Only the state office can give you the right info.

BTW - I commented to the lady that it was a long, difficult process and I thought that it could be streamlined. She said, off the record or course, that the state makes it hard on purpose because they really don't want a lot of people building cars. Most people just give up out of frustration.

In Louisiana, I can't even legally dismantle a car that I own to sell the parts if I don't have proper paperwork from the state. If I have 2 trucks that I want to mix and match parts to get a running vehicle, I can't do it without getting a "Permit to Dismantle" for both trucks. Swapping cabs and chassis' will net you an illegally assembled truck that can never be titled, period. No legal recourse. Chop shops have made our hobby very difficult and filled with hidden pitfalls that most folks don't even think about until it's too late.

Hang in there. Sounds like you followed the right course. Hopefully, you will be driving soon.