Thread: *&$^# DMV - a rant

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OK, so now I have my VIN, DMV has cashed my check, and they're ready to issue me a title. The enforcement officer who installed my VIN told me that it would be registered as a 2007 Ford, which is totally ridiculous, since we just had a new law passed to solve this problem.

Here's the law:

46.2-602.1 Titling and registration of replica vehicles.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the model year of vehicles constructed or assembled by multiple manufacturers or assemblers shall be the model year of which the vehicle is a replica.

Because of the mis-information the officer gave me, I inquired about this exact topic on DMV's Q&A web page. Brainiac DMV clerk calls me a few minutes ago, and tells me that the car must be titled as a 2007 becuse that's when it was completed.

I asked her if she had read the new law, and she hemmed and hawed a bit and tried to talk about the vintage of the components. She tried to tell me that a replica vehicle had to be made from parts that were an exact replica of a stock vehicle. That is, it had to have a replica of a '34 V8, replica '34 trans, replica '34 wheels, etc.

Unfortunately, I didn't have a copy of the law in front of me, but I told her I was not going to accept her answer, it didn't conform to the law, and I would appreciate it if she would check with a supervisor, trainer or official and call me back.

Why is that law so hard to understand?
a. Lack of training?
b. English as a third language?
c. Upper limit on DMV I.Q.s?

More to come . . . film at 11.

Unfortunately Jack, there are people with English as a first language that can not read and comprehend what is written. They like to read in or not read it all. Either way really can foul up the situation.

Hope you get a hold of a supervisor that can straighten it out.

don't let them off the hook. ask to speak to a supervisor now. don't wait for them to call you.

Just goto the next dmv or get back in line for another person to wait on you,always let them look over the minimal amout of paperwork first ,before you tell them anything at all .
Alot of the times if they do not know they will just go ahead and let it slide thru or tell you to fill something out and return to the line and take care of it.

That or my favorite one is to goto the next state over ,I am sure they would like to collect the tax on it ,then return to your state and tranfer the title.
Or you can go the long route,walk in with a bill of sale you have written yerself and state in it that you {somebody else} sold the car to you {actually you} and its a 30s vintage.
The DMV has no qualms about 5 different people they have ,telling you five different things,soo I have no qualms about going back in the door 5 different times ,to tell them 5 different stories
I even had the morons tell me one time ,my f-250 was a commercial vehichle and I needed 800 dollar a year plates Did I argue....no,just go get back in line for another person and they took care of me no questionsd asked


The laws are soo screwed out here ,we have whats called a referee ,like basketball or football ,the referee makes the call.

Shawn,

Can't go to the next booth. On this type of vehicle, the VIN is attached by a state officer, he sends the paperwork to Richmond, and they issue the title there.

I'm guessing that she is just a customer service phone wonk who doesn't know what she's talking about. I'm hoping that the people in the title department have a clue.

'48,

I was about to do that, but I was getting close to a meeting, and I didn't have a transcript of the law close at hand. I had to look it up again.

Virginia lets us look up our vehicle info online. I decided to take a look a few minutes ago, and this is what I found:

Make FORD
Year 1934
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) R****

Yep, it's actually titled as a 1934 Ford Coupe. The "R" in the VIN stands for replica. I haven't received the title yet, but it has to be on the way.

Bottom line, folks in the Title department DID know what they were doing. The enforcement officer and the CSR were out to lunch.

When I get time, I'll post a procedure. I'll probably send it to SEMA also.

Next step - to get the brief inspection - to confirm that I've met all of the 1934 safety requirments . I assume the inspectors haven't a clue either . . . but, I'm here to edjumicate them.

Originally Posted by Henry Rifle

Next step - to get the brief inspection - to confirm that I've met all of the 1934 safety requirments . I assume the inspectors haven't a clue either . . . but, I'm here to edjumicate them.

thats great to hear Henry, BUT make sure you charge them for schooling them in there own rules.....joe

belive it or not 5 point harnesses are illegal here because they arent dot certy'd. good enough for nascar and top fuel 300+ mph crashes but not for the average 5-55mph crash HUH sounds funny doesnt it.

You know, I expect the CSRs to be short on facts. What grinds my grits is that the enforcement officers don't know the law.

I'd send them a bill, but there are probably 27 forms to fill out, none of which are correct.

Just spent 5 hours at my local DMV this morning.

The 76 Dodge truck I'm now started on came with a dismantling permit. This requires a level 3 inspection to get it converted to a reconstructed salvage title (which can be registered). The inspection is pretty straight forward, lights, brakes, seat belts, and VINs.

The level 2 and 3 inspections are supposed to be from 8-11 Wednesday only. The inspection and paperwork usually only take 1/2 hour so a total of 6 inspections are about all they do a week. I got there an hour before the DMV opened and the second guy arrived about 10 minuets behind me. by 7:30 there were already 4 of us there for inspections.

The office opened at 8 and I was the first one in. At 8:45 the gal behind the desk informed me the inspector would be there at about 9 (I never seen him in before then so that was not a surprise). Basically that leaves 2 hours for inspection; the 5th guy showed up about that time for a level 2 inspection and was turned away. The inspector shows up at 9 gets his coffee, visits and calls my name about 9:10. I pull the truck around to the inspection station and sure enough about 1/2 later he calls me back, I sign some papers write a check for $50 and now have the paperwork to get title and registration.

Now I get to take a number and wait in line for title transfer. When It's my turn I get the lady who hasn't done this before so I get to wait till another one who does know how it's done if free to give her a hand.

This is about average here and it went about like I expected......5 hours later I left DMV, but at least I had title, registration and plates.

Now I can take it all apart and build it.........the alternative would have been to build it and then go thru the same thing......only I would have also had to have receipts for EVERY major component I changed during the build.

This is the list of “stuff” you need to send to the Virginia DMV to title a Replica Motor Vehicle, assuming that you have a Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (MSO), and no VIN. (What they call a "kit car."

Virginia Form VSA 22, Application for Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
VSA 17A, Application for Vehicle Title
Notarized Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin (MSO)
Bill of sale for the body and frame
Bill of sale for the engine
Bill of sale for the transmission
Notarized statement of vehicle construction
Photo of the vehicle in ready-to-run condition
A check in the amount of
- $130.00 for VIN application and fees
- plus $10.00 for the Title,
- plus 3% of the value of the body, frame, engine and transmission (they don’t seem to care about all the other receipts)
Proof of Virginia residence

More information concerning costs and documents can be found at the following website. http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/citizen/vehicles/titling.asp

You can apply for plates at the same time, but I didn't want to stretch my luck. I can pick them up locally

Disclaimer:

1. I have no idea how the process works if you have a title and VIN.
2. Don’t depend on the customer service line to give you accurate information.

The definition of replica vehicles is here:
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp...0+cod+46.2-100

The law for titling replica vehicles is here:
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp...cod+46.2-602.1

Hey Henry can I borrow your info I'd like to add it to Crankshaft Coalition Wiki unless you want to add it over there....joe

Sure, go ahead. That's why I posted it.

After some further research, it looks like you submit all of the same stuff even if you have a title. Just don't send in the VIN application.

heck all they care about here is if you got a windshield and something over the tires.

Thanks Henry && it's already been added....joe