Roger and Karl,
It is correct we no longer have a State Patrol inspection of out of state vehicles. It is true, their primary targets were stolen vehicles (mostly late model joy rides, or popular utilitarian models) that were trying to "wash" a title by changing the state of registration. It was a tremendously costly waste of time since they caught a mere handfull the last year in operation. In a surprise move, considering how inept our state usually is fiscally, the program was terminated on cost effectiveness basis almost two years ago.
I have registered two cars from out of state that had titles from the pre-emission test period in the past couple years. Both sailed through the process without a wiggle, burp, hitch, or any other descriptor you would like to use. Whatever the old title said is what the new title says, e.g. 1927 Ford roadster. Much easier than the "old days" of WSP hassles at the inspection station. As for kit built cars, I have not done it personally, but have been told the date will be based on the MSO, and taxing will be based on receipts. The local DOL licsensee will assign a VIN base on completion of the paperwork process, and of course the money grubbers will extract tax based on sum of the receipts. If the out of state title is already in your name, then the tax is not due since you are only transferring state of ownership rather than transferring ownership. Also, I believe the emissions testing cutoff date is a rolling 25 year old criteria, no longer a specific calendar year cutoff.
Roger, the practice of buying a title has about disappeared since it is deamed a felony, class "C" I believe, to sell one or use one to "fraudulantly" register a vehicle. I know of two guys who got out of the title business here in Washington because of that. Does it still happen? Well, office pools on who wins the Super Bowl are illegal gambling too, but I'd be willing to bet (oops!) there might be a few happening anyway later this month.
