[rcweingart]

You personally do not have to build the car but you cannot have the dealer/company that you bought the car/kit from complete it. You can by up to a roller with everything but the drive train installed and then have a second company not affliated with the dealer from whom you got the car install the drive train - or do it yourself. You should have receipts and/or other proof that the cr was not a completed car when you bought it. Receipts showing you bought the car/kit from one source and receipts showing that you boiught the engine, etc., from a different source are desired. Photos showing you installing the drive train if you do it or receipts from a third party who installed it should satisfy the "proof" requirement. DMV wants you to list all of the costs associated with the vehicle including the value of your labor if you performed any labor on the completion/build of the car.