Registering New Cobras in WA.

[*13*]

What is the current situation? I need to register my car now. I've been putting it off because they wanted to require me to do emissions. That just isnt going to fly. My block is a 64' 289 with Webers on top. They didn't seem to know exactly what they were looking at here at the tacoma office & kept coming up with the car having to be smogged.

[Gun Doc]

*13* I live in Gig Harbor and had to jump through a few hoops, but was successful in registering mine as a 1965 without Smog, safety, etc. Here is what I wrote on this Forum last summer after getting mine registered:

Success!! After many months, trips to DOL, calls to Olympia and a visit to the Department of Revenue, my Cobra is finally registered and title applied for as a 1965 Cobra.

I found my original receipt for title from Texas, showing tax paid and the car described as a 1965 Ford Cobra Replica and took it, along with my current Tennessee title to the Department of Revenue in Tacoma. The clerk there was very helpful and since I had owned my car for more than seven years and originally paid sales tax on it, issued me an exemption for sales tax. I took that document, along with my TN title and paperwork from Texas to the Gig Harbor DOL and walked out with my temp plate and registration for a classic, custom vehicle.

This process was by far the most challenging one I’ve faced in three states when registering my car – Including the original registration in Texas. Sure, in Texas I had to get an inspection from DPS and a weight slip from a certified scale, but after one call to the county I knew exactly what I needed. Here I had to educate EVERYONE along the way about the laws. One clerk at Customer Service in Olympia went so far as to tell me that all they did was record keeping. She said if I wanted to challenge what she thought was the law, I needed to get an attorney! Unbelievable!!

I am grateful for SB5585 and all the folks that worked so hard to get it enacted, but our state (or contracted) employees at DOL should really read it and learn what it means.

If your car has not been registered anywhere prior to now, you will have to get it inspected by WSP in addition to what I did above. They have an inspection station in Tacoma, but I know they get backed up and it could take a while to get an appointment. Also, you will have to pay sales tax, so receipts are a must as the DOL will attempt to look up the car in NADA, I was "lucky" in that I had alread paid tax in Texas a number of years before. Go see the DOL in Gig Harbor, there are two folks there that know the process.

Good Luck!!

[*13*]

Originally Posted by Gun Doc

*13* I live in Gig Harbor and had to jump through a few hoops, but was successful in registering mine as a 1965 without Smog, safety, etc. Here is what I wrote on this Forum last summer after getting mine registered:

Success!! After many months, trips to DOL, calls to Olympia and a visit to the Department of Revenue, my Cobra is finally registered and title applied for as a 1965 Cobra.

I found my original receipt for title from Texas, showing tax paid and the car described as a 1965 Ford Cobra Replica and took it, along with my current Tennessee title to the Department of Revenue in Tacoma. The clerk there was very helpful and since I had owned my car for more than seven years and originally paid sales tax on it, issued me an exemption for sales tax. I took that document, along with my TN title and paperwork from Texas to the Gig Harbor DOL and walked out with my temp plate and registration for a classic, custom vehicle.

This process was by far the most challenging one I’ve faced in three states when registering my car – Including the original registration in Texas. Sure, in Texas I had to get an inspection from DPS and a weight slip from a certified scale, but after one call to the county I knew exactly what I needed. Here I had to educate EVERYONE along the way about the laws. One clerk at Customer Service in Olympia went so far as to tell me that all they did was record keeping. She said if I wanted to challenge what she thought was the law, I needed to get an attorney! Unbelievable!!

I am grateful for SB5585 and all the folks that worked so hard to get it enacted, but our state (or contracted) employees at DOL should really read it and learn what it means.

If your car has not been registered anywhere prior to now, you will have to get it inspected by WSP in addition to what I did above. They have an inspection station in Tacoma, but I know they get backed up and it could take a while to get an appointment. Also, you will have to pay sales tax, so receipts are a must as the DOL will attempt to look up the car in NADA, I was "lucky" in that I had alread paid tax in Texas a number of years before. Go see the DOL in Gig Harbor, there are two folks there that know the process.

Good Luck!!

Thank you, I'll run over to Gig Harbor today & see what they can do for me. It's been registered in two states, by me. I'm the only owner. I don't see why this should be a big deal.

[Gun Doc]

Originally Posted by *13*

Thank you, I'll run over to Gig Harbor today & see what they can do for me. It's been registered in two states, by me. I'm the only owner. I don't see why this should be a big deal.

If you have problems, send me a PM and I can talk you through what I did to get it done.

[th2244]

SB-5585 clearly indicates CUSTOM VEHICLE designation is the path. My FFR Mk 3 is now licensed as a 1965 Shelby Cobra in the state of WA, with forever valid collector plates, and no emission testing ever required. That is your right under the Senate Bill. You'll get bad info from every local office, but a manager in Olympia can help sort it out. Know the provisions of SB-5585.
Contact in Olympia is:
Elisa Wilson
Vehicle Services Liaison Officer 1
Washington State Department of Licensing
Phone: 360-902-3746
Fax: 360-507-7808

[Gun Doc]

*13* Did you have any luck with the Gig Harbor DOL??

[dblbarrel]

Any one have any luck trying to trying to license a KITV as the year it replicates, when it is all ready titled in WA. I have gotten different answers depending on who I talk to.
BTW, Elisa Wilson referred to above is no longer in that department.

[SwiftDB4]

I got my GT40 retitled from KITV to Custom vehicle in 2011. SB5585, Section 5 clearly says Custom vehicle need not be an initial registration. Take a copy of SB5585 with you to a local office. If they give you trouble ask to speak to someone in DOL at Olympia. Don't take no for an answer- ask for a supervisor or specialist. When we got 5585 passed we had the retitle provision added to the final bill. Initially DOL wouldn't recognize this until I pointed out Section 5 to a supervisor.

[dblbarrel]

Thanks Swift I will give it a try.

[Moriarty]

Any luck? I'm going through this process right now (posting from the waiting room waiting for a call back from Olympia). Elisa apparently no longer works there. Have there been any changes to SB 5585 since 2011? The current hang up is that the existing out of state title lists the manufacturer year (< 30 years old) rather than the model year.

[dblbarrel]

This is where I am in the process. I recieved this May 22 from the DOL.
Right after I asked for the WAC that says I cannot register my car as a custom vehicle, rather than a KITV vehicle.
I believe they are stalling hoping I give up.
Below is the response from the DOL Vehicle/Vessel Liaison Officer II.
She says they should have an answerer "soon".


Hi Tim,

No worries! Thank you for providing the attached. I am going to forward all of your information to our Legislative and Policy team for review and recommendations.

I will respond to you once I hear back from this department.


Sincerely,