Phase II: CT Registration, Inspection, Emissions

[Don]

To consolidate the recent Threads on CT Registration, Inspection & Emissions along with the Thread dating back to 4-15-06 . Hopefully, with new info and updates all on a single Thread, Phase II, might make the inquires, research etc. easier. If I missed a CT Thread, please add the link.

Connecticut registration experience with an out of state (NY) Cobra

Connecticut registration experience with an out of state (NY) Cobra

Ct Composite Exemption 4 emissions

Ct Composite Exemption 4 emissions

CT Council of Car Clubs: 4C's

CT Council of Car Clubs: 4C's

Connecticut: Registration, Inspection & Emissions ( 4-15-06 )

Connecticut: Registration, Inspection & Emissions

[Don]

fyi

Senate Bill 1073: AN ACT MAKING REVISIONS TO STATUTES CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES,

Sec. 30. Section 14-20

Sec. 31. Subsection (b) of section 12-71

Sec. 33. Subsection (b) of section 14-16a

Sec. 34. Section 14-103a

Reference the above Sections:

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2009/TOB/S/200...073-R05-SB.htm

Progress to date, key in 1073

http://www.cga.ct.gov/

[Don]

Senate Bill 1073 was replaced with Senate Bill 1081.

SB 1081 (File 356, as amended by Senate “A,” “B,” “C” and “D”)*

AN ACT CONCERNING THE FUNCTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES.

Summary: 30 & 31 — COMPOSITE MOTOR VEHICLES

The bill requires, for purposes of registration and mandatory mechanical inspections required by law, that the model year of a composite motor vehicle be determined as the model year that the body of the vehicle most closely resembles. The law defines a “composite motor vehicle” as one composed or assembled from several parts of other motor vehicles, or the identification and body contours of which are so altered that the vehicle no longer bears the characteristics of any specific make of motor vehicle. Any vehicle not assembled by a DMV-licensed manufacturer is considered a composite motor vehicle.

The bill authorizes the commissioner to require inspection of any other motor vehicle than has not been made by a DMV-licensed motor vehicle manufacturer.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2009

Passed on 6-2-09 by Senate and House, forwarded to Governor for approval

Unknown until DMV issues regulations:

* Specific model year assigned to the Cobra ?
* If, and then how, currently registered Composites will have the Model Year changed from year first registered in CT to the " model year that the body of the vehicle most closely resembles "

Progress to date, key in 1081

http://www.cga.ct.gov/

[SJK2]

Don,
Thanks for staying on top of this. Will hope currently registered Composites will not be unduly required to be reinspected........

[Don]

Steve, I interpreted the wording including inspections to apply to the Composites which were never registered in CT. Hopefully, if the DMV decides to change Model year for currently registered Composites, it will be a paperwork transfer.....

[Don]

Good discussion on sides pipe noise, registration, etc., etc.,

http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/show...787#post957787

[Don]

Excerpt from SB 1073, note the wording of the Bill applies to the model year, not the make which remains as " Composite " . The emissions exemption passed prior to 2009 specifically mentions Composite as the qualifier.

RE: Senate Bill 1073: AN ACT MAKING REVISIONS TO STATUTES CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES,

Sec. 33. Subsection (b) of section 14-16a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2009):

Includes: " The model year designation for the purpose of registration of a modified antique motor vehicle or a composite motor vehicle shall be the model year that the body of such vehicle most closely resembles "

From a discussion earlier this week with a DMV official, the sole purpose was to seek clarification of the above changes.

* Changes to the DMV web site are still in process, no specific date as to when the changes will be completed
* Web site not being updated does not impact the effective date of 10-1-09 for SB 1073 Sec 33 as mentioned above
* Inspection Lane & Administrative personnel are aware of the changes
* Make remains as a Composite, which still allows for the emission exemption
* Model, for Cobra kit cars/replicas, will be Cobra
* Year can be either 1965 or 1966. Owner needs to include as documentation a picture of an original, i.e., " Model year that the body of such vehicle most closely resembles." While the Cobra body is obvious to most people, some might not recognize other makes/year built as a kit/replica
* Change in model year designation is not retroactive, applies only if registered 10-1-09 or later.

[Cashburn]

Don,
Here's the one piece of info that we have not been able to ascertain ... will you be able to get Early American tags?

[428street]

Cashburn, to your point...


Per these points below..

* Year can be either 1965 or 1966. Owner needs to include as documentation a picture of an original, i.e., " Model year that the body of such vehicle most closely resembles." While the Cobra body is obvious to most people, some might not recognize other makes/year built as a kit/replica

----------> This should be easy.

* Change in model year designation is not retroactive, applies only if registered 10-1-09 or later.

--------------> So we would have to unregister the car, then reregister to enable us to get EA white plates?

[Cashburn]

I am asking this question from the angle of a new registration and not a car that has been previously registered/inspected.

[Don]

*** Current CT DMV definition of Early American Plates,from the DMV web site:

" Early American Plates (also know as antique plates) - Refers to a license plate which is given only to a motor vehicle 20 years old or older, is being preserved because of the historic interest and is not altered or modified from the original manufacturer’s specification "

http://www.ct.gov/dmv/lib/dmv/M-22.pdf

Might be the only way to determine if EA plates can be obtained when the Make is a Composite , submit an application, if registered after 10-01-09 and has the 1965/66 model year on the registration. However, note the last phrase above " is not altered or modified from the original manufacturer’s specification ", form your own opinion as to the interpretation by the DMV. Note on the form, pdf above, the current registration has to be entered,. My last experience with a vanity/special interest plate was in 2002 , had to have a regular plate first,( Section 2 PRESENT PLATE NUMBER ) then apply for the special plate, a 2 step process. The 20 year old or older portion of the definition could also be subject to interpretation, Cobra kit was built this year but there is a provision for using 1965/66 as the model year. Is it 20 years or older or not yet 1 year old ?

*** Question was answered very specifically:

" Change in model year designation is not retroactive, applies only if registered 10-1-09 or later "

However, on the positive side, just think of all the challenges if the emission exemption did not exist.

[Don]

If there is a new registration after 10-1-09 using the Model Year method, might help others to post the actual experience. Also, applying and obtaining, or not, the Early American plates using a registration having the Model Year of 1965/66, with the Make of Composite

[428street]

With the understanding that everyone has their own agenda here, I'd love to find out if you have a registered car with the year it was built (non 65/66), can you cancel the reg, get the year changed and get EA plates.

From this thread it seems that if you have a composite car and register(ed) it after 10/1/09 you definitely get the year designation (if it looks like a Cobra and you can document it) but the AE plates are still in question correct?

[Cashburn]

Originally Posted by 428street

From this thread it seems that if you have a composite car and register(ed) it after 10/1/09 you definitely get the year designation (if it looks like a Cobra and you can document it) but the AE plates are still in question correct?

Yes. We will be handling the process in a couple weeks for a customer and will see.

[stush]

So let me get this straight...

My FIA Cobra was registered as a 2006 Composite, does this mean that I cannot get the date of the car changed to 1965?

Stu

[Cashburn]

Originally Posted by stush

So let me get this straight...

My FIA Cobra was registered as a 2006 Composite, does this mean that I cannot get the date of the car changed to 1965?

Stu

Not unless you turn in your tags and re-enter the process again (with a new inspection).

[Joy]

We went down in Oct. after the law went into effect. We were told we could not change the registration that we currently have. Car remains registered as a 2009 composite.

[Joy]

I asked about turning in the tags and was told that once the car was registered, it would keep that status even if I turned the registration in.

[RENEW1]

According to my Town's tax assessor, there will be no $500 max value for any Cobra replica if it is not an original more than 25 years old. He referred me to section 14-1, definitions, of the motor vehicle code which defines a special interest vehicle as follows:

"Antique, rare or special interest motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle twenty-five years old or older which is being preserved because of historic interest and which is not altered or modified from the original manufacturer's specifications.
The wording in the changes in PA 09-187 read as follows:
"Except as otherwise provided by the general statutes, property subject to this section shall be valued at the same percentage of its then actual valuation as the assessors have determined with respect to the listing of real estate for the same year, except that any antique,rare or special interest motor vehicle, as defined in section 14-1, as amended by this act, shall be assessed at a value of not more than five hundred dollars".
It goes on to say that if a vehicle as defined by 14-1 does not have antique plates you can get the $500 limit if you prove to the assessor the car as defined by 14-1 meets that definition. Cars with antique plates do not need to prove that the car meets the definition of 14-1 if it has antique plates.
In summary, no antique plates, no $500 limit.

[MAGS427]

Just received my "supplemental" tax bill, since I registered the car in July 2009 the bill shows the car assessed at a 25% pro-ration of $7,880 @ 26.5 mills a wopping $209 tax. Looking forward to that amount quadrupaling this July when i would have had the car registered for a whole tax year.

I called the assessor to find out how the assessed value was determined she told me that they go on the internet to determine value, assess and then leave it up to the taxpayer to dispute if it is too high. In fact she admitted that they lean on the high side, it then depreciates 10% a year. So after 10 years I guess I will not have to pay anymore.

Fantastic I say, my neighbor with the $100,000 '69 camaro is only paying $186 a year. No one going on the internet to see what that is worth. Consistency is all I ask. I bet though that had i waited till after October and gotten the year on the title to say '66 composite i would have sneaked by.