I just went through the registration process last week and it went smoothly.....after carefully preparing for the visit to the county tax assessor for the registration process. Mine was slightly different in that this was a new registration but the process is essentially the same. The key is visit the Texas Motor Vehicle website,
TxDMV - Home and search for the right documents to review ahead of time. If you go to the registration office asking questions, you can get a lot of different answers, and perhaps one you don't like. This is because there are several approaches to licensing vehicles in Texas, and kit cars on not a frequent occurrence for them. There are 3 good documents to search for on the website:
1.) Motor Vehicle Registration Manual, section 21.2 Classic Motor Vehicles and travel Trailer; Custom Vehicles; Street Rods. I chose the Street Rod license approach. The Custom Vehicle approach is the same. Just depends what you want written on your tag.
2.) Registration and Title Bulletin - #004-12 This can be hard to find, but is important to get. Search for "RTB's". It lists the steps and documents you need. It also talks about getting a Corrected Texas Title, which is what I believe you will need.
3.) Frequently Asked Questions and Answers on the Street Rod process. You will find this with the same attachments section (2012 RTB's) and this is where it states you do not need to get the annual vehicle inspection sticker. At least that is the only place I found it in writing.
So the steps I took after reading this material:
1. Got my insurance and made sure it stated "1965 Ford Replica"
2. Got a ASE technician to inspect the vehicle and sign form VTR-852
3. Got a vehicle inspection sticker. Safety inspection only...no emissions inspection required. Even though the State docs said I don't need this, I got one anyway. I figured the $14.50 was cheap compared to the hassle factor of discussing the rules with all of the police that would pull me over for not having the sticker.
4. Obtained certified weight certificate. Should have done this first as the safety inspection tech asked for the weight. But he gave me the sticker anyway and left that section blank. Caught a nice guy!
5. Put a complete documentation package together that included:
a) RTB #004-12 (see above)
b)Most frequently asked questions (see above)
c)VTR-852 (ASE inspection form)
d)MSO from Factory Five Racing (kit mfg)
e)Engine receipt
f)Trans receipt & photo of trans S/N
g)VTR-61,Rebuilt Vehicle Statement
h) Tracings of Motor and frame (used form VTR-301 for each) and photos of Motor and Fram S/N's
i)Weight Certificate
j)Form 130-U, Application for Texas Cetficate of Title
k) 3 photos of car, front, side, & rear
l) Photo of 65 Shelby Cobra
j) Copy of Insurance Card
I walked into the registration office with this package, explained I was wanting to title and register the car per the Street Rod licensing process, showed them the bulletin. The lady said " I wish everybody would come in here this prepared." and I walked out 20 minutes later with the registration sticker and temporary tag. Tags and title will be mailed in a couple of weeks.
By the way, I explained that I paid sales taxes, as applicable, on all of the parts as I built it and did not feel I should have to pay any sales taxes. She checked with someone in the office, agreed and just charged the registration fee, about $100.
Two previous trips to the office to get a temporary tag so that I could get the car inspected did not work out so well. Got two different answers and no temporary tag. That's when I decided to quit asking what I needed to do, and prepared an action plan.
Hope that helps.
Registration Process in Texas
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