Latest TX Registration Info

tcolley1 · #1 (**permalink**) 12-11-2003, 05:56 PM

Well group I tried to get my car registered today via all the information that was taken from the forum for Texas registration. I had all my paperwork in order, affivadits, pencil sketch of the FFR number, title application, inspection form and green sheet, proof of insurance, pictures,etc.

Guess What Happened?

I went to the DPS office on Dacoma where others have gone to get the cars registered today and tried to get my car registered. After much discussion with the clerk and her supervisor they told me that the DPS is NOT going to register our cars as 1965's regardless! They don't care if they are Assembled, Replicas or etc. They will be registered in the year that they were assembled, in my case 2003. Not only that, the supervisor said if she ever found out who was able to get there cars registered as a 1965 she would have their titles pulled. Also they wanted me to make an appointment to take the car to a DPS Theft Prevention officer so that he could inspect the body, chassis, motor, tranny, rear end, etc to make sure it wasn't stolen. He would then issue me a Vin# that I was to have stamped on the body, chassis, etc. Then I was to make a tracing of that number and bring it back with all the other information that I had to them and then they would register my car as an 2003 "Assembled" vehicle.

I was so frustrated that I left thinking well there has to be another way to get this done.

So I went to my local Harris County Tax Accessors Office and tried again. They also said they would only register the car as an Assembled Vehicle in the year in which it was assembled, however they were willing to accept all my paper work and put on the title a 1965 Replica Cobra . The asst. mgr. there was more than pleasant and advised me on what to do so that I would not have to go through the DPS "BS" and that if the car was an assembled car we did not have to pay taxes on the parts used. However, if it were a "home built" car we would have to pay taxes and would have to go to the DPS "BS".

Quote:

According to the Texas "Vehicle Title Manual" from last year, pages 199 and 200, "Assembled Vehicle's" are titled as the YEAR MODEL according to these rules: "The year model is the same as shown on the evidence of ownership covering the prefabricated body. If no year model designation is shown or if the make of the vehicle is "assembled", the year in which the vehicle was assembled will determine the year model."

I pointed that out to both supervisors at both places and they said it has to be registered in the year that it was assembled...not what the MSO says! They contend that it was not built nor assembled in 1965 because the the FFR MSO was dated in 2002. They also said that this proves that it was manufactured and sold in 2002 not 1965. And since I assembled it in 2003 that is what must be shown on the title.

I pushed it as far as I dared at the time and got absolutely nowhere with the dps. They wouldn't register it at all without the dps officer involvement. The dps was not cooperative at all (and believe me I really worked all the "nice guy" angles before getting into a very strong discussion with them about their interpetation of the manual.) I was told flatly they would not register it as a 1965 no matter what the MSO says !

At least Harris county was nice about it and let me register it with the info I presented.

It would be nice if we could get a "legal" ruling on this from one of our attorney members before it becomes impossible to register these cars. T

The vehicle ID#: is FFR #______
Yr/Make: 2003ASVE (assembled)
Model: 302 (427 or whatever you want)
Body Style: CV (convertible)(they don't have an abbreviation for roadster)
Previous owner: Factory Five Racing, Inc.
Replica: 1965 Cobr

It cost me $105.30 to get all this done today but I walked out with my registration, title applied for, sticker and plates.

So for the rest of you going to get yours registered in Harris County... BE PREPARED
and go to your local tax accessors office to apply for your registration and title.

If you want to email or give me a call I will put you in touch with the lady who helped me and was willing to help others with this process.

Terry

stuck · #2 (**permalink**) 12-16-2003, 10:12 PM

That just plain SUCKS!

It's stuff liek that that makes me want to keep the car I have!

Turk · #3 (**permalink**) 12-16-2003, 10:41 PM

Move to California... It will make you homesick..

TURK

Roxie_427 · #4 (**permalink**) 12-17-2003, 07:03 AM

falcon65,

Thanks for the heads up. However, you failed to mention the bottom line (in my opinion). What's the ruling on emissions?

Personally, I don't care what year it says on the title, except for the part about having to pass emissions testing. If someone tries to tell me that I have to use EFI and OBDII on a 427 Shelby aluminum motor, I'll be well beyond sick.

Am I missing something?

Tim
Seabrook, TX

cobra427hp · #5 (**permalink**) 12-17-2003, 08:09 AM

The year is to be when frame is assembled or car built , but the Replica 1965 Cobra meens you only have to comply with the 1965 emissions test (nothing). That is exactly what the DPS officers in Garland were trying to relate. The problem is everyone is trying to get 1965 for the year (fraud). Go ahead and play by the rules with the assembled car (2003) and Replica 1965. I had to talk with different people at the county to get them to read and understand the rules for replica vehicles, besides everyone knows government employees lose all common brain function once they join the ranks. The main thing is to not have to comply with 2003 emissions, particularly in our area.

lewismc · #6 (**permalink**) 12-17-2003, 08:17 AM

With this question raised. Has anyone had to take thier Cobra for emission testing? If so, what were the results?
I live in the Austin area and currently we are not required to meet any emission regulations.
My car is register as a 2001.

Lew

CowtownCobra · #7 (**permalink**) 12-17-2003, 09:35 AM

Mine is registered as 2003. But is emission exempt because the engine block is 1971 pre-emissions. Inspection sticker says 1966. And at least we don't have 5 mph bumpers or air bags yet.

tcolley1 · #8 (**permalink**) 12-17-2003, 06:35 PM

Quote:

The main thing is to not have to comply with 2003 emissions, particularly in our area.

Exactly!

Quote:

Thanks for the heads up. However, you failed to mention the bottom line (in my opinion). What's the ruling on emissions?

I'm not sure about that as I don't know how my title is going to read. I do know that it says 1965 Replica Cobra on it though.

Quote:

Personally, I don't care what year it says on the title, except for the part about having to pass emissions testing. If someone tries to tell me that I have to use EFI and OBDII on a 427 Shelby aluminum motor, I'll be well beyond sick.

That's how I feel about my car too!

The Tax Accessors Office said that it would not effect emissions because it was listed as 1965 Cobra Replica... however that remains to be seen. At least it has a 2004 inspection sticker and it is listed as a 1965 on that. I will keep the group posted as to how my title reads when I get it back.

Terry

gsharapa · #9 (**permalink**) 12-17-2003, 09:55 PM

I registered my SPF about 3 weeks ago with Tax Office in Collin County, Plano Office. They brought out their rule book and gave me a copy of everything I needed. Green Sheet (Inspection) Proof of insurance, picture of the car, insurance proof, MSO, Bill Of Sale, engine and transmission reciept showing I paid sales tax on those two items, pencil trace of frame number and engine number, and fill out two forms. I read the rules right out of their Texas DPS hand book and the cars are to be registered as Assembled in year build, mine 2003 and then they put 1965 Shelby Cobra Replica on my Title under the mileage. They told me it is excempt from emmisions..........

tcolley1 · #10 (**permalink**) 12-17-2003, 10:17 PM

Quote:

I read the rules right out of their Texas DPS hand book and the cars are to be registered as Assembled in year build, mine 2003 and then they put 1965 Shelby Cobra Replica on my Title under the mileage. They told me it is excempt from emmisions..........

Gary,

I'm glad it went so smoothly for you!

Hopefully mine will be exempt from the emissions too! We will have to wait and see when we try to inspect them next year. It depends on what comes up on the inspection computer. Right!

Terry

Mrs 66 Snake · #11 (**permalink**) 12-18-2003, 07:17 PM

Alan has taken his in for inspection twice. Basically he just showed him our insurance which lists it as a '66. It helps that there are HS boys in there that are more interested in talking HP than in actually doing an emissions test. But he's not had a problem.

gsharapa · #12 (**permalink**) 12-19-2003, 04:04 PM

Terry,

If you have any problems next year let me know and I can get it done for you!

tcolley1 · #13 (**permalink**) 12-19-2003, 08:59 PM

Thanks Gary!

If I do have a problem I will definitely call upon you for your help, OK?

Regards,

Terry

Rickyd · #14 (**permalink**) 01-01-2004, 09:25 AM

Gary,

What year is your block? Does it matter if one goes with a new crate engine in Texas? Will it be exempt from emissions? Thanks,

gsharapa · #15 (**permalink**) 01-01-2004, 10:50 AM

The people I talked to at the DMV office said the replica status is what made the difference. The funny thing is you have to have it inspected (green sheet) prior to going into the office and registeing it and everyone I know who has done this the inspectors are so taken back by the car, that most ask you what it is to write it down on their sheet.

bdriver · #16 (**permalink**) 01-01-2004, 12:56 PM

"besides everyone knows government employees lose all common brain function once they join the ranks. cobra427hp"

Well that's an intelligent departure. I was tracking with great interest your challenges with working with simple rules and regulations when I ran across that statement. Sorry for your lack of respect for others and your inability to better articulate your frustrations. Sorta refocused my interests....