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Thu Jul 21, 2005 6:15 pm

Concerning the registration of rail buggies, and getting them registered for street use. I'm using the "poll" option so those that would like to remain anonimous can do so and still have their answer heard :lol: Not looking for a preaching session here about the rights and wrongs of doing it one way vs. the other, just looking for real answers :wink:

Thu Jul 21, 2005 6:28 pm

OldsCool wrote: Concerning the registration of rail buggies, and getting them registered for street use. I'm using the "poll" option so those that would like to remain anonimous can do so and still have their answer heard :lol: Not looking for a preaching session here about the rights and wrongs of doing it one way vs. the other, just looking for real answers :wink:

I understand, but be aware that if you just get a donor vehicle and register it with that VIN...well, I had an indepth conversation with the state DMV HQ about this. Texas has a law that states something to the effect if the vehicle has been "substantially altered", the title would have to be surrendered and an "assembled vehicle" title applied for.

I asked them what would happen if someone just built a rail buggy up and just had it registered with the original title. They said that if a cop stops you and pulls your registration information and gets that it's a 65 Volkswagen Beetle and you're clearly driving around in a dunebuggy that you could be fined and made to surrender the title, etc. to make it legal.

Different states have different laws, to be sure...please don't think I'm preaching because I'm not...I think it's a crock, myself!!! I do not understand why it cannot be registered as an old VW Beetle since that's what the engine / frame are. I wanted to have mine re-registered as that so I could get "antique" or "classic" plates since I won't be driving it every day. They shot me down...also would have liked to do that because Progressive wants to rip me off on insurance based on the model year and not what it actually is. When I compared the price for insurance for a '91 "assembled vehicle" with them vs. a '94 "assembled vehicle", they wanted $50 more per 6 months just because of 3 years. It's stupid...

Hope your state isn't like this. Hey, if it is I guess you could always title it that way at first until you get caught and then get it switched over. I think it'd take a real jackass of a cop to make a federal case out of something like that.

Thu Jul 21, 2005 6:30 pm

The VIN number on the tunnel of my "donor" car came back as a '94 BMW. But if I changed the first 3 digits to what it should have been for the year of VW it was, it came back as a '74 VW Dasher. It didn't show up as stolen or anything so the DMV decided it wasn't a threat or an issue and let it go at that. Anything before '75 here doesn't need a title. I just carry liability insurance and the insurance company was happy too. Did I break any rules? Everybody else was happy so I decided I would be too.

I'll probably create my own VIN number for the next project.

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TC

Thu Jul 21, 2005 6:36 pm

I also would like to ask those the went about this "by the book", what all did this entail? Any emissions requirements? I know it'll require seatblets (would have those anyway even if it was only used offroad) and lights, you know, all those "common" things on a street car, but was anything out of the ordinary required in your state? Vehicles here don't require a title if they're over 15 years old, btw.

Thu Jul 21, 2005 9:40 pm

The best answer you can get is from your local DMV. I know I know I am preaching but finding a way to get by can be a heartache later when the cop has your car towed because it appears your car has been chop shopped. Don't make the nice officers scratch their heads the job is making them lose their hair anyway.

Fri Jul 22, 2005 12:30 pm

One of the main reasons I asked this question is that it appears to be a common thing to read classified ads that read "titled (or registered) as Beetle". I didn't think it was the *correct* way to do it, but I'm just curious as to the leniency of the matter by the local PD. :D

Fri Jul 22, 2005 12:52 pm

It would most likely depend on whether or not you got a rookie or a seasond officer. Either way it could be a problem in the future.

Fri Jul 22, 2005 1:42 pm

Just to let you know how the cops are around here, I used to have a '52 military Jeep and only one taillight. Well, it turns out only one taillight is required to pass inspection if the vehicle is that old. I cannot count how many times I'd been stopped by the local PD here and just have them turn around and walk away when I told them it was a '52. One said, "Yeah...we called it in and they told us it was a '52 after we'd already turned the lights on...sorry about that...have a good evening..."

Another time, I was driving with the windsheild folded down. I'd called DPS in Austin to verify it was legal to drive the Jeep like that. They said it was fine. I asked about the inspection/registration stickers on the windshield and they said, "Only a jackass would try to give you a ticket for that, especially if the insp. and registration is current..."

So...I told that exact story to the PoPo when he pulled up next to me threatening to give me a ticket for not having the inspection/registration stickers displayed. He just gave me a funny look and drove off.

Another incident...in the adjacent town, a soldier had been deployed to Iraq and left his vehicle (I think it was a classic pickup) in his driveway (intact and operational...not on blocks, no flats or anything) with his parents checking on it periodically. During this time, they sent a notice for him to remove the vehicle as a "public nuisance" since the registration and inspection had expired. He wasn't there to respond to it and it went to his home, so his parents didn't know about it. They towed his vehicle and crushed it. I do not believe he was ever compensated for this illegal siezure. (Texas state law dictates that the vehicle can be parked in your driveway with expired registration and inspection as long as it is operational)

This is how the police operate in my area, so I cannot take any chances...they will confiscate and crush first, and ask questions later. If they're not @#$%&* in your area, you may have better luck. It's just their general mentality here...or lack thereof.