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Fri Apr 14, 2006 5:15 pm

I went to go get tags today for the buggy, after all these years I am finaaly gonna get to cruise in it. I had lost the title years ago so I had to get a dup title for it and in 3 days from now I got tags and good to go. NOT. Seems if titles are inactive with no registration for so long in PA they purge it out of the system. Now I have to file for lost title and they are gonna look in the archives for it . Thats takes at least 4-6 weeks from what they tell me
Does anyone know how to speed this process up?
Anybody got friends in PA's DOT?

Fri Apr 14, 2006 6:00 pm

If you can find a wrecked beetle with paperwork from a friend, cut the VIN out of the chasis and remove the tag on the body and weld it into your buggy.

Fri Apr 14, 2006 6:14 pm

The problem with that is I would have to meet inspection standards for whatever year that car is, It already has the special construction VIN, I want to keep it. I just wish I could speed up the process of getting it reinstated

Fri Apr 14, 2006 9:09 pm

nivag wrote: If you can find a wrecked beetle with paperwork from a friend, cut the VIN out of the chasis and remove the tag on the body and weld it into your buggy.
That is also illegal in all states.

Fri Apr 14, 2006 9:23 pm

Oh ya, did I forget to mention that is probably illegal...

Fri Apr 14, 2006 9:31 pm

you should still get a temp sticker/ plats of some sort. so you can drive while waiting.

Sat Apr 15, 2006 3:56 am

When the state finds the title will it come back as a buggy specific title or just a VW title? If it's just a VW title, I would apply for a title thru Broadway Title Service. It may cost a little more but it would only take 10 days or so. Don't say it's a dune buggy, just tell them it's a VW sedan.
Jerry...

Sat Apr 15, 2006 5:18 am

It should come back as buggy specific. It just ticks me off that the buggy is 99% done an I am missing out on some of the shows while my buggy collects dust in the garage and there is nothing I can do about it. They won't even consider any tags till the title record gets found in the archives they said. When they looked for it in the computer all it has listed is the VIN number and the word purged beside it. It doesn't even say who owns it. They said I could be any guy off the street trying to get the title cause they have no idea who owns it. I obviously know I do. If i got a temp tag they would be taking my word for it.

lesson learned over this, every couple years get registration renewed so it doesn't happen again

Sat Apr 15, 2006 6:48 am

I went threw Broadway title with my buggy about 5 years ago. I actually told them it was a dune buggy. My title says 1964 Dune Buggy. (even though they specifcally said no kit cars) I didn't want any issues with the police if it said something different than what it was. BUT I had a hard time insuring it as a "dunebuggy" Even getting plates for it every year is tough, as I have to explain its fully street legal, and not some strictly off road thing.

Broadway was VERY easy to use, and i would have had to go threw a TON of red tape to get my buggy on the road with out them. (I am using a Berrien chassis) Using them was money well spend in my opinion.

-Jay

Sat Apr 15, 2006 7:08 am

it sounds like you'll have to get it inspected as special construction again now. are you sure its ready?
i tried to go that route and it looked next to impossible.
unless you know someone who is just going to pass it you need rear engine cover, backup and hazard lights in addition to the others,a defroster (20 buck plug in is acceptable), full fender coverage front and back wheels - that would be 10 oclock on the front and 3 oclock on the rear,etc.
and thats the easy part! if it comes back that they can't find the title then thats when the real fun starts! do you have a bill of sale saying it was like this when you bought it? otherwise you need to show receipts for each part put into the car if you built it.
yes, a huge pain in the ass.
i'll see if i can find the guys email that is a liason with the state for this stuff.

Sat Apr 15, 2006 7:24 am

This is one the main reason I scrapped my swing axle pan and got a pan from a current titled IRS beetle. NOBODY understands dunebuggy at the DMV.
MURZ

Sat Apr 15, 2006 7:32 am

and they're like that commercial, the one with david spade where they only say 'no'.
you can be halfway through a sentence and they're already saying 'nope, can't do that'.
and i thought the government only hired 'yes' men!

Sat Apr 15, 2006 8:20 am

The lady at the messenger service already said they should have a record they just have to find it. As far as legal standpoint I already have the special construction VIN the state issued. There is no law saying I have to register my car every year, That state just assumed it was never going to be registered again. If they can't find the record, and If I throw alot of legal mumbo jumbo at them I hope they just automaticlly reissue the title. I do have pictures proving I owned it 10 years ago also. I was the last person to register it. Maybe that is enough proof but it is the DMV anything can happen
I just gotta wait and see
Waiting sucks

Sat Apr 15, 2006 8:24 am

hey 90 voltd, here is a copy of inspection procedure ( off the state website)for specially constructe/ street rod , By law you need no defroster. They are holding you to regular inpspection standards
http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/067/chapter175/s175.220.html

Sat Apr 15, 2006 9:42 am

well, hopefully you have an easier time than i did. but that guy, John, is the head of the inspection services in the state. i talked to him several times through email and phone calls.he told me that all regulations to normal motor vehicles apply- and the section on special construction vehicles is in addition to that.
i get the feeling that they don't want anything other than new cars to be on the road.

Sat Apr 15, 2006 10:02 am

Yeah, they want new cars on the road, that way new cars are bought (sales tax income) new cars break (higher costs to fix, income tax income) old cars become scap metal (more income tax when scrap gets sold) , people that feel its not worth it to fix their newer car (say early 90's) go out and lease or buy a new car( say 2000 or newer) and the circle starts all over again.
I got a feeling its about money

Thu Apr 20, 2006 12:37 pm

Gotta love PA - I did my out of state transfer through AAA and it went pretty smooth.

But unrelated to buggy - had an old savings account for my one daughter "surrendered" to the state. We forgot about it and it was just sitting there collecting interest for several years.

So they take the money - and I find out about it in the newspaper as an "unclaimed property" notification. Filled out the paperwork, called and followed up. Took almost year to get back my daughters money.

Ya know what really sucks - you are trying to do everything correct and legal. And there are how many bozos out there driving with suspended licenses and no insurance.

Sat Apr 29, 2006 9:23 am

Well, doing it the correct way pays off. Today I recieved my title, special construction 100% legite. I am ready to get those tags now. This town is going to see 1600cc's of pure terror :lol: Well on second thought maybe just a small burnout or two

Sat Apr 29, 2006 9:30 am

That's great... diddn't seem to take so long. ( 4-6 weeks?) Was there something you did to speed it up? Or did they just get off their ass and get it done faster?

Sat Apr 29, 2006 10:07 am

they just got off their ass for a change. I actually put off buying the few parts I needed, I am going tobuy them at the next show ( May 7) instead of ordering them cause I thought I had a couple weeks to wait still. Now I can get tags but I have to wait for parts. But May 8th is set aside for the buggy all day long :twisted: