My Morning at the DMV.

[Chad1376]

So I decided to get the title for my Thing transferred to my name, before I spend any more time and money on it. Not registered, just titled. I trailered it down, sans engine; since if there was some wacky issue with it, I wouldn't loose $3K worth of parts.

Here's a replay of conversation with the idiot at the VIN inspection booth.

Idiot: We can't inspect the vin since the vehicle doesn't have an engine.

Chad: The engine hasn't been installed since the car is not titled in my name. I am here to ensure I have a clear title on the car before I spend any additional money on it.

Idiot: We are not allowed to inspect incomplete vehicles

Chad: So I have to invest money in a car I technically don't own before I can have it titled in my name?

Idiot: I don't know. My supervisor wont let us inspect vehicles unless they are substantially complete.

Chad: By substantially complete, do you mean the car has to me 100% roadworthy? I do not intend to register the car today. I just want it titled before I invest more money in the vehicle.

Idiot: No, it just has to have all the major components.

Chad: OK, so do you have a list of the "major components" so I know what has to be on the car before you will look at the VIN number.

Idiot: There is no list.

Chad: So you are enforcing an undocumented policy? Is this policy at the discretion of the inspector?

Idiot: My boss says I can't inspect a VIN number on a vehicle without an engine since someone had, at one time, installed stolen parts on a registered vehicle. You'll need to talk to him on Monday. Here's his card.

Chad: So what happens if I invest money to complete the vehicle, only to find out later that there is an issue with the title.

Idiot: The current title looks OK. I don't think there will be any issues.

Chad: Thank you for your help.

I can't wait to talk to the inspection supervisor on Monday and have him explain why I must invest money in a vehicle I don't legally own before I can take ownership.
_________________
See progress on my "Free Thing" here
http://1973vwthingproject.blogspot.com/

[[email protected]]

[Wayne S. Johnson]

My Electric Beetle was towed to DVM without an engine so the VIN numbers could be checked before the batteries covered the VIN number in the rear. The inspector didn’t know where the numbers were located, so I showed her the one in the front. She looked at it and said OK and started to walk away. I asker her why she didn’t look at the one under the seat, she said, “I didn’t know it had two, do you want me to look at that one too?”

Several years ago I took my Electric Beetle to DMV to explain why I couldn’t get a SMOG check. I told the clerk it didn’t have an engine, the clerk said, “It still needs to be tested.” I said, “Take a look at my car, it doesn’t have a exhaust pipe, how can it be tested.” The clerk said, “All cars must pass the SMOG test.” I had to take the car to a referee station, the technician saw me drive up and didn’t hear any engine noise, he issued the exemption without leaving the office. I had to repeat the inspection two years later because the DMV never recorded the first inspection.
_________________
6 Volt Power Amplifier for Radio iPod CD http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=796241
Hybrid 12V Starter on a 6V Flywheel http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=551031

[fastinradford]

You should have told them that it did have an engine. Those idiots would be none the wiser.

[petrol punk]

The Illinois DMV is ridiculous. I'm trying to get my '56 titled, the last legitimate owner died nearly 40 year ago and hasn't been titled since then. DMV wants proof that it has been registered (Which just plain doesn't exist) and the signature from the guy I bought it from, who may or may not live in Illinois/Rhode Island. This state is fucked up in so many ways, it'd just be easier to cut the VINs out of a titled car and weld them in.
_________________
'56 Euro Oval and '70 Beetle.

[fastinradford]

I used to consider titling a big issue...

then I moved to tennessee...



You can practically make up a vin number, and title the car. No emissions for pre '78. No safety inspection.

It's like dukes of hazard..

And don't even get me started on the police..
I haven't figured if they don't care, or they are blind, or are just nice guys...

Besides all the bigotry, this is a nice state.

[clay ford]

when it comes to dmv its best to go to a small town where everyone knows everyone the only state that i have been to where the dmv people were not assholes was oregon
_________________
68 cal look
65 safari dune buggy

[clay ford]

when it comes to dmv its best to go to a small town where everyone knows everyone the only state that i have been to where the dmv people were not assholes was oregon
_________________
68 cal look
65 safari dune buggy