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Sat Jan 14, 2017 7:24 pm

I have a dune buggy with a assembled vehicle title that is branded as an off road vehicle on the Indiana title (2016 assembled, sandrail, off road vehicle. Are the year,make,model,and bodystyle)
Is there any way to get this thing street legal like it was built for?
Even if I have to "sell" it to someone in another state?
Is the title being "branded" as an orv the considered the same thing as a vehicle that was "originally manufactured as an off road/off highway vehicle" , or can it be "converted"?

Sat Jan 14, 2017 8:57 pm

Probably a good question for the DMV or Highway Patrol in your area.

Sun Jan 15, 2017 5:59 am

DMV's around refuse to help, I either get a different story every time I ask them, told I don't meet requirements,(but "can't" tell me what the requirements are),tell me to hire a lawyer to petition the court to have judge demand the DMV title for street (which will cost around $2,500) or just run around in circles.
Hwy patrol just tells me to go to the DMV
Been a year and a half I've been fighting with them in Indiana, at this point I am about to just give up and sell the thing, no sense owning or putting any more work in something I can't drive.
Yet I can go tag a utv,or ride my banshee on county roads. Fucking retarded beareucratic bullshit,especially considering I have 6 local friends with street legal ones (grandfathered in)
3 months before I got it they changed their laws, which,according to the DMV,change again every time I go or call.

Sun Jan 15, 2017 6:19 am

Unfortunately, laws vary from state to state so it may be difficult for someone to advise you correctly unless they are in your state and have done exactly what you're doing. Add to what seems like some uncertainty due to recently changing regulations and you may be screwed. I was discussing something similar with another member who lives in Ohio and I ended up calling the DMV in Columbus to discuss and found someone fairly well versed. It may pay to work your way up the foodchain and contact someone at the main DMV office in your state. Also, is there a place in your state that builds or sells these types of buggies? Maybe contact them and see what they do.

Sun Jan 15, 2017 6:38 am

It's not gonna hapoen in Indiana, have to provide a title for the 73 vw that it was built from, but they desyroyed title and vin when they issued the new vin and branded it as an orv.
When I started the titling process they had a classification for sandrail as a body style, they changed laws in the middle of it, and no longer offer street legality for sandrails.
I could title it as a coupe under a body change, but would have to have the title for the beetle again.
They (Indiana DMV) completely fucked me over.
So I guess the thing is going to scrap since it is vompletely worthless as is.

Sun Jan 15, 2017 8:50 am

What about doing the Vermont deal:

http://benboyle.com/blog/

You register it in Vt. use your home address, spend a few bucks, but get plates & registration, no title.

Sun Jan 15, 2017 9:31 am

Will Vermont approve tags when my INDIANA title is branded as an off road vehicle?
Trying to stay on the right side of the law. So far upside down in what it cost to build that another few thousand $ for a lawyer is just not worth it.

Sun Jan 15, 2017 10:44 am

It looks like it doesn't even have legal headlights & turn signals so you'd have to modify it to make it street legal in Every State?

Sun Jan 15, 2017 12:57 pm

Older pic.
It has 2 round headlights (harley sportster) on the now installed front bumper. And a Winshield wiper and washer.
There are turn signals on it in the pic on the front shock towers.
And removeable fenders as well.

Sun Jan 15, 2017 1:15 pm

Run down of equipment I have installed for street legality.
(Since Indiana WILL NOT provide listed requirements to meet their standards, only can tell you if you don't meet what standards they feel like having that day)
*Speedo
*Rear view mirrors on both sides and 3rd one on the D.O.T. approved windshield (chopped sides off a 4 runner windshield)
*ALL lights, D.O.T. approved high/low beam lights with high beam indicator, tail lights,all 4 turn signals,brake lights,even back up lights.
*5 point harnesses
*cable operated parking/emergency brake
*now has disc front brakes
*D.O.T. approved tires
*winshield wiper w/washer
*front and rear bumpers
*front and rear fenders (removable quick release)
*"quiet" exhaust with supertrapp muffler
*horn
*and an electric heater/windshield defroster
Don't think I missed anything.AFAIK, for every state I can actually find a list of requirements, it meets all applicable standards.
Pisses me off when there's a dozen local guys whose machines are nowhere near as well equipped running around with legal tags. Seems to be if you buy it from a manufacturer it's no problem,yet if you build one yourself it's not an option to ever use it on the street legally.

Sun Jan 15, 2017 1:17 pm

Does your state register by chassis number, not body number (originally the same, of course, on a VW)?

You might be able to register it as a rolling chassis, and then show it meets requirements applicable to the car of that year (i.e., lights, horn, turn signals, etc). Check out multiple DMV offices, and try a smaller town office, where people are n't as rushed and may take a little more time getting you registered.

Also, I wonder if AAA can be of any help?

Sun Jan 15, 2017 1:45 pm

Problem is I no longer have the VW title, it was surrendered when they issued the assembled vehicle vin.(along with originals of all my reciepts)
When I applied for a vin they had sandrail as an available body style.
Which stated "as a sandrail,it may or may not be considered street legal depending on equipment".
Some time in the middle of my titling process IN decided they no longer view sandrails as anything outside of an off road vehicle and branded the title as such.
They won't allow me to change the body style now without starting the assembled vehicle process from scratch and applying for another new VIN. But the got me on that as they require the original receipts,not copies.
I no longer have original receipts, turned them in to the dmv on the first application for assembled vehicle MVIN
I can try MI, but on their vehicle inspection form (TR-54) it states nothing originally manufactured as an orv is eligible for street legality (due to problems they have had with utv's on the street)

Is being branded as orv considered the same as being originally manufactured as an orv? Being the majority of it had came from various vw's...

Sun Jan 15, 2017 4:16 pm

There certainly are a lot of buggies, sandrails, and especially kitcars out on the road that really should not be.
My advice is follow the intent of the law, not the letter.

If you do have BIG proper tallights, DOt headlights high and low beams, turn signals, license plates, all clearly visible. Seat belts, DOT street tires, good brakes, proper insurance, VIN clearly visible and registration in a plastic bag within reach. If there is a fender law, get fenders. Put on a big muffler and be quiet. Nobody will give you trouble if it is clear to see you have made every effort to build a safe and road worthy vehicle.
It won't matter if it's titled out of state or as a kitcar or as a baha bug, if there is no reason to hassle you, they won't hassle you.

Forgive me for pointing out, but it looks like a sandrail. In my state there must be a firewall between the gas tank and the interior. It's not possible to really do that but you could at least make some effort to where it won't hit you in the head in an impact.