SC Registration - Major Problems - Need Help

[SCFFR]

Obviously this post is for owners in South Carolina who have a car already titled and/or registered.

I had a local SC highway patrol officer come and verify the VIN on my Mk IV roadster and sign the form 4038.

I took the form along with a complete form 400 which is the title application to the local DMV. It went downhill from the time I have to pick a number and wait in line. I was told that the highway patrol officer's signature and verification was no good that it had to be performed by someone at the DMV. So now I have to rent a trailer and haul it to the local DMV office so they can do the same thing.

I was told then that they could not process the paperwork even when I got the VIN verified by a DMV official. Note that I had all forms completed and a folder of every receipt. I was told that I had to mail in all of the paperwork to the main office in Blythewood. I asked if I could drive to the main office in Blythewood and get the title processed and she said she didn't know.

So I called the SC DMV "help" line and after explaining the situation again was told that no local DMV office could handle the paperwork, I could not go the main DMV office and have it handled in person and the only way was to mail it in. I told her I was hesitant since the COO is an original and FFR does not reissue them. She said I could use some type of tracking mail so I would know it was delivered. I asked how would I know how much the total fees were and how would I answer any questions and she said she didn't know.

From all the post I read, I was under the impression that SC was one of the easiest states to get a title and tag. Looks like for some reason this has changed. I mentioned to the person I was talking to that I knew there were at least a dozen owners who had gotten their paperwork processed at their local DMV. She had no answer.

I would drive the 5 hour round trip to the main office if I could have the paperwork handled in person by someone and walk out with a title but that doesn't look like it's an option.

Anyone else run into this problem? Could it be because I was only applying for a title and not title and tags? I'm in the process of getting insurance which is why I couldn't apply for tags also.

Thanks,
Ron

[Gumball]

Certainly others who have gone through the SC registration process will be able to help by providing their experiences and methods. However, you should not hesitate to contact your local state rep and seek his/her help if you think you're getting the runaround from the DMV. I find it hard to believe that a State Trooper would come out, equipped with the forms, do an inspection and sign-off on it, if it wasn't within his/her authority to do so. Your elected officials work for... make them earn their pay.

[SCFFR]

Thanks Chris.
Obviously, extremely frustrated. I can't believe that the verification and signature of a state highway patrol officer is invalid to the DMV. I did call the officer back and he said he was going to stop by the local DMV and talk to someone.

I have communicated with several SC owners and had the list of forms and things I needed. They all got their registration done at their local DMV so I didn't think it would be an issue. Looks like I'm going to have to drive to one of their local offices. I really don't want to put my original COO in the mail and risk it getting lost or misplaced.

Will wait and see what the officer found out and other SC owners say before I go to plan B.

Ron

[skullandbones]

Not from SC but I have a "fair warning" for you. You have accidently dropped into the proverbial "beaurocratic rabbit hole". You must go backwards in the process not forward even if you have to start over. I had similar issues and instructions from various agents at the DMV. They may only do this process rarely (in my case not at all!). I would check back with the Highway Patrol first at the supervisor level. Have them find out why the process no longer is valid (the initial inspection). I think you will find that your original steps were correct. You may have to start at a different DMV location. The locals should know that go to place. I once read about a study with the IRS where trained callers monitored the IRS for accuracly of info and they found that 25% of the time the info was wrong or different when another caller made the same inquirey. Don't expect any better from your DMV. I'm sure you will get through this OK. WEK.

[SCFFR]

I knew when I was going to have problems this morning when the person at the DMV started reading the instructions on the forms I submitted and didn't know what to do. May have to go to the DMV of someone already titled and registered and try their local office. I can't believe that this can't be handled by some/any local DMV office. I'm really surprised and disappointed that it's turning out to be this difficult.

[emac]

Ron,
Sent you a PM before I read this post. I think I would take all the paperwork to another DMV office. I got the form signed by a Sherrif, went and paid my taxes at the courthouse, and went to the DMV and got a plate. Minor problems at the DMV, until I walked her through the forms. She wanted to know what to put in a few blanks on her screen. Luckily I was well read on the procedure and we were both interested in making it work. Sounds like you got a real loser at the DMV that wasnt interested in helping. They dont do many of these.

ernest

[SCFFR]

Thanks Ernest.

The patrol officer who verified my VIN did stop at the local DMV office and asked about my case. He was told that the policy changed about a year ago and that only specified DMV agents could perform the VIN verification so looks like I can't get around this.....unless as you say I try another DMV. The irony of this is that the patrol officer spends most of his time checking on vehicles with no insurance and checking VIN numbers. Go figure.

Both of the person at the DMV and the one on the help line were no help at all. The one at the DMV starting reading the instructions on the 4038 form......she had no idea what to do. The one on the phone would email my questions to someone in another cubicle who would email her back an answer to give me.

The guy at the local DMV said the he would read the VIN number on the car without me having to take it off the trailer.......they require that the car not be on a trailer or flat bed. Some help but not much.

I will get the 4038 form signed by the local DMV agent and head to another office (Florence) and see if I have better luck. I will also go to the courthouse and attempt to pay taxes and have an insurance certification first and apply for title and tag instead of tag. I had a friend who tried to get a title only on a regular car and was told he would have to bring the car to the DMV office for VIN verification but if he wanted a title and tag, no problem. Maybe that's the key.

Thanks again,
Ron

[emac]

I think your problem was not having the tax receipt to get the title and tag. They register cars every day with the proper tax receipt. You threw them a curve....they can only hit under handed pitches! I will check my documents when I get back home and pm you. I may be wrong, but I think ScDMV thinks considers the FFR a regular car.....not a home made/kit car, as it is in their list of vehicles.

[SCFFR]

Thanks again Ernest. I think you might be right that I made it more complicated especially if the DMV considers our cars a regular car. I do know if you want them to issue only a title, it requires the vehicle to be taken to the DMV office for VIN verification. This is for any vehicle. So will "start over" and get my county taxes paid and get an insurance certificate and go back out in a few weeks and do a regular transaction. Meanwhile, will continue to finish up my car.

Ron

[bbksv]

Did you ever resolve this? I am looking at registering before too long in SC as well. The problem I am seeing though is that the form 4038 calls out the need for receipts for major parts (engine). I had a 92 mustang that I pulled the drivetrain out of and sold the carcas so I don't have a receipt. I do have a copy of the title for the mustang BUT the engine wasn't original to the mustang either...

[emac]

They weren't too interested in receipts when i registered mine. They mostly want the max in property/sales tax. So, show receipts for major components as best you can. Sales tax will likely be 300 and property tax will very little since it is registered as a 1965 car. If possible get vin checked by local cops, go pay taxes at courthouse THEN go to dmv. They have our cars in the computer so it is not considered home made. There is a good post in the other registration forum that gives a step by step. I did my whole registration over lunch one day, but i was well prepared and a bit lucky. Good luck.

[SCFFR]

EMAC is correct in that the FFR is considered a "regular" car. I followed the instructions on the standard DMV 400 form and provided the COO from FFR, receipt showing I had paid county taxes and proof of insurance. I did go to a agent who had been with the agency for a long time. It was processed just like a regular car. In less than 15 minutes, I walked out with a title and tags (I paid extra to have the title printed while I waited). Also as EMAC states, pay the maximum sales tax. You have to fill out the back of the form as to where you bought the car and how much you paid. It was all pretty easy once I had gotten out of that rabbit hole!!!