Anyone from Texas dealt with emissions?

[Foxflier]

Anybody dealt with registration in Texas along with emissions compliance? I'm in a county just outside Houston. I plan to register as a custom vehicle. Can you get anything other than a Coyote approved?

Thanks,

Ted

[Cobradavid]

I'm in Galveston County (which normally requires emissions testing as part of the regular auto inspection) and my roadster is titled and registered as a 1965, so no emissions testing is required for it.

I titled it back in 2009, so things may have changed since then, but you might want to see if you can title your car as a 1965.

David

[Foxflier]

Thanks for the input. I've run the traps with an assembled vehicle here before but you're right, things have changed. I called the Regulatory Division and went on by an inspection station this morning and got some answers. Nowadays, replicas are titled the year of assembly. On top, if you're in one of the TX counties that requires emissions, you must have an OBDII compliant system. No more tailpipe testing is accepted. Sooo, for a new build looks like I'll be down the Coyote path.

Ted

[ptstew]

I registered my car in Houston back in 2016. I followed the Custom Vehicle process then on the DMV website for an assembled vehicle. In my case, the year of assembly (ASVE) is 2002, Model is SHE (short for Shelby cobra) and body style is RD. Registration shows car as REPLICA: [1965 COBR]. I do not have to pass emissions with this type registration. I did have to get an inspection by a master certified ASE inspector to get the registration but that did not include emissions.

Phil

[ptstew]

Ted, see this site. I don’t believe it has changed from when I used it and suspect the inspection station guy you talked to may not be familiar with Custom Assembled Vehicle registration.
https://www.txdmv.gov/txdmv-forms/doc_download/958-vtr-852-ase-safety-inspection-and-application-for-custom-vehicle-or-street-rod-license-plates

[Foxflier]

From the TXDPS site:
"Vehicles are required to meet the emissions standards for the year the vehicle is assembled. Vehicle manufacturers have to certify that their vehicles meet EPA emissions standards. Many kit car manufacturers comply with this requirement. If you purchase a kit car, follow the instructions on assembly, including the emissions components. The vehicle must pass an emissions test just like any other new vehicle." https://www.dps.texas.gov/rsd/vi/uniqueVeh.htm

https://www.txdmv.gov/registration-and-title-bulletins/2014-03-03-21-00-36/001-14
Things changed with the title process back in 2014.
"Previously vehicles applying for the Custom Vehicle or Street Rod specialty plates were titled in a manner to reflect the year and make the vehicle resembled. Effective immediately, these vehicles should be titled in the same manner as assembled vehicles. The year of the vehicle must be the year that the vehicle was assembled. The make of the vehicle must be ASVE (Assembled Vehicle) or as shown on the Manufacturer’s Certificate/Statement of Origin (MCO/MSO) for kit vehicles."

I suspect your title probably doesn't have the assembly date of your car otherwise you'd be stuck with meeting emissions in effect in 2002.

Let me know if I'm missing something.

Thanks,

Ted

[ptstew]

My title has Year Model 2002, Make of Vehicle ASVE, Body Style RD, Model SHE and under Odometer Reading has Exempt and under Remarks has Replica: 1965 Cobr. This all matches my registration certificate. I moved here from California and registered the car in 2016, after any changes in 2014. It continues to be emissions exempt based on its Custom Vehicle status.

[Foxflier]

Similar to what has happened with dune buggies in TX, I think you've probably slid through the system and I wouldn't question or bring any attention to it frankly. As long as your inspection station agrees to pass it you're golden. However, if your registration or title ever comes up for review I think you're gonna run into a future problem. If you can point me to something that says a Custom vehicle doesn't require emissions testing as part of the inspection process that would be great!

Thanks,

Ted

[RRussellTx]

If you can point me to something that says a Custom vehicle doesn't require emissions testing as part of the inspection process that would be great!

Thanks,

Ted

I titled my car in 2017 and have never needed an annual inspection or emission test. The "ASE Safety Inspection and Application for Custom Vehicle or Street Rod License Plates" (Form VTR-852) has a section that states:

"Once the vehicle is approved for Custom Vehicle or Street Rod license plates, the vehicle is exempt from the Texas vehicle safety inspection (and emissions inspection, if applicable)."

google 'Form VTR–852' and you can see the official version from the txdmv.

[ptstew]

No, I didn’t slip through. The form that I sent you says that Custom Vehicles are exempt from annual inspections and emissions. I have never taken my car to a State Inspection Station, before or after initial registration.

[Foxflier]

Ok, thanks guys, I get it now! Sorry for the confusion. I went back through section 4.3 of the state AVM and it clearly says what you're saying and the key is only registering as a Custom Vehicle. Anything else would require follow-on inspections. You do have to have the ASE inspection but after title and registration that's it.

Reason I'm so gun shy on this is I built a Manx replica 2 years ago and ended up selling it out of state because there was no way I could register it in TX. Had to then build a Baja Bug instead. Thankfully there's been an administrative law change last year that now allows dune buggies again. I just didn't want to pick an engine & tranny combo for the IV that was going to create problems.

I appreciate your help!

Ted

[ptstew]

You’re welcome. I had a hard time finding a shop in Houston who both had a currently certified Master ASE technician and also willing to do the inspection. I ended up using the local Ford dealer who charged me $250. I wasn’t on the forum then to ask who others used. When you are ready I would suggest doing that. Good luck with your build.

[ram_g]

As the others have said and you've acknowledged, registering in Texas as a Custom Vehicle means that you DO NOT have to be emissions compliant. While that seems to be sorted out, it may help to squirrel away the following links because these refer back to the actual legal statutes of the State of Texas, as opposed to the various websites and application forms (including VTR-852) that interpret and explain these statutes.

Specifically, save these two links:
1) Texas Transportation Code, Title 7, Subtitle A, Chapter 504. https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TN/htm/TN.504.htm#504.501. Now scroll down to Subchapter F, Section 504.501., paragraph (d). This states: "Notwithstanding Chapter 547, a custom vehicle or street rod eligible to receive license plates under this section is not required to be equipped with a specific piece of equipment unless the specific piece of equipment was required by statute as a condition of sale during the year listed as the model year on the certificate of title." Basically this means that the initial inspection by the ASE Tech. does NOT need to check for emissions compliance, as indeed implemented on VTR-852.

2) Texas Transportation Code, Title 7, Subtitle C, Chapter 548. https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TN/htm/TN.548.htm. This one is all about Compulsory Inspection of Vehicles. Scroll down to Subchapter B, Section 548.052. Read the first sentence "Vehicles Not Subject To Inspection. This chapter does not apply to" and then see paragraph (2) "a vehicle moving under or bearing a paper dealer in-transit tag, machinery license, disaster license, parade license, prorate tab, one-trip permit, vehicle temporary transit permit, antique license, custom vehicle license, street rod license, temporary 24-hour permit, or permit license;". So there you have it - anything registered as a Custom Vehicle is not subject to annual inspection, ergo no need for emissions compliance!

As stated, all of this is captured in Form VTR-852, but just in case anybody wanted to argue that, you can now point them towards the underlying legalese...

(BTW I am not a lawyer, it's just that I have researched and followed this for years. I was one of the original letter-writing campaigners back in 2010/11 trying to get Texas to adopt the SEMA-model legislation that this is based on. And my car, one of the first to be registered as a Custom Vehicle in 2014, has been re-registered every year since then with no inspection and no hassles.)

[ptstew]

Thanks, ram_g, good to have. I have saved.

[JOP33]

I Inspected, Registered & Titled my 33 Hotrod in December of last year, just as Ram_g outlined. When the safety inspection was done (by a Master ASE Certified Tech) I only had to adhere to equipment and safety features required on a 1933 vehicle. It may be worth contacting Classic Auto Title @ 214-697-8948 (Leesy). I paid $500 and she handled ALL of the paperwork and presentation and had an Officer come out to the house for VIN verification. They are out of Dallas, but I believe they work throughout Texas.

[silver_pilate]

Yep, register as a custom vehicle and there are no annual inspection and only an ASE master safety inspection as part of the titling process.