Titling and Registration in Md.

[ggunter]

Hello all, I want to say hi to everyone. I am picking my Roadster up at FFR next week and I am beside myself. Made a bunch of upgrades in the order process to what I think I will like, and ordered a 347 engine and trans combo from Blueprint which should be here about the same time. My question to most of you especially in Maryland is how much difficulty have you had in getting the car titled, inspected and emission issues. I would like avoid any pitfalls my beloved state may pose if possible. I have been reading a lot in this forum over the last six weeks and there are some talented people in here whom I have already learned a great deal of how to and how not to.

[Francky]

Hello from MD and welcome to the forum!

I cannot help you with the regitration process, but surely here somebody can help you.
You can aslo check the Capital Area Cobra Club, there are some old but I think still up to date advices.
http://www.capitalareacobraclub.com/index.php

[Boydster]

I just did mine last November in Maryland, although I'm in Tennessee now.

Its actually pretty easy. Keep all the receipts for the big stuff... kit, engine, trans, rear. With serial numbers. When you're ready, contact the State Police Garage at Glen Burnie MVA, talk to them about assigning a VIN. The car has to be like 95% done. Get there early and un-trailer the car. They start working on your paperwork, then you pull the car inside, leave it with them while you go over to the main building, pay for your taxes, title, temp tags. When you come back, show them you're done over there and they attach a VIN tag and some small, semi-secret VIN barcodes in unseen places around the car (I know they are there, havent found 1 yet).

Once you have your temp tags, get a Md State Safety Inspection and then get your regular tags.

When mine was registered, the make on the title says FAFI. I believe this gets you an emissions exemption, as I had my MD tags for 4 months and never got an emissions notice. There used to be a big run-around about this, and you know MD wants their emissions test (money) done quickly.

Pretty easy, no big deal. I used Auto Italia in Rockville for my State Inspection... they've seen a few Factory 5's.

[ggunter]

Thanks for the reply Boydster I have heard a bunch of horror stories and was almost to the point of wondering if I made the right decision to buy one.

[Jim Wehr]

Also- Join the Club. Great friendly folks with lots of experience.

[del-taher]

I just did mine last November in Maryland, although I'm in Tennessee now.

Its actually pretty easy. Keep all the receipts for the big stuff... kit, engine, trans, rear. With serial numbers. When you're ready, contact the State Police Garage at Glen Burnie MVA, talk to them about assigning a VIN. The car has to be like 95% done. Get there early and un-trailer the car. They start working on your paperwork, then you pull the car inside, leave it with them while you go over to the main building, pay for your taxes, title, temp tags. When you come back, show them you're done over there and they attach a VIN tag and some small, semi-secret VIN barcodes in unseen places around the car (I know they are there, havent found 1 yet).

Once you have your temp tags, get a Md State Safety Inspection and then get your regular tags.

When mine was registered, the make on the title says FAFI. I believe this gets you an emissions exemption, as I had my MD tags for 4 months and never got an emissions notice. There used to be a big run-around about this, and you know MD wants their emissions test (money) done quickly.

Pretty easy, no big deal. I used Auto Italia in Rockville for my State Inspection... they've seen a few Factory 5's.

Great information! I just purchased my Mk4, and I live in Frederick. Do you know if Maryland requires windshield wipers? Also, I am hoping to be able to use only the overriders, not the quick jacks and not the full bumpers. Do you know if this is allowed? Finally, I will be putting in a Coyote engine from Mike Forte with his harness and ECU. Do you know if I am required to have catalytic converters? Thanks!

[Caddy Dad]

I'm inching closer to completing my roadster. Hopefully I'll be heading to the MVA in a month or so. I'll keep everyone posted on how it went.
Fingers crossed!

[Boydster]

Great information! I just purchased my Mk4, and I live in Frederick. Do you know if Maryland requires windshield wipers? Also, I am hoping to be able to use only the overriders, not the quick jacks and not the full bumpers. Do you know if this is allowed? Finally, I will be putting in a Coyote engine from Mike Forte with his harness and ECU. Do you know if I am required to have catalytic converters? Thanks!

The inspector that did my Md State Safety Insp said if wipers are installed, they need to work. He did say they are not required. My car has only over riders and it was no problem. And I also had no catalytic converters and it was never mentioned.

The one issue I had at inspection was that I didnt bring my locking lugnut key. He needed to pull the wheels and measure the brake disc thickness to show they were acceptable. It has a place on the inspection form to write the actual thickness, so he needs to do it (he cannot just write "new"). He could measure the thickness from under the car, but the minimum thickness, the limit, is stamped on the disc and we couldn't see it without pulling the wheels. I had to do the research on my phone to get the part numbers of my Wilwood discs, then he called Wilwood and got the specs, but it would have been a lot easier to just pull the wheels.

[ggunter]

Thanks for the info Boyd I bought the wiper package but didn’t really want to put them on and less I had to. However I know it would be a lot harder to install once the car is finished . Did they say anything at all about emissions. I pick my car up this coming Tuesday and I would purchase catalytic converter‘s while I was there if I had to. Did you take your car to Glenburnie and what was the general attitude of the officer inspected and did he install the Vin plate while he was there.

[ggunter]

And by the way congratulations on getting your new babies birth certificate. I’m a long way off from mine but I usually become obsessed with new projects so I’m hoping to be go cart ready in two months. So what is your next step. Do you have to get it state inspected or was the troopers inspection all you needed. Please let me know about where you purchase insurance and ins. Costs.

[ggunter]

What does the title say as far as make and model? Are you able to title as a street rod, that makes life easier.

[Briansshop]

You do not need cats,from what I've been reading

[del-taher]

The inspector that did my Md State Safety Insp said if wipers are installed, they need to work. He did say they are not required. My car has only over riders and it was no problem. And I also had no catalytic converters and it was never mentioned.

The one issue I had at inspection was that I didnt bring my locking lugnut key. He needed to pull the wheels and measure the brake disc thickness to show they were acceptable. It has a place on the inspection form to write the actual thickness, so he needs to do it (he cannot just write "new"). He could measure the thickness from under the car, but the minimum thickness, the limit, is stamped on the disc and we couldn't see it without pulling the wheels. I had to do the research on my phone to get the part numbers of my Wilwood discs, then he called Wilwood and got the specs, but it would have been a lot easier to just pull the wheels.

Thanks for the reply! This makes my choices much easier!

[CraigS]

This is 5 yr old info but I helped a friend get through the DMV inspection in Glen Burnie. The officer there was very professional. As he explained to us, his job is to assure that the car doesn't have any stolen parts involved. He is signing his name to the form to certify that. He wants to see engine and trans serial numbers and receipts for them + the differential, the kit, etc. He is not doing the required safety inspection. For the safety inspection I second Auto Italia. Any safety inspection garage can do it but a lot don't want to. Basically they are looking at the car as it would have been in 1965 and judging it per 1965 requirements. Problem is who the heck knows what the 1965 requirements were. Going to someone who has done a bunch of Cobras of all brands makes things much easier.

[Boydster]

Thanks for the info Boyd I bought the wiper package but didn’t really want to put them on and less I had to. However I know it would be a lot harder to install once the car is finished . Did they say anything at all about emissions. I pick my car up this coming Tuesday and I would purchase catalytic converter‘s while I was there if I had to. Did you take your car to Glenburnie and what was the general attitude of the officer inspected and did he install the Vin plate while he was there.

The State Police VIN inspection doesnt care about emissions. Noibody in the whole process said anything about emissions. I believe when the car is titled as "Make: FAFI", it kicks in the emissions exemption. I had MD tags for almost 6 months and never got a notice.

You have to take the car to Glen Burnie. Thats the only place in the state to do the VIN inspection. All of the officers were professional and liked talking about the car. When I had to leave the car, they had it in their bay and let me know that nobody would touch it except the officer installing the VIN tag. Even when it was blocking the bay from people pulling thru, the car did not move. They backed up.

Yes, they install the VIN tag. It is a professional looking tag that is adhered to the area where your FFR frame number is.

One thing I hadnt done that they want to see is the installed FFR VIN ID plate. But they also said no big deal.

[Boydster]

And by the way congratulations on getting your new babies birth certificate. I’m a long way off from mine but I usually become obsessed with new projects so I’m hoping to be go cart ready in two months. So what is your next step. Do you have to get it state inspected or was the troopers inspection all you needed. Please let me know about where you purchase insurance and ins. Costs.

Once you have a VIN, and you have paid your taxes and title $, you get temp tags. Then you have to go get your MD State Safety Inspection. I, and others, used Auto Italia in Rockville. They know these cars. When I told him it was an F5, he asked which model. Other places I called said "wha...?"

Insurance... there's a lot of threads on here about that. I suggest you do some reading and make some phone calls to find whats best for you. I have an agreed value policy with Robbin at Midwest, under written by American Modern. It is very acceptable to me at under $1000 per year.

[Boydster]

What does the title say as far as make and model? Are you able to title as a street rod, that makes life easier.

No way in MD on Street Rod tags. Aint gonna happen unless you find someone to pay off. You also will not get a year other than what is shown on the COO. Make is FAFI, model was some code or other, like 2S. Actually, with this car, making it a Street Rod wouldnt make anything easier. It really is easy and I think you're over thinking it.

Call the State Police garage at Glen Burnie. Ask for someone that works VIN assignments. They will tell you exactly what they need (the receipts and paperwork) and what days they do it. No appointments. The car needs to be pretty much done.
Get there early and take the car off the trailer.
Eventually they will take your paperwork and tell you to pull the car inside.
They give you some more papers and stuff and send you over to the MVA. Special desk, I waited zero minutes.
Pay your state taxes, title fee and temp tag fee. Get it all in hand and head back to your car.
The VIN plate has been attached and some small, kinda secret square dot code stickers have been placed on parts of the car. I know where they are, but you dont see em.
Load the car back up, head home and get the car to inspection.

You know you gotta have ins before you get tags. I'm pretty sure you'll never get an emissions notice and I never had a cat on my exhaust.

[ggunter]

ThanksBoyd, good I formation, the reason I wanted to go with Street rod tags is there’s no md inspection or emissions ,it just takes all that nonsense off the table. By the way I pick my car up Tuesday at FFR and have been working on it ever since, engine and trans coming Monday and it won’t be long before it’s time to set that in.