Failed Ohio inspection for lack of bumpers and reverse light??

[Brian76]

My father and I took our MkIV to the Troy inspection office today and failed the inspection for not having front and rear bumpers and for not having a reverse light. The inspector said that the quick jacks are not sufficient for bumpers. We've talked to numerous ohio owners and have done quite a bit of research over the last couple years on inspections so we were shocked to hear this.

I think the problem is that the inspector insists that our car will be titled as a 2021 vehicle. Thus, full bumpers and reverse lights are probably mandatory. I tried to explain that its a '65 replica and that bumpers and reverse lights are not period correct. All he could tell me is that I need to talk to his Sergeant in Columbus.

Any words of wisdom on how to explain this to the Sergeant?

[Joe Campbell]

Check with others on the replica titling process for Ohio - or often you can find the applicable statutes/requirements online so they can't BS you out of laziness or ignorance. Lackeys don't always get trained on those relatively rarely-used requirements. Luckily here vehicles get titled as the year they replicate.

[GTBradley]

Very sorry to hear this. Though, I doubt they would go much into this and will probably let it go, but if they do the quick jacks were for racing and the street 427s in the 60s had the over riders and hoop on front and nudge bar on the back. You could possibly install those temporarily. That would at least give it a “full” bumper.

Reverse light is not a big issue, many on the forums have done them and you will have the reverse signal coming from the TKO.

[Jeff Kleiner]

I’ve done 5 or 6 roadsters for Ohio owners. All are registered and inspected...none have a reverse light and only one has full bumpers (owner’s preference, not because the state asked for it). I think you need to visit a different inspection station.

Jeff

[egchewy79]

I got my MK4 titled this spring in Columbus, no inspection, no bumpers, no back up light, no wipers. At the recommendation of another local MK4 owner, I just went to the title agency with all my paperwork in order. No inspection. I didn't even have the car completed at the time. If you read the house bill on self assembled cars, there is a latitude for interpretation. I agree w/ Jeff that finding the right inspection site or even title agency is what should be done. There is a newer house bill that if all parts are new (ie crate engine/drivetrain), then no inspection is required in OH. My understanding is that they are just making sure VIN #s on parts don't show up for stolen cars.

I walked in confident to the title agency with my FFR COO, bill of sale for my drivetrain, and an personal check to pay for the taxes. In and out in 20min. That being said, I sent another friend to the same title agency and they turned him away b/c he didn't have an inspection.
FYI, the title agency that I speak of is in Lewis Center, off US23, next to the Walmart. There is a manager there that seems to know what she's doing. The clerk at the desk usually needs to ask the manager how to fill out the forms. The only draw back is that they will title it based on the year on the FFR COO, 2019 in my case. I also had my odometer listed as "non actual miles" since it was a rebuilt engine (don't ask me how I got away without an inspection with a donor engine and trans) which may affect resale, but I assume that "car guys" will understand why it's listed as "non actual miles.".

good luck

[alexmak]

I had a similar case with quick jacks in PA — I have a friend with MkIV, who passed inspection no issues with quick jacks, but in my case a mechanic decided to insist on bumper over riders (at least). oh well. now I have both and can swap them if I feel like it

[Brian76]

I spoke to the sergeant of the Troy office and she was very helpful. She confirmed that quick jacks are sufficient for bumpers and that reverse lights are not required for this application. We discussed the 1965 vs 2021 title and the sergeant did admit that the ohio code was a bit confusing. She recommended that I try taking the FFR certificate of origin and receipts to a BMV and try to get the title without inspection (as egchewy mentioned above). She said if they won't do it, then they will provide the VIN plate so we can proceed.

[chmhasy]

Here in CT we have local yearly taxes on the car. If the car is registered as a 65 as my car is, the tax is around $20.00 per year. If it is not, the tax on the car can be thousands https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?32888-CT-Owners-Beware-Motor-Vehicle-Assessment-Tax-Increases!&highlight=badfish
Not sure Ohio works but you might want to check that out.

[egchewy79]

I spoke to the sergeant of the Troy office and she was very helpful. She confirmed that quick jacks are sufficient for bumpers and that reverse lights are not required for this application. We discussed the 1965 vs 2021 title and the sergeant did admit that the ohio code was a bit confusing. She recommended that I try taking the FFR certificate of origin and receipts to a BMV and try to get the title without inspection (as egchewy mentioned above). She said if they won't do it, then they will provide the VIN plate so we can proceed.

I tried arguing about getting it titled as a 1965 replica, but they told me at the title agency that it has to be titled in the year of the COO, so in my case 2019. The main difference in OH getting it titled as a 1965 is that you can apply for historic tags, which is much cheaper than regular plates. Historic tags do limit your driving to car club events and parades however (doubt you'd ever get pulled over for them though). I was just happy they gave me a title without inspection (with a donor drivetrain!) that I didn't argue this point too much. I left the title agency feeling like I got away with grand larceny given some of the horror stories I've heard on the forums from others. It went so smoothly that I had extra time to check in online to a nearby BMV and got my plates, all in about an hour!
If nothing else, the pandemic has made the BMV process much more efficient. In OH, you can check in online, and whenever you show up, you're bumped up in line. If your number has already come and gone, you become next in line.