RPGs818SNA
02-26-2025, 10:25 PM
I recently registered my 818S in North Carolina and thought I’d share the experience. Here’s what you need:
A car that looks pretty much drivable.
An inspection to get the serial numbers of the frame, engine, transmission, and donor.
The FFR Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin and invoice
The Donor Title and invoice or perhaps a bill of sale for the engine and transmission
Proof of insurance
A driver’s license
A check and $8 in cash
Some patience to explain this unusual registration request
Scheduling the inspection required a number of calls and messages because their web application was down for maintenance, but it was eventually scheduled. The inspection officer hadn’t seen an 818 before. I showed him a picture of a 2000 MR2 and a completed 818 to see if he wanted to call it a replica, but he didn’t see the likeness. He took a photo of the car, the FFR frame serial number, the engine and transmission serial numbers, and the VIN number of the 2006 Impreza donor, both on the door jam and on the firewall. He then took photos of the donor title, FFR certificate of origin, and my driver’s license. Finally he asked when I installed the engine and transmission, which was in 2020. His report, which took a couple of weeks to complete, called it a 2020 Custom made convertible FFR 818SE.
I took the inspection report, FFR MCO, donor Title, FFR invoice and donor bill of sale, insurance card for my other car, driver’s license, checkbook, and $8 in cash to the DMV plate office and presented them to a representative. The DMV representative said he also needed a seller’s odometer certification. His supervisor, upon realizing that the odometer didn’t come with the kit but was from the 20 year old donor, decided that it wasn’t really needed. She added up the kit cost and the donor cost to get the tax value of the 818. I wrote her a check for the 3% road use tax, 2025 personal property tax, title and tag fees, and $8 in cash for a notary, and left with a registration card and license plate. The registration card used the FFR serial number as the VIN and says it needs a safety inspection in 12 months.
The NC safety inspection training PowerPoint calls for working windshield wipers and a muffler, plus all the emission controls. I’ve got 12 months to figure that out. Please wish me luck. :)
RPG
A car that looks pretty much drivable.
An inspection to get the serial numbers of the frame, engine, transmission, and donor.
The FFR Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin and invoice
The Donor Title and invoice or perhaps a bill of sale for the engine and transmission
Proof of insurance
A driver’s license
A check and $8 in cash
Some patience to explain this unusual registration request
Scheduling the inspection required a number of calls and messages because their web application was down for maintenance, but it was eventually scheduled. The inspection officer hadn’t seen an 818 before. I showed him a picture of a 2000 MR2 and a completed 818 to see if he wanted to call it a replica, but he didn’t see the likeness. He took a photo of the car, the FFR frame serial number, the engine and transmission serial numbers, and the VIN number of the 2006 Impreza donor, both on the door jam and on the firewall. He then took photos of the donor title, FFR certificate of origin, and my driver’s license. Finally he asked when I installed the engine and transmission, which was in 2020. His report, which took a couple of weeks to complete, called it a 2020 Custom made convertible FFR 818SE.
I took the inspection report, FFR MCO, donor Title, FFR invoice and donor bill of sale, insurance card for my other car, driver’s license, checkbook, and $8 in cash to the DMV plate office and presented them to a representative. The DMV representative said he also needed a seller’s odometer certification. His supervisor, upon realizing that the odometer didn’t come with the kit but was from the 20 year old donor, decided that it wasn’t really needed. She added up the kit cost and the donor cost to get the tax value of the 818. I wrote her a check for the 3% road use tax, 2025 personal property tax, title and tag fees, and $8 in cash for a notary, and left with a registration card and license plate. The registration card used the FFR serial number as the VIN and says it needs a safety inspection in 12 months.
The NC safety inspection training PowerPoint calls for working windshield wipers and a muffler, plus all the emission controls. I’ve got 12 months to figure that out. Please wish me luck. :)
RPG