Registering a Mk4 in Virginia

[Rich]

Can anyone offer advice on going through the process to become road-legal in Virginia?

What surprised you?

What snags is it good to know about ahead of time?

Tips you'd give to someone going through it after you?

Thanks in advance,

Rich

[bill3422]

Rich, there is a vast wealth of knowledge in your local Cobra Club, http://www.capitalareacobraclub.com/index.php. not to mention a bunch of BS.

Get on and sign up on the site. They are for the most part a great bunch of guys and would love to help out.

[Rich]

Thanks, will do.

[DamnYankee]

Rich,
I did it in January. Happy to say the process was pretty painless:

I put together a package of papers that included:
1. DMV form VSA-22 (application for assigned VIN)
2. DMV form VSA-17A (application for title).
3. The MSO from Factory Five.
4. Receipts for the Kit, engine, transmission, rear, wheels, tires.
5. Spreadsheet printout that showed the above costs and 3% for sales tax.
6. Check for the sales tax + $140 fees.
7. Copies of the FFR Kit inventory sheets.
8. Pictures of completed car (printed 1 sheet from computer that contained 4 different views).
9. A notarized statement I wrote detailing how I built the car. I showed dates and work done. I had to do this twice as the
first version didn't have enough detail. Second version had more detail such as attached suspension by doing this, installed
brakes like this. Bolted this to that, etc.

I went to the Richmond main DMV building on Jan 7th. Do not go to the information line, go to the guard and ask for someone
in the Salvage/Vehicle Branding dept.
A nice lady named Rene came down and looked through all my papers. She told me to rewrite the notarized statement to show
more detail, get it notarized again, then mail everything back to her. I also showed her the FFR supplied VIN plate
and she said they didn't need that.
I mailed it that day and got a receipt from the post office that it was delivered Jan 8th.

Note that no bodywork has been done. Doors, trunk, & hood all latch fine but are oversize and don't fit well. No interior.

On Jan 22 I got a call from the DMV inspector and he came to my house the next morning at 8am. He only spent a few minutes checking
that the serial number stamped on the chassis matched the number on the new title, which it did. He then handed me the title
which showed 1965 Factory Five Roadster, Replica 2013. The VIN number is the same as on the FFR MSO.
Now I can go get the plates and inspection.

There was one problem I brought up with the inspector- DMV didn't give him the VIN plate to install. He called the office to inquire about
it but the person he needed wasn't in yet. He did call me late in the afternoon and was told that I should use the FFR VIN plate and that
DMV was sending me a refund for the money I paid for their VIN plate. So I guess I will take the FFR VIN plate to an engraver and have
the VIN engraved on it, even though it shows the same number as the "serial number".

The inspector didn't want to hear it run or anything. He was a nice guy, said he enjoyed doing this type work and seeing the cars.

Next I went to DMV and got the plates.

The car is a Mk4, with 347 and T5

[Rich]

Awesome! Thank you!

[Rich]

So are you registering it as a 1965?

[bill3422]

Would the build manual be enough detail of how you built the car? Ha Ha, perhaps not

[DamnYankee]

So are you registering it as a 1965?
Title says:
1965 Factory Five Roadster
Then under "Other Pertinent data" its says "IND Replica 2013"

[carlewms]

I hope to be going through the same process by the end of the year.

To better understand the detail required in the notarized statement could you PM it to me if you do not mind. I am keeping a log of what I do but I want to make sure it is of sufficient detail. Thanks, Carl

[fisherste]

What if you're brining a car in from California? I'm moving to Virginia in July and could use some advice on registering a california (SB 100) legal roadster. I called the V-DMV and they were no help on that question.

Thanks,

Steve

[Avalanche325]

The inspector didn't want to hear it run or anything.

What's wrong with him? I would have made you fire it up and rev it a few times.

[patpur]

You guys in Virginia are lucky. In Maryland kit cars now have to be registered the year they are completed which means inspection, smog (got a waiver) and no vintage tags which I run anyway over my regular tags.

[racecartom]

The car still needs to be inspected in Virginia. Some of the lucky folks several years ago got antique plates which did not require inspection....................RCT

[Barnstormer]

How about some of Virginia's hardware requirements? I know that reverse lights are not required. How about wipers? Catalytic converter?

[VaCoupe]

Rich,
I did it in January. Happy to say the process was pretty painless:


Thanks for all the detail. This is very informative. I have a few additional questions:

You need to have an annual safety inspection right?
You do NOT need to get an annual emissions test right?
I noticed you paid taxes to register. Do you also pay annual personal property taxes?
Are you allowed to run antique plates?

Thanks,

Dan

[DamnYankee]

See my comments inserted below...


Thanks for all the detail. This is very informative. I have a few additional questions:

You need to have an annual safety inspection right? YES
You do NOT need to get an annual emissions test right? I BELIEVE IT DEPENDS ON TOWN/COUNTY
I noticed you paid taxes to register. Do you also pay annual personal property taxes? YES
Are you allowed to run antique plates? NO

Thanks,

Dan

[VaCoupe]

See my comments inserted below...

Thanks DY, I appreciate it. The laws regarding registering are really difficult to sort out. And they seem to change frequently. It is nice to hear from someone who has been through it.

I would love to see your roadster some time!

Dan (in Fairfax)

[gr8snkbite]

I just went thru titling....oh joy...lessons learned...im in Va Beach.

1. Have to go to or mail documents to Richmond DMV. Local branches won't do a thing for you.
2. If the car is already titled with a build year, it can't be changed. That year stays with the car. If its a first time titling then your in better shape to title as the year replicating.
3. Titling with 1965 (or other) will be stated on the title along with Specialty Vehicle
4. Send documents registered mail if going that route.
5. Takes 4-6 weeks to title if mailing them. Got mine in about 5.
6. If you call for status, best to have that registered mail number, or else they can't help you.
7. Getting thru to them via phone takes an average 45min.
8. Once it was titled, it showed in my DMV acct. I checked it weekly instead of wasting time on the phone. Can't rush the process.
9. At least one wiper (driver side) is required. Can be manual, electric or whatever, even removal. Just checked on this today since trying to get the state inspection done so i can register. Talked to my inspector and we called the state police. Its the law.
10. Emissions are by township/county.

The fun continues....:D