Help With VA DMV Registration Process

Buzzweasel

Buzzweasel

Warren Holland
Member
Hello everyone,
This is only my second post but I already have to ask for help...

I spent three hours in my local DMV office on Friday trying to get the taxes, tags and registration for my MKIV done. I was sooo close, the rep even had antique plates on the counter... but when he couldn’t find F5R, as listed on the Florida title, in their VA system he had to go ask a supervisor for help. That’s when things got bad and I found out that they wouldn’t help me at all and I have to go to, or apply to, the main office in Richmond to get anything kit car related done. I’m hoping someone reading this forum can advise me on how they navigated the VA DMV to get their fully built, out of state titled car onboard here in VA.
 
Thanks very much for the quick reply! I have read that very useful info but it does not seem to fit my exact situation... I already have a fully assembled car with a VIN and title from Florida. The title seemed like almost enough to get registered, pay the taxes and get antique 1965 tags. The snag was them not finding FFR or F5R for the manufacturer as the Florida title lists. This triggered a bunch of guesses on the part of the DMV folks as to how to proceed. They eventually gave me some forms and contact info for the Salvage Title group in Richmond. There is no way I’m going to let them give me a salvage title on a car with less than 300 miles on it that is made up of all new parts. I’m hoping someone on this forum has recently gone through the exact same process I need to go through and can offer some pointers.
 
Another helpful link: https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?26749-2017-Virginia-Registration-I-have-plates!!!

Regarding the Statement Of Construction, there's no need to write a whole lot. This is what I sent:

Notarized Statement of Vehicle Construction 2 Oct 18

This replica of a 1965 Shelby Cobra was sold as a kit from Factory Five Racing. The kit included the frame, body, and front end. The kit was assembled per the instructions in the 561 page assembly manual provided with the kit. All procedures were followed and all fasteners were torqued to specification with the appropriate tools. All parts for the build were new or refurbished to new condition. The engine, transmission, and rear axle are Ford parts purchased separately from Forte’s Parts Connection, a supporting vendor associated with Factory Five. All parts used to build this car were designed to operate together safely.​

Cheers,


John
 
Thank you very much! I’ll certainly use that as a template if I need it. Do you think I’ll have to go through all of the inspection process like a car that has just been built? I was hoping since the car I have already has a title and has been driving around in Florida for a few years that the existing title would get me out of some of that, maybe just wishful thinking. Was so close to getting those plates and everything would have been fine. I’m even considering just going to another DMV to see if I get a different answer. Aside from that, I guess i’ll have to make a trip to Richmond because there’s no way I’m mailing my original title to the DMV and hoping for the best.
Regards,
Warren
 
Buzzweasel said:
Thank you very much! I’ll certainly use that as a template if I need it. Do you think I’ll have to go through all of the inspection process like a car that has just been built? I was hoping since the car I have already has a title and has been driving around in Florida for a few years that the existing title would get me out of some of that, maybe just wishful thinking. Was so close to getting those plates and everything would have been fine. I’m even considering just going to another DMV to see if I get a different answer. Aside from that, I guess i’ll have to make a trip to Richmond because there’s no way I’m mailing my original title to the DMV and hoping for the best.
Regards,
Warren
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Going to another DMV office is a good idea. And you DON'T need to explain that you've already tried this once!
 
I would go to the Remington DMV very small office less than an hour away.
 
Well, I have found out that the proper procedure for registration of an already titled kit-car in VA involves sending an abbreviated package to the Richmond DMV’s Branding Work Center. Sort of like the build process but apparently skipping some steps. They required a signed title, bill of sale, filled out form 17A, and check for the amount of tax as calculated by them. I also gave them proof of insurance and a copy of my DL for good measure. It makes me nervous as hell to send the original title from an out of state sale off to DMV never-never land but my only other choice was a six hour round trip that would take me weeks to get to be able to do. I did get the name of the rep I was speaking to and she said I could address the FedEx next day to her. Sort of grudgingly helpful but no warm fuzzy. So, I don’t really know what this gets me even if everything works out perfectly. Just a VA title? Or, title and tags? I assume I’ll need to go get an inspection and emissions to 1965 standard. Maybe they will give me temporary tags to do that. God, I hope they don’t lose my damn title or screw me in some other stupid way!
 
Also, I’m taking another members advice and getting whatever tags they will give me first, then I’ll try to go to a local office and apply for Antique Plates.
 
When your VA title comes back, look in the comments section (lower right corner, I believe). If it says "replica" then Richmond almost certainly coded your title such that you can't get antique plates. My Fairfax DMV tried their best to give me antique plates, but were thwarted by whatever code Richmond had set.


John
 
All of the above situation scares the living hell out of me. I will be taking possession of my 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder Replica next week, that I had built by Beck, in Indiana. I will be getting an "Indiana title", and take it to the Virginia DMV to "TRANSFER" the title to a Virginia Title. Before agreeing with the builder, to get the Spyder on an Indiana title, I have been going back and forth with them, in trying to get all the required documents I would require if I were going through Richmond. Once they told me that they were going to Title the Spyder in Indiana, the sky opened up for me, in the hopes that I would not have to go through all the BS in Richmond. I have been told by the manufacturer, that BECK is in Virginia's DMV data bank. Hope the hell that is so. Now, reading about the situation above, it does scares the hell out of me, given the fact that this Cobra HAs a title already, like I will have a title as well. This is sickening, they treat us as car thieves on top of draining our resources of one hell of a lot of $ for taxes. SEMA, where are you???!!! May God help me in solving this nightmare!!
 
From a new build perspective, getting the title was pretty straightforward in November 2018; the Richmond DMV has come a long way from a few years ago. I'd like to think that they've figured out their process, and that their new-found expertise carries over to the re-titling process as well.

After you get delivery confirmation for your paperwork, give the DMV several weeks to get to your application (I think their website says 3 weeks turnaround, but I'm going from somewhat foggy memory). Then you might call for status; the direct line to the VA DMV Vehicle Branding Workcenter is ‭(804) 367-1179‬.


John
 
Thank you for the tips John!

Hector, in your situation, I’d try to register and title the car normally first. I was sooo close to getting it done... If they had been able to just find F5R in their database as the manufacturer they would have just given me what I was asking for, a VA title that matched the FL one, and Antique plates. The guy was really trying and his cluelessness was working in my favor - to a point.

I’ll let everyone know how this goes, “sure as a duck’s boner drags weeds” I’m getting this done!
 
Your specific situation, is one I was at, twelve years ago. When I bought my Cobra, I had a Fl. title for it, all I did was to go to the DMV, and requested title and plates, and BANG!! I did get them in less than a half hour. They must have had"Backdraft" in their data bank at that time. I am being told by BECK Manufacturer, that they are listed in the Virginia data bank but, to me, seeing is believing. I will know by the end of next week if my Titling flies or not.
Same as you, "I'm getting this thing done, come hell or or high water. If need bee, I will drag my old Cuban ass to Richmond, with all the required documentation and practically Camp out there if necessary. I wish you the best of luck in your "martyrdom". I will be reporting next week on the outcome of this matter.
WHERE IS SEMA WHEN WE NEED THEM??!!
 
Hector Rodriguez said:
Your specific situation, is one I was at, twelve years ago. When I bought my Cobra, I had a Fl. title for it, all I did was to go to the DMV, and requested title and plates, and BANG!! I did get them in less than a half hour. They must have had"Backdraft" in their data bank at that time. I am being told by BECK Manufacturer, that they are listed in the Virginia data bank but, to me, seeing is believing. I will know by the end of next week if my Titling flies or not.
Same as you, "I'm getting this thing done, come hell or or high water. If need bee, I will drag my old Cuban ass to Richmond, with all the required documentation and practically Camp out there if necessary. I wish you the best of luck in your "martyrdom". I will be reporting next week on the outcome of this matter.
WHERE IS SEMA WHEN WE NEED THEM??!!
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Hector:
I originally titled my SPF in VA and then transferred to MD. VA was a snap as they had Superformance as a previously recognized manufacturer. If in fact BECK is in the system you are good to go.
CB
 
Hey all, I finally got temp plates today, with the others coming in the mail in a few weeks. Wahoo! So, the process for getting title, registration and tags on a car coming into VA on an out of state title is as follows:
1. Go to local DMV with signed out of state title, bill of sale, proof of insurance, filled out form 17A, funds to pay tax and other costs and see if they can find your make and model in their system. If they do, most likely they will just title/register/tag as with any other car. Note: I found a great temporary DMV that opens up a couple of days a month over in Fairfax but apparently there are a bunch of temporary and mobile DMV sites, here a link: https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/general/#csc/mcscalendar.asp
2. If you are not fortunate and can’t get the normal DMV to facilitate, you will end up having to send a package to the Richmond DMV’s Branding Work Center. Sort of like the build process approval but skipping some steps. They required a signed title, bill of sale, filled out form 17A, and check for the amount of tax as calculated by them. I also gave them proof of insurance and my DL photo. As another member noted, before sending anything, call the Branding Work Center drectly at: (804) 367-1179‬. Double check what is needed with them and ask for a POC to send your package to. Be polite, they don’t have to do this for you... The lady I worked with was Marion White but you may get another person assigned.
3. I sent my package to the physical address of the Branding Work Center, with Attn my POC. No matter what you put, your package goes to the mail room and will take a few days to make it up to the Branding Work Center. If over nighted, I would give it 2-3 days before you start calling. You want to keep in front of them but not piss them off. The address is: 2300 W Broad St Richmond VA, 23220.
4. It will take about a week, if you stay on top of them, for your package to be processed and the VA Title to be sent out.
5. Once you have title in hand you can go to any DMV for registration and plates, see my note above. Unfortunately, as others have noted, if you are getting a title from Richmond, they code it so you can’t get Antique plates even though the title says 1965. You can always try but I wasn’t able to get them and the rep was really trying for me.
6. Next step is inspection for window sticker, if needed. Another member posted that Lee-Hi Automotive was kit Cobra literate, so that’s where I’m going next.
 
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Once I got the Indiana title for my Beck Porsche Spyder, bill of sale and the 17A form, I went to the DMV central office in Richmond. I wanted to handle this Titling and Registration "face to face". I got to Richmond at about 8:00 am Friday morning, when I got in the DMV building, I was directed to go to a counter with no one behind it and wait while the guard called "upstairs" to the Branding Work Center office for someone to come down and receive my documents, after a half hour of waiting, Ms. Wallace appeared, checked my Indiana title, bill of sale, and my 17A application. After she did the checking, I asked her if I still needed to leave with her the whole bunch of documents that I read were required if you presented and MOS, she told me they were not necessary given the fact that I had the Indiana title, and that Indiana did "all that already", still she wanted my money in the form of a check or money order, and NO CREDIT CARDS so, I wrote her a check for big bucks and she was satisfied with that. She gave me her phone number, and in the same breath said to me that her office is backed up a minimum of SEVEN WEEKS, and to expect my title at that time. Once I get the title, she advised me to go to any DMV office and buy my "antique plates" there. I am not claiming victory yet, I will believe it when I see it. In the mean time, I will be driving my Spyder, when I get it home, with "temporary tags" which last 46 days. I am sure that this will get resolved once and for all, after months of loosing sleep over it.
Good luck Buzz!!!
 
I finally got my plates! Considering how nice most of the FFR kit is, I can’t understand how they can continue to provide a license plate holder that mounts in a spot that won’t allow for clearance of a standard license plate. It’s damn annoying on a 4th generation product and they should change it. Ended up notching the top and bottom of the plate and removing the clear plastic cover. I guess I’ll cut it and re-mount eventually but here it is for now.
57AEE185-A434-48B0-8CC7-43C845B836A0.jpeg
 
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