Hot Rods North Carolina registration

We’re moving to North Carolina at the beginning of June and will be bringing our cars with us (1963 Impala, Model A). Are there any pitfalls I should be aware of with registering older vehicles? I saw that standard registration requires yearly inspections, but that there is also an ‘Antique Vehicle’ registration that doesn’t require that. Is that what most folks are using?
Thanks!
- John

 

It's a piece of cake. If your cars a certain age it's automatically classified as antique and exempt from annual inspections. You have to do a one time vin inspection to make sure it matches and has a clean history and you're done. You can even run any plate you want as long as you have the one that corresponds to your reg. somewhere in the car.

 

Good to know! So, by vin verification I assume they have to actually see the number? That’s going to be real difficult with my model A seeing as it’s located on the frame under the cowl.

 

You can go online and order a V.I.N. inspection. Unless things have changed it is required on any titled vehicle coming from out of state 1970 and older. Vehicles over 30 years old are exempt from annual safety inspections as mentioned above.
The V.I.N inspection will be done by a DMV License and Theft inspector. Here is a link to use when you are here. You will want a "Motor vehicle examanation" https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/programs/fraud-theft/Portal/Pages/Service/Service.aspx

 

Thanks I appreciate the link! Not looking forward to pulling my cab off my car.

 

Here is a update, I was just at the License plate agency and the current rules are for anything 30 yrs old or older coming in from out of state has to have a V.I.N verification from a DMV License and Theft inspector.

 

Funny NC would do that when back in the day that’s where used cars went to get retitled with a more generous mileage. (From what I’ve heard of course)

 

Even if you already own them and they are titled in your name... Make sure your paperwork is in order! It's an easy process though.

 

^^^what they all said.............

 

Late 60's, early 70's I worked at a dealership just over the DC line in MD. All the clunker and high mileage trade-ins went on the back lot waiting for the NC wholesalers.

 

That is crummy. I had a vin verification here in CA prior to building it and now I’ll have to pull the body off to expose the top of the frame again!

 

You will not get a title in NC until License and Theft Officer inspects it. He will want to see the factory numbers, whether they are on the frame or A pillar and tags better be attached just like they were at the factory. Also, the numbers better be the right font. Failing that, you will have to get a bond.

 

On a positive note, you will be able to get your car tagged with N.C. plates on your first trip to the N.C
DMV. You'll then have a year to get the inspection and have the new title issued.

 

Just a thought. Any chance you could get a CA assigned vin since the now hidden vin was previously inspected? The new assigned vin would be attached in a location easily visible most likely on the frame or door frame. If so you wouldn't have to pull the body for a NC vin inspection. And it doesn't change the title except to show the new vin. Or at least that's how it was years ago on an ot MG I had before I got drafted. Might be worth looking into before you move. Maybe @gimpyshotrods knows if it could be done or not.

 

You won't have to pull the body but you will have to get a bond if they can't verify the numbers. They will affix a NCS sticker with your newly assigned "NC Vin number" to 2 places on the car. I usually do it in the door jamb and one on the chassis.

 

I don’t know, but I’ll ask the agent who did my vin verification. Thanks for the tip!

 

Thanks! Maybe it won’t be as bad as I’m thinking.

 

Then again, maybe it's worth separating the body for inspection and keeping the original vehicle number. If you ever sell it, especially.

 

Sucks, but people were playing fast and loose with getting things titled. I usually load it on a trailer and take it by the License and Theft office. I haven't had any issues with it, and have had it done it for a few customers.

 

If you have already had a VIN verification, go to the DMV and register the A non-op.

You will not need insurance, so long as you do not operate it on the road.

You will have your California title well before you leave.

You will still have to lift the body and splash apron to show the number in NC, but the paperwork will be easier.

 

im fully registered and driving now, so I am not worried about paperwork. It’s just the thought of having to remove the body again that gives me anxiety.

 

The law, in all 50-states, dictates that a duly qualified authority directly view the original identifying marks.

There is no way around that.

The default marking standards are the permanently attached ones, in this case the frame.

You can thank Henry Ford for signing off on them being in a hard to access area.

 

Passed on more than one Model A where the engine number didn't match the pink and the owner wasn't able and/or willing to lift the body for verification.

 

It seems that my '50 truck was "built" in NC out of various parts and perhaps missing a valid title. Somehow, someway, it got issued an NC I.D. number comprised of 3 letters (the first 2 are "NC" plus one more letter) and 5 digits. Then a sticker was generated and stuck on the door jam. Since being "titled" in North Carolina, the truck has been titled in at least 3 more states that I know of using that same I.D. number on each state's title document.
I know this is a different situation than the OP's question, but it seems like there's always going to be a way to get 'er done.

 

Same.

 

It's a custom build. And they are not hard to do. You have to have the parts inspected and receipts for pretty much everything. They prefer to see it during the process and not just showing up with a built car and some receipts

 

See post #15. Been there several times. You will not have to pull the body but you will have to buy a bond. You will get a title that is clear. The bond protects the state should someone else lay claim to the vehicle within 3 years (I think.). Bonds cost less that $200 typically.

 

I did a bonded title for my 31 A Brookville bodied roadster and it cost me $600 for the 3 years they required. The process wasn't all that hard but covid and the NC title office being moved in the middle of covid added all kinds of problems. All of which were solved with some patience. I now have a title and the car has a vin in 2 different places.

 

Wow. I've done at least 3 cars and I don't think I've ever paid more than a couple hundred dollars. It probably would pay to check a few different sources. I got mine through my Nationwide agent that has my primary OT vehicle, home, etc. YMMV.

 

I did my primary insurance agent as well, and that is what it came back at.