This may not be the proper location, I apologize if not. I am a fabricator in Ohio and am wondering if there is any legal way to build a car and to be able to put it on the road for testing/tuning priot to customer delivery or prior to obtaining a title. Most likely, no way. Do I need to title each car then become a dealer and have dealer plates? The title will show proper inspection for "road worthiness" and the dealer plate would make things legit. Transfer title to new owner? Seems like an unnecessary paperwork trail - thoughts?
I think your best bet would be to contact your local DMV and ask them. You'll get answers here from every state and several other countries that may not be applicable to your area. Better to be safe than sorry.
if this is being built for a customer, I would have the customer initiate the title process themselves. could get messy and unnecessarily expensive for yoiu with having to get all the dealer licensing, permits, etc.
i don't know what the state laws are in ohio, but here in ct., when you apply for a license, you can either get a repair or used car dealer license, which will get you 3 plates (repair or dealer). you didn't say if you were a licensed shop or not. if you are building anything for anyone, it would be smart to be licensed and INSURED, for liability reasons. if your just "tinkering", you should have the customer register and insure (theft and fire also) the car before they leave it with you so the car can be test driven. the process of licensing is not an easy or cheap process, but it is a wise one non the less. it could save your ass in the long run. i'm sure there are a lot of back yard builders who do jobs for their friends and themselves, that's fine. but if your dealing with "customers", you better be able to cover your ass if something goes wrong. just my .02, thanks,eddie.
Thanks for the responses. I start with a pile of steel and some resin and end up with a driveable car. I was just looking to see how I can legally get the car on the road. I guess I better leave it to school parking lots on the weekends. Keeps my risk and my paperwork to a minimum and deliver the car and paperwork to the customer and they can go through the title process.
Even with a Dealer plate you could'nt do that as its suppose to be strickly for transporting the car..Though if you live in the country I'm sure you could wheel out onto the road and not get hassled ,,not saying its legal mind you
Who's creating the VIN? I think you need to have an 'assembled' title for what you are talking about and the state will inspect it to determine what the VIN gets marked by. Several states will go off of the engine ID but several will also go off of the year of manufacture. If you build a '41 Willys clone but get it inspected and registered today, you may have a 2009 car which will have to then meet all of the requirements for a vehicle built today. Seatbelts, airbages, bumpers, etc. I don't know how these kit cars get through in some states. It may be OK in one area but not in another (i.e. smog testing). I think you'd better do some serious homework before you make your own cars and get governed out of business in a hurry!
I appreciate everyone's input. Let me just state I have done a lot of homework and all of the manufacturer, VIN, and title issues have all been addressed. The last piece is how to get the car road tested prior to delivery to the customer. I have my own shop, it is insured, registered, and I am a legal car builder. I establish my own VIN's and provide Certificate of Origins upon deliver. Dealer plates are more than just delivery, they are used for test driving as well. I have no illegal intentions, just trying to get a car that has been built to DOT standards for 'hot rods', as vague as that may sound, to get broken in prior to delivery.
Here in MD, similar to the dealer tags, they have a transport tag that are for service/repair facilities that need to move cars that aren't presently registered. Something along those lines should fit the bill.
MP&C - thanks! I looked it up and discovered we have a transit tag in Ohio. I never knew they existed. I found the application now I need to ask the license bureau about them to understand them. For anyone else looking in the State of Ohio - click on: http://bmv.ohio.gov/pdf_forms/bmv4366.pdf
It has to be titled & licensed anyway. The owner should just get it done before you put it on the road. Seems simple. JH
I would think that this one would fit you better. http://bmv.ohio.gov/pdf_forms/bmv4376.pdf It is for a manufacturer. It is a little less costly too.
Not Ohio, but I have seen cars running around with Manufacturer's Plates on them. Not just Michigan but several other states also. If you are a registered car builder why not look ino that possibility.
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