Has anyone tried registering a street rod in Maasachusetts in 2012 yet?

It sounds like the 3 employee's at the registry were really trying to decide where they were going for lunch. I can tell you this, I lived in AZ for 25 years and have been to the registry alot for titles and the poeple out there are the same as here. They all must take the same test to get hired...the I don't know test!

 

I gotta say, I moved to NH years ago because I just couldn't take the steady march toward communism in MA. I can't stand that State...so much regulation and rules to protect people from themselves.

 

The employees, a lot of them political a hacks, get the job and the title goes to their head, like they're the wrath of God. Friend of mine had a motor home years ago. He went to renew the registration the second time and the DMV said " Where did you get this plate, it's illegal ?" He answered , " You gave it to me originally." They couldn't think of a answer so they renewed his registration! What a bunch of beauties! Unfortunately, they're are some good people working there, but , that's overshadowed by the morons who couldn't hold job elsewhere.

 

Exactly the problem I had with a '72 Charger, being pre '73, it never had a title. The seller wasn't dead, but was in SOuth Carolina. He had no interest in affidavits on a car that was history to him. That is when I turned to Broadway Title. Two weeks and $140 later, I had a title.

Here is the trick for trailers. A friend gave me one that came with a house he bought. THe DMV wanted a title. I explained that it was a gift. They then said they needed a gift tax return before they even got to the title. I gave up. On the way out, a Statie on duty gave me a tip "Come back tomorrow and say it is home made". That is what I did, now I have a trailer title.

 

Ah, "der Zorn Gott"

 

I just checked the DOT calendar for March and April, there's no meeting scheduled. Are you sure about the date?

 

And, you have some reason to think they could get it right?

 

The thing about Broadway Ttitle is...in some states they are revoking titles from the car owner if Broadway issued the title and even if they were driving the car for a couple of years...because the way it is obtained. Mass is not like that yet, just check the web and see what I'm talking about. I have frends that used Broadway and have gotten titles with no problems. It just a matter of time before all the little loop holes are closed...so get your titles if needed asap...

 

And I thought the DMV in CA could be difficult. Don't know how the politics in MA work but whenever anyone has a problem with a state agency in CA all they have to do is complain to their state representative and the agency in question will jump up and down to keep the state representative happy. Don't ask me how I know.

 

You think you have problems.Here in Queensland Australia I have been fighting the Transport Dept for 5 years to get the Hudson properly registered.
It was registered but they decided it didn't comply.It can't be registered as a hot rod here even though it is a 1948 model.Our hot rod rules state it must be of American origin using an original chassis or a reproduction of the chassis.Well Hudsons were unibody and I have it on a later chassis all properly built and incorporating all the original front suspension and steering etc from that later chassis(1973).
There is new legislation that was supposed to be enacted and after 7 years these dills still haven't got it done.These bureaucrats can make a career out of one piece of legislation.If that happened I could probably work around it and get the car on the road.
We had a new State Government voted in last night(yes,yes,yes).They wiped the old one out completely.I have already sent one letter to the new Minister for Transport before the election and will now follow up as he will have more authority.
Doesn't help that we have certain members of the hot rodding inspection committee that are definitely "anti hot rod" and also are quite happy to have a vendetta on anyone who doesn't comply totally.

 

Assuming that is true, it is really an oppressive law. Here in Mass, we start with some idiotic law that demands a title on a car back to the beginning of time. This is made a joke because a car falls off the state's books after 10 years of inactivity, and the state has no way to retrieve the information disposed of. The state provides no reasonable method of rectifying problems. By reasonable, I mean some reasonable relation to the time and effort required and the value of the car. (I suspect there is some background in the idea that "we want those gas guzzling clunkers off the road". For that reason, they do nothing to enforce the title law against scrap yards). By destroying records, the sate makes it impossible to comply with their laws. Great.

So, Broadway Title come along to solve their problem and they attack it. Think about it. I sell a titleless car to Broadway, I think that is legal (I know the state does not enforce it against scrap dealers who buy titleless cars all of the time). Broadway goes to a state that does not have a title law and registers it. They obtain a registration, I think that is legal (meaning it complies with existing law). Then they sell the car back to you and provide you with the legally obtained "prior registration". You then go to the Mass DMV and provide them with the documentation they require, what law has been broken? Some may say that the car never left the state. So what, what is really different if I drove the car into Rhode Island? I suppose an argument could be constructed that if I actually drove the car to Rhode Island the car has left the jurisdiction and is no longer subject to Massachusetts law. That is really a legal fiction. Here is an analogy. There was a time when a book was declared pornographic and could not be sold in Massachusetts. But, I could take that very same book to Rhode Island where "magically" it was no longer pornographic and I could sell it. When we had that problem, we decided the sensible thing was to get rid of pornography laws. Maybe it is time to get rid of some title laws.

While the title law may protect the owners of, million dollar, 30 year old Ferraris. In the real world it turns a 1987 Lincoln, without a title, into scrap iron. Another "gas guzzling clunker" gone.

 

Mass is horrible. The excess legislation there is a primary reason I left 9 years ago. Having said that, I still do not understand what the issue being discussed here is all about. Is the problem due to antique plates, modifications to the car, both?

 

THe problem boils down to "no title" to prove the existence of the car. No title is a problem in many liukely scenarios. You drag a '48 Ford out of a barn, or construct a "kit car". Without a title, you cannot "prove" the age of a car to obtain "antique plates".

Factory Five, one of the major suppliers of "Cobras" is located here. I think they solve the problem by being a "manufacturer" and can supply a "certificate of origin". I am not sure what happens to people who buy one of their "kits" and build it themselves. Lotus used to sell their cars as "kits". That was in the 60's, before our title law.

I am not so much a opposed to "titles", it is the foolishness created by a half baked law. Worse, they want to make it more complex. Doubtless, they believe they are providing a "pathway".

 

No, but before I drive an hour and a half on the word of some pissed off internet blowhard I just thought I'd ask. Now, I'll ask again; are you sure about the date?

 

Quote:
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And, you have some reason to think they could get it right?

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Try the decaf.

 

Isn't that the state that John Kerry "represents"?

Funniest newspaper cartoon ever was one I saw shortly after he lost the party nomination. It was a one-panel cartoon where a news guy asks Kerry "So John, why the long face?"

 

Sorry, mistook you for the OP. Anyone else heard about this meeting?

 

LOL! I think your on to something here, Kerry docks his yacht in RI to avoid paying his share of taxes ($500,000) to the commonwealth, now the rodders have to make up the difference.

 

Currently in Kentucky you can buy a one time Historic plate that lasts forever. The yearly taxes on my 62 Chevy wagon amounts to pennies. My biggest fear is that state DMV's will start charging us taxes on the value we have our cars insured for. It's a cash cow they haven't chose to collect on yet. If they really get smart we're screwed.

 

Kerry is one of those politicians who really annoy me by using their power in such petty ways. For instance, he had a fire hydrant moved from in front of his Beacon Hill Mansion, so that he could have two parking spaces. Imagine if you, or I, tried that. We are are only allowed 6 digits on a "vanity plate". I remember the plate on Ted Kennedy's car, count the digits in KENNEDY. So much for the DMV "rules" when it comes to "big people".

 

god i love alabama. we have pulled cars out of the fields and built them ,then run to town with some kinda bill of sale and bingo we got p,lates. well they changed it up some but its still easy as hell.but if i was to build a car and they told me you cant drive it for some bs registration laws.id be paying alot of tickets.

 

What problem is really solved by all of these laws? Car thefts may be down (I'm not sure they are) but it may also be due to automatic locks, better ignition switches, etc. Also look at the list of the top cars stolen. They are not what we are looking at, Escalades, Accords, Camry's. They are going to "chop shops", they are not being resold. Car "stolen"? Carfax can handle it.

My favorite is the "Privacy Law". Back in the 90's it was determined that men were getting info on women from the DMV and using it to harass women. Could be true, but because so many states passed identical laws, I think it was a power play by NOW, or some such, and not a local problem. What's the difference you say? Let's say you have a car with no title and it would be handy to find the previous owner. Sorry, "Privacy Law" you can't do it. But hey, I bought the car! Sorry, you need a title before we can let you search the title. Funny, if you are hit by a car and only have a plate number, I think you can get the info. I once got the info by telling the police I wanted to check if a car I was buying was ever stolen. I think they are wise to the "Privacy Law" now.

Imagine if the Registry of Deeds was "private"? Who would buy a house without a title search. How about all of those women out there raking leaves, then being harassed by guys who got their name from the tax assessor?

 

I was wondering how much a car has to be altered to be concitered a street rod or a custom?

Would frenched headlights and a decked lid be a custom?

I also noticed that an ammendment to the law comes into effect as of April 30, 2012
Maybe they are waiting for this before they register any new plates.


"
SECTION 3. Subsection (b) of section 142M of chapter 111 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the third paragraph the following paragraph:-
Street rods and custom vehicles, as defined and registered pursuant to section 2H of chapter 90, shall receive an emissions waiver certificate. Specially constructed vehicles and replica vehicles, as defined and registered pursuant to said section 2H of said chapter 90, and registered on or before April 30, 2012, shall receive an emissions waiver certificate. Specially constructed vehicles and replica vehicles, as so defined, registered after April 30, 2012 shall be subject to emission control requirements based on the model year and configuration of the engine installed in the specially constructed or replica vehicle, whether the engine is an original equipment manufacturer&#8217;s production engine, rebuilt engine or crate engine. Regulations relative to emissions compliance for replica or specially constructed vehicles registered after April 30, 2012 may establish maximum limits on the annual number of vehicle miles traveled by these vehicles; provided, however, that any such limit set, shall not be set at less than 3,000 miles per year. If the model year of the engine installed in the specially constructed or replica vehicle requires an onboard diagnostic system, the vehicle shall be subject to an onboard diagnostic system emissions test applicable to the certified configuration, including any exclusions or exemptions otherwise granted to that certified configuration."

 

I live in Haverhill Ma. , walking distance to the NH border. I bought my 52 from an old timer from the "live free or die" state. It was on the road with a reg., NH inspection and insurance. The Ma. DMV has had me running around in circles trying to get a title, which needs a VIN, which needs a title, which needs a VIN....
Im seriously eyeballing a house up the street, bigger garage and a way car friendlier NH adress!

 

Hey, Outlaw256....What are the reqirements in Bama now for a antique plate, do you have to have car insurance now before you can apply for the antique registration? Does someone have to inspect it first?...or at least see the vehicle?

 

albie,
i think that if you take the guy you bought your 52 from to his town clerks office i think you could get a n.h. for your 52. worth checking into.

 

My friend from MA purchased a brand new FFR Cobra kit, took him about 6-7 months to complete the kit, He dragged his car all over Ma finally after 2 1/2 years got it registered but then couldn't get it inspected. The car had the best of everything all new with a crate engine from Forte. He got so pissed he sold the car took a 15K hit and bought a 4wd John Deere tractor for his yard

 

Come to Maine...its a piece of cake.

 

Its my understanding that in NH any vehicle 15 years or older neednt have a title. Being a lifelong NH car, the thing was sold owner to owner with nothing more than a bill of sale. I could be wrong (probably) and will check it out.

 

My son bought a car from a guy in NH, it had no title, all he needed to register it and get a title in Mass. was the NH registration and a bill of sale.