Any Virginia SPF owners successful with DMV?

[Don]

DMV called a week after submitting paperwork for Virginia title & registration under replica law and process. Someone has been assigned to my case, and of course, they’re new at Virginia DMV Branding office and this is their first, and after talking with a bunch of coworkers they’ve come to the determination that the GT40 is a “race car” and cannot be registered in Virginia, only titled.

Obvious bad news, can’t legally drive the GT40 anywhere, but maybe good news, no registration means no annual personal property tax I suppose.

I’ll provide and get more info (they’re asking for more components detail & cost like paint and restraints despite their own process only requiring chassis + engine + transaxle cost), appeal to whatever process I can, and see if we can’t get it on the road eventually.

But if anyone else in Virginia has been successful, I’m all ears as to how … really hard to imagine I’m the first GT40 in the Commonwealth.

Title 46.2. Motor Vehicles

law.lis.virginia.gov

Title a Reconstructed, Specially Constructed or Replica Vehicle

If you own a reconstructed vehicle, specially constructed vehicle or replica vehicle (see definitions) you must get a certificate of title and registration for the vehicle before operating it on any highway. All liens held against the vehicle must be on the Virginia title. Reconstructed or...

www.dmv.virginia.gov

 

[Jim Albright]

DMV called a week after submitting paperwork for Virginia title & registration under replica law and process. Someone has been assigned to my case, and of course, they’re new at Virginia DMV Branding office and this is their first, and after talking with a bunch of coworkers they’ve come to the determination that the GT40 is a “race car” and cannot be registered in Virginia, only titled.

Obvious bad news, can’t legally drive the GT40 anywhere, but maybe good news, no registration means no annual personal property tax I suppose.

I’ll provide and get more info (they’re asking for more components detail & cost like paint and restraints despite their own process only requiring chassis + engine + transaxle cost), appeal to whatever process I can, and see if we can’t get it on the road eventually.

But if anyone else in Virginia has been successful, I’m all ears as to how … really hard to imagine I’m the first GT40 in the Commonwealth.

Title 46.2. Motor Vehicles

law.lis.virginia.gov

Title a Reconstructed, Specially Constructed or Replica Vehicle

If you own a reconstructed vehicle, specially constructed vehicle or replica vehicle (see definitions) you must get a certificate of title and registration for the vehicle before operating it on any highway. All liens held against the vehicle must be on the Virginia title. Reconstructed or...

www.dmv.virginia.gov

I had issues at the first DMV office I tried (Portsmouth - they were clueless), so I went to the Suffolk office and got a friendly and knowledgeable experienced lady who had me in and out in less than 30 minutes (Titled and tagged). Shouldn't matter between a Lola and a GT40.

 

[Don]

Agreed. And I saw some online evidence of SPF Cobras also running into (even overcoming) this initial arbitrary “race car” designation in Virginia, but I double checked the SPF MSO and nowhere does it refer to the chassis as a “race car”, and in fact explicitly calls it a component vehicle, which along with other major components and assembly to resemble a particular period vehicle aligns with the Virginia code definition for “replica”. I don’t see anywhere in law or agency guide where “if it LOOKS like a race car, call it that, and tell the applicant they can’t register their vehicle for road use”.

So it begs the question:

If following the DMV’s process and meeting its definitions for replica title issuance doesn’t result in such … what the heck does?

Pretty frustrating.

 

[Jim Albright]

Agreed. And I saw some online evidence of SPF Cobras also running into (even overcoming) this initial arbitrary “race car” designation in Virginia, but I double checked the SPF MSO and nowhere does it refer to the chassis as a “race car”, and in fact explicitly calls it a component vehicle, which along with other major components and assembly to resemble a particular period vehicle aligns with the Virginia code definition for “replica”. I don’t see anywhere in law or agency guide where “if it LOOKS like a race car, call it that, and tell the applicant they can’t register their vehicle for road use”.

So it begs the question:

If following the DMV’s process and meeting its definitions for replica title issuance doesn’t result in such … what the heck does?

Pretty frustrating.

It's no different than any other kit car as far as DMV is concerned - the trick is to find an office with competent staff. Sad state of affairs in the commonwealth.....