Vehicle Title Questions or Advice

[67CamNKC]

I bought a 67 camaro in '08 as a basket case type roller from out of state (IL) and brought it back to Kansas. I have a clear open title and bill of sale in hand for the car. I never have had the title put in my name and it is still open. Kansas requires a one time state inspection when titling an out of state car. Since my car is only a roller, they want to make it an off highway title. I will then have to have it re-inspected to get it back to a highway title. But, they said it will always show it was an off-highway title at one time...



Should I not worry about this and just title and register it when it's drivable? Not sure I want to go through the off highway/one highway crud.

I was thinking about buying a one-time car fax report on the vin since their site says they show all US registration and police report info on the car just to verify the car is A-OK.

Your thoughts?

[Rhino]

I had the exact same issue bringing my car in from NE. It's correct that the title will always be "branded" as off-highway. My car was a roller as well and has a standard registration. They didn't even bring it up. When I asked to make sure it wouldn't be off-highway, they said I could do it either way and asked what I would prefer. It was a pretty painless process. The only detriment to having it "on highway" is that you're paying for tags, taxes, and insurance, but for these cars it's not too expensive.

I went to the inspection station right off of Old 56 and Dennis in Olathe, and registered at the DMV office off of 135th street.

[67CamNKC]

So you were given the choice? I called the station up on 70 near 78th said that since the engine and safety equipment (headlights, tail lights) were missing, off highway was a must. Maybe I should try that inspection station....

Edit....My car is rolling, but its gutted still with no front clip.

[67CamNKC]

I just spoke to a trooper at that location. She said she would have to do the off-highway deal as well. She did say that if I was only a few months away from it running, that she would suggest getting it running first. It was only a couple bucks a month fine.

They also said that they can't run a VIN without seeing the car. I asked if there was a way to check the VIN to make sure there weren't any problems (stolen). Would car fax show this? It's probably not an issue since I have a title and a bill of sale.

[Rhino]

That's strange. I think I purchased my car in late '07. The inspection station wasn't concerned about status in the slightest. It was at the DMV that I asked about it.

You should have seen my car when it rolled through there. No engine, trans in the passenger seat, and missing half the sheetmetal due to rust.
The only difference I can think of is that it did have the front fenders, a busted out '67 grill, and tail lights. It "looked" more like a car, but they had to know it didn't have an engine, since they had to check the partial VIN under the heater box opening. They shouldn't check the partials on you unless you're missing the VIN plate... which I unfortunately was.

I've never been a big fan of car-fax, but I'm sure it would come up if it was reported stolen.

EDIT: BTW... in KS I was was always under the impression that you needed to have a vehicle inspected within 90 days or you started getting fines. How did you get around that?

[67CamNKC]

They don't know I have it yet, which is why I wanted to go ahead and get it titled (title is open and not signed yet). I asked them on the phone and they said its a couple dollars a month. It might cost me a 150 bucks or so it sounds like. I may point my progress to fitting everything and getting it running so it doesnt need the off-highway status.

[derekf]

CF can't go back before 1981 and can't do VINs that aren't 17 character.

[ronin8451]

Just google "free online vin check" and use one of those, I did on a '67 Camaro before buying it as a race car to be sure it wasn't stolen or salvaged.

[derekf]

https://www.nicb.org/theft_and_fraud_awareness/vincheck only goes back 5 years.

The rest I found looked to just be links to spam search engines or wanted a 17 character VIN. If you happen to remember the site you used, please post up a link.

[shizzy]

So you were given the choice? I called the station up on 70 near 78th said that since the engine and safety equipment (headlights, tail lights) were missing, off highway was a must. Maybe I should try that inspection station....

Edit....My car is rolling, but its gutted still with no front clip.

Does the car need to be complete and come in under its own power? or does it just need an engine and the "safety equipment" installed? I would find out if you can get it titled as on road if you slap the front end back on it and drop some complete looking engine under the hood and bring it in on a trailer.

A friend of mine (MN, no state inspections) had a title issue with an old 47 Chevy P.U. and the state did need to see the truck. He was told the truck didnt need to come in under its own power, but couldn't come in on a trailer. You basically had to trailer it to the location, unload it, push it in to the building and then push it back out after they looked at it.

[Bigblue73]

Your term "Roller" is the key here. In the state of Missouri this makes you declare it on your personal property tax. In your case, the car is not operational as is, thus not being applicable to highway usage. So off-highway use only. I you would make this thing into a full out race car, would you title it as a street car. No need to. Either way it's your legal way of showing ownership. After you get the car road worthy you will have to go through another inspection (Missouri was at a state patrol designation) where they will crawl all over your car. Make sure it all works.

[67CamNKC]

I've had several discussions with the KHP inspection station. On the last call, the trooper told me to just wait and bring it in when it's further along.

It hasn't been titled in 3 years. Another year will cost me another $15. I'm on pace to have it running sooner than that. I figure I'll take it up there when it's more complete. Since I have a clear signed title, it'll me much easier to tag/title then instead of the off hwy mess.

[TheJDMan]

My 68 was registered and driven in Kansas in 73. When I started drag racing it in the late 70s I switched the KS title to off-highway. It stayed that way for nearly 30 years. Recently I registered it here in Virginia and they never batted an eye about issuing an on-highway title here with no indication on the VA title that it was ever off-highway. Since it is considered an antique in VA no inspection was required for them to issue a plate. Off-highway is no big deal title wise but it does save you from having to pay tax on it.