Texas Title and licensing process

D

Daytona27

New member
Joined
May 30, 2023
First Name
Craig
Last Name
Larson
City
Georgetown
Chapter
Austin
Hey Y'all,
Can anyone give me a good rundown on how to get my Factory Five car titled and licensed? Sequence of action items?
I was not able to get usable info from the state website. Any suggestions welcome!
Thanks,
Craig
 
Hey Craig,

Process I used for my Type 65 to get reg on Mar 1 2023 in Smith County south of Tyler in Troupe.

1) download Motor_Vehicle_Registration_Manual_Book_298 read it, know it.
2) get a weight, went to scrap metal recycle in North Tyler $10.
3) Got insurance and proof, Grundy.
4) download and fill out VTR-852 (need for next step) & VTR-61 forms, from TX dept MV site.
5) Chassis inspection by ASE Master Cert Mech in North Whitehouse (south of Tyler) $220
6) Five Photo set: Front, Back, Left, Right and frame SN.
7) packaged ALL receipts for the build, to show I have already paid a bunch of TX sales tax.
8) FFR manufacture cert, should have come with your parts pile as a final delivery.
7) Take package of everything listed above to MV Dept.

I did a custom car build registration, mine took about 30min to get done,
Clerk had never done a custom car build before and had to call another office to get help.
Make sure to let them know about all the sales tax already paid and that you would be willing to review all the receipts.
Very big pile and they opted to take my word.
Only issue I had was they wanted me to get a standard inspection, I had to educate them that the VTR-852 covered that.
Got out of there with a total cost of $100.

If you are in a smog county then there might be more hoops to jump through.
I'm in the sticks, we don't have any hoops.

Hope this helps
 
Bob Marek said:
Hey Craig,

Process I used for my Type 65 to get reg on Mar 1 2023 in Smith County south of Tyler in Troupe.

1) download Motor_Vehicle_Registration_Manual_Book_298 read it, know it.
2) get a weight, went to scrap metal recycle in North Tyler $10.
3) Got insurance and proof, Grundy.
4) download and fill out VTR-852 (need for next step) & VTR-61 forms, from TX dept MV site.
5) Chassis inspection by ASE Master Cert Mech in North Whitehouse (south of Tyler) $220
6) Five Photo set: Front, Back, Left, Right and frame SN.
7) packaged ALL receipts for the build, to show I have already paid a bunch of TX sales tax.
8) FFR manufacture cert, should have come with your parts pile as a final delivery.
7) Take package of everything listed above to MV Dept.

I did a custom car build registration, mine took about 30min to get done,
Clerk had never done a custom car build before and had to call another office to get help.
Make sure to let them know about all the sales tax already paid and that you would be willing to review all the receipts.
Very big pile and they opted to take my word.
Only issue I had was they wanted me to get a standard inspection, I had to educate them that the VTR-852 covered that.
Got out of there with a total cost of $100.

If you are in a smog county then there might be more hoops to jump through.
I'm in the sticks, we don't have any hoops.

Hope this helps
Click to expand...
Bob,
Yes - that is super helpful! thanks very much.
Craig
 
Bob Marek said:
Hey Craig,

Process I used for my Type 65 to get reg on Mar 1 2023 in Smith County south of Tyler in Troupe.

1) download Motor_Vehicle_Registration_Manual_Book_298 read it, know it.
2) get a weight, went to scrap metal recycle in North Tyler $10.
3) Got insurance and proof, Grundy.
4) download and fill out VTR-852 (need for next step) & VTR-61 forms, from TX dept MV site.
5) Chassis inspection by ASE Master Cert Mech in North Whitehouse (south of Tyler) $220
6) Five Photo set: Front, Back, Left, Right and frame SN.
7) packaged ALL receipts for the build, to show I have already paid a bunch of TX sales tax.
8) FFR manufacture cert, should have come with your parts pile as a final delivery.
7) Take package of everything listed above to MV Dept.

I did a custom car build registration, mine took about 30min to get done.
Clerk had never done a custom car build before and had to call another office to get help.
Make sure to let them know about all the sales tax already paid and that you would be willing to review all the receipts.
Very big pile and they opted to take my word.
Only issue I had was they wanted me to get a standard inspection, I had to educate them that the VTR-852 covered that.
Got out of there with a total cost of $100.

If you are in a smog county then there might be more hoops to jump through.
I'm in the sticks, we don't have any hoops.

Hope this helps
Click to expand...
Did you not have to go through the Auto Theft Division inspection? That can be a major pain in the ass because no all areas have an auto theft division familiar with the paperwork, and some (Houston) only do a few per week and if you show up with a non-Houston address will turn you away. I didn't see you reference this step in your process. Is this something that has been dropped from the process?
 
That does not exist in Smith County, Tyler. Have not herd of that. I guess they figure that the cows out here cant hot wire a car. Another good thing bout living in the sticks.
 
Bob Marek said:
That does not exist in Smith County, Tyler. Have not herd of that. I guess they figure that the cows out here cant hot wire a car. Another good thing bout living in the sticks.
Click to expand...
My understanding was that that was a State thing, not a County thing. I titled / registered in Austin County a few counties west of Houston, but had to go into a DMV supercenter in Houston (twice) to get my title and I only managed to get my Auto Theft inspection done thanks to mutual contacts in LE.

If they have dropped the State requirement for the Auto Theft check, that would be awesome because honestly that was the most challenging part of the process for me even though I built with 100% new parts.
 
EAldredge said:
My understanding was that that was a State thing, not a County thing. I titled / registered in Austin County a few counties west of Houston, but had to go into a DMV supercenter in Houston (twice) to get my title and I only managed to get my Auto Theft inspection done thanks to mutual contacts in LE.

If they have dropped the State requirement for the Auto Theft check, that would be awesome because honestly that was the most challenging part of the process for me even though I built with 100% new parts.
Click to expand...
In 2019, I had receipts for new engine, transmission, receipts and MSO for the kit from Hurricane Motorsports. VIN was assigned on the MSO from Hurricane. I did not have to do any DSP inspection for thief/inspection. This was Ellis county and they aren't nearly as uptight.
 
Thanks for those insights. Here is a little more info for those in/around Austin regarding theft inspections:
I live outside the Austin city limits in the 'burbs, but an inspection still needs to be done - apparently by the state. I'm in Williamson county so I'll call and find out where the nearest inspection station is for this type of thing.
https://www.austintexas.gov/page/68a-inspections
The Austin Police Auto Theft Unit conducts 68-A Inspections for residents with an Austin home address. If you reside in another city, or in the county, you will need to contact the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to ask about where inspections are conducted for your area. If you need a 68-A inspection to have your vehicle titled in another State besides Texas, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles must do the inspection. Their local phone number is: 512-465-3000.
 
will be getting my Coupe road ready as well. i hope by summer. Here is what Bastrop County says..

looks like yet another form/inspection to be completed.

"You need to bring your photo ID and the vehicle's designated location. An Auto Theft Investigator is the only person who can arrangements to have your vehicle or trailer brought to the Office. NO EXCEPTIONS, it is your responsibility to make done at your residence or any location other than the Sheriff’s Tax Office and Sheriff’s Office entrances. Inspections WILL NOT be inspection location will be on Jackson street just past (south of) the appointment only on specific dates set by the investigator. The inspections for Bastrop County Resident’s. Inspections are by The Bastrop County Sheriff’s Auto Theft Unit is responsible for the VTR 68-A VTR 68-A INSPECTION"

Doug
 
clearer info.

1685998188385.png



Doug
 
Thanks for this info.

I am in the registration process right now, and I am having some difficulties finding a place for the ASE Safety inspections, the people are not familiar with this process in most of the places so,
I would really appreciate any reference where in the Houston area, I can go to for the ASE Safety inspection for my MK3.

Thanks in advance
J
 
Howdy - My build is still and progress not yet ready for title/registration but I have a related question.

Do any members have a kit that was originally titled/registered in Texas using this process and documented on the Texas Title as the year the kit is replicating (e.g. 1965/1966) NOT titled as the year on the Manufacturer's Statement of Origin (MSO) [reflecting when the kit was originally sold].

Any related experience/wisdom would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
--Brian
 
I'm having trouble with my title. I completed the process, got my plates and registration sticker, but after 5 months had not received the title in the mail. I applied for a lost title replacement and got a letter back saying the title had been rejected. Reginal DMV office in Houston, and the Waller County tax office in Brookshire, have no idea why it was rejected.

Is there a professional service or car title lawyer available that could help me? I'm thinking I may need to hire a pro. Thanks for any advice.
 
BrianP said:
Howdy - My build is still and progress not yet ready for title/registration but I have a related question.

Do any members have a kit that was originally titled/registered in Texas using this process and documented on the Texas Title as the year the kit is replicating (e.g. 1965/1966) NOT titled as the year on the Manufacturer's Statement of Origin (MSO) [reflecting when the kit was originally sold].

Any related experience/wisdom would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
--Brian
Click to expand...

Can't be done, legally. The year on the title will be 2024 or whatever year you title the vehicle as an ASVE (Assembled Vehicle). in the comments it will say "REPLICA: 1965 SHELBY".
 

@bwcobra15 - Thanks for your response. I have noticed some 1965/1966 Texas plates on "Replica" ASVEs at various display venues and was curious how that result was achieved; perhaps those plates were simply attached "for show."​

​

 
BrianP said:

@bwcobra15 - Thanks for your response. I have noticed some 1965/1966 Texas plates on "Replica" ASVEs at various display venues and was curious how that result was achieved; perhaps those plates were simply attached "for show."​

​

Click to expand...
Once your car os registered, if you can find an original plate and the number on the plate is not currently active on another registered car in Texas, you can have it assigned to your car. The year of the plate must be representative of the year that
your car most resembles.
 
Download and follow the assembled vehicle manual to a tee.
 
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