Has anyone every heard of this or have gone through a similar situation? I live in NJ. I purchased a coach from Wisconsin and had it shipped. When I recieved the Wisconsin title for the vehicle, it had something typed on it. It read "This vehicle has been street modified." It was a clean title, not a salvage or a rebuild. When I took it to my local DMV, they didn't know what to make of that sentence. Needless to say, had it not been for that sentence I would have plates. But because of that, the Wisconsin title is in Trenton, they want photos of the vehicle, forms filled out, and I have to transport (not drive) my coach to and from a state inspection facilitly to verify its a legit driveable car. Then when that is said and done, they will issue me a RECONSTRUCTED VEHICLE TITLE. I think that its nonsense and a waste of my time. Can anyone help me with a possible way around this?!?!
Having Problems Titling My Coach
- Thread starter Brian Kavanagh
- Start date
I have had lots of experiences with the NJ DMV 35 years ago, when I had my dealership in NJ, and the one thing that I know is that you don't ever want to turn anything over to them unless you know in advance that you are going to be getting a clean title in exchange. If it is questionable, then you are better off getting a letter of explanation from the DMV in the state that it is presently titled in. Most states will title a car in your name with your out of state home address if you are willing to pay the fees and taxes. In some, you can even get the license plates issued if you show proof of insurance. Once you have these documents, you can legally drive the car in New Jersey until you can get the issue resolved. Since you have already turned in the Wisconsin title, I think that you have no other choice but to jump through the hoops. When I purchased one of my cars in Alaska, I got an Alaska title and plates. It made it a lot easier to get it registered in CT since I could drive it to the inspection station, and the title was already in my name.. Paul
John ED Renstrom
PCS Member
I would at least write to the DMV of wisconsin for there explanation to the the wording on the title. if my be just the way they word cars titles for ones that have been altered buy a second manufacturing plant. as least with there explanation you might not have any problem getting it threw. you got to love it here in SD bill of sale and it's done.
Rocky Fluegge
PCS Member
wis title
Brian, I can give you some inside on the title. Since some of you know im one of those guys that cannot leave a car alone or stock. In wisconsin about 10 years or so ago they changed the laws around to make some stuff easier on old car titleing, and safety equipment needed for the era of the car. When you have a car that is modified not stock, but is still can be reconized as original car that it started with, they have you title it as street modified. Since it is a coach and not really as a stocker off of the assembly line they chose to list it as street modified. My car they just listed as a 4dr and did not do it, i think that is a choice of the dmv worker. 99% of all my old cars all have street modified on them because they are Kustoms. And in wisconsin if they are not titled right and have the right plates " i use hobbyist plates on mine, not collector plates because of the modifications" the state can confinscate the car and you will not get it back, and they will put it up for auction. They said that they spent all the time and money in changing the laws that they will stick to their guns. You dont here of it often but they have taken cars because of it. I hope that this will help some. Rocky
Brian, I can give you some inside on the title. Since some of you know im one of those guys that cannot leave a car alone or stock. In wisconsin about 10 years or so ago they changed the laws around to make some stuff easier on old car titleing, and safety equipment needed for the era of the car. When you have a car that is modified not stock, but is still can be reconized as original car that it started with, they have you title it as street modified. Since it is a coach and not really as a stocker off of the assembly line they chose to list it as street modified. My car they just listed as a 4dr and did not do it, i think that is a choice of the dmv worker. 99% of all my old cars all have street modified on them because they are Kustoms. And in wisconsin if they are not titled right and have the right plates " i use hobbyist plates on mine, not collector plates because of the modifications" the state can confinscate the car and you will not get it back, and they will put it up for auction. They said that they spent all the time and money in changing the laws that they will stick to their guns. You dont here of it often but they have taken cars because of it. I hope that this will help some. Rocky
Charles E Snyder II
PCS Member
I am not familiar with NJ law, but I would suggest what Paul said and see if you can get it titled in Wisconsin under your name and get plates for it through Wisconsin. If you can do that, when you receive your title from Wisconsin, you shold be able to take it to your NJ DMV and just transfer the title to NJ.
When I purchased my coach a few years ago from West Virginia, that is what I did. I purchased temporary tags from WV which were good for 90 days and the state of PA recognized that I had a valid WV title and plates and had no problem transfering it to my PA address at that point.
I had a friend do the same with a Canadian purchased car. In his case, it made it much easier to bring his own car back through customs than to bring one through that was still titled to someone in Canada. In his case, the seller worked with him and had the new title in my friend's name sent to his Canadian address and when they went to pick up the car, my friend already had the registration and plates in his name.
When I purchased my coach a few years ago from West Virginia, that is what I did. I purchased temporary tags from WV which were good for 90 days and the state of PA recognized that I had a valid WV title and plates and had no problem transfering it to my PA address at that point.
I had a friend do the same with a Canadian purchased car. In his case, it made it much easier to bring his own car back through customs than to bring one through that was still titled to someone in Canada. In his case, the seller worked with him and had the new title in my friend's name sent to his Canadian address and when they went to pick up the car, my friend already had the registration and plates in his name.
Thanks
Thank you to all for this information, especially about the scoop on "street modified." Maybe if I inform the NJ DMV they'll let me just title it normally. Those of you who've dealt with Jersey know, the DMV here is a nightmare. Hopefully this pans out smoothly. BTW the coach I picked up is a '68 Caddy Superior Built Combo. She's a little rough, but the mileage was low and the price was right. I'll post pictures soon. Thanks again for all the help!!!!!
Thank you to all for this information, especially about the scoop on "street modified." Maybe if I inform the NJ DMV they'll let me just title it normally. Those of you who've dealt with Jersey know, the DMV here is a nightmare. Hopefully this pans out smoothly. BTW the coach I picked up is a '68 Caddy Superior Built Combo. She's a little rough, but the mileage was low and the price was right. I'll post pictures soon. Thanks again for all the help!!!!!
Tom Hoczyk
PCS Past President
My registration experience
What I'm about to say will not help you, but describes a similar experience I had two summers ago registering my '76 S&S hearse for the trip to PCS New Jersey.
I sometimes know in advance that I won't be taking some of my cars out of storage that year, except for exercise joy rides in the country. As such, I occasionally skip a year of registration. This saves me just a few dollars, and I have stopped doing this. My '76 S&S hearse is titled as 4W..... 4 door wagon, as in station wagon. Several of my cars are titled this way. When I went to re-register my '76 hearse, the state had done away with the 4W listing and there was no commercial chassis listing. The lady asks "So is this a Deville? Eldorado? Fleetwood?" After trying to explain that it was none of these, I simply said "use Fleetwood". She proceeded to type into the computer, and in the end asked for a check for several hundred dollars. I went "WHOA!!!". I had never paid more than $45 to register one of these cars, so several hundred dollars was outrageous.
That's what I get for telling her "Fleetwood", as the personal property tax is determined by the year, make and model of car. I insisted she pull up the registrations of all my other cars, to illustrate how they're titled, and how much the cost should be. After much frustrating conversation, she finally accepted as evidence what she had seen on the computer and registered the car differently. Don't ask me what she used. The registration is not close for me to check.
Anyhow, I understand some of the frustrations you're going through. I'm sure we're not alone. Tom
www.bippusautostorage.com/cars
What I'm about to say will not help you, but describes a similar experience I had two summers ago registering my '76 S&S hearse for the trip to PCS New Jersey.
I sometimes know in advance that I won't be taking some of my cars out of storage that year, except for exercise joy rides in the country. As such, I occasionally skip a year of registration. This saves me just a few dollars, and I have stopped doing this. My '76 S&S hearse is titled as 4W..... 4 door wagon, as in station wagon. Several of my cars are titled this way. When I went to re-register my '76 hearse, the state had done away with the 4W listing and there was no commercial chassis listing. The lady asks "So is this a Deville? Eldorado? Fleetwood?" After trying to explain that it was none of these, I simply said "use Fleetwood". She proceeded to type into the computer, and in the end asked for a check for several hundred dollars. I went "WHOA!!!". I had never paid more than $45 to register one of these cars, so several hundred dollars was outrageous.
That's what I get for telling her "Fleetwood", as the personal property tax is determined by the year, make and model of car. I insisted she pull up the registrations of all my other cars, to illustrate how they're titled, and how much the cost should be. After much frustrating conversation, she finally accepted as evidence what she had seen on the computer and registered the car differently. Don't ask me what she used. The registration is not close for me to check.
Anyhow, I understand some of the frustrations you're going through. I'm sure we're not alone. Tom
www.bippusautostorage.com/cars
Bill Marcy
PCS Member
Brian, I was a licensed NJ dealer until about a year and a half ago. What I can tell you is that DMV plays no favorites, they are hard on everyone. And to make matters worse, you can't talk to anybody who can help. Unfortunately, from my experience you really have to do what they want and hope for the best. And I agree with you, they are wasting your time, it is what they do best. Good luck, I hope it all works out well.
John Royark JR
PCS Member
Makes me glad I live in Iowa, I dont think the DMV cares too much about anything. Plus we do not have to have our vehicles inspected (at least not yet)
Thanks again for some more info. The NJ DMV is absolutely rediculous. I mean, I have a clean title and that wasn't enough. I'm going to try some of these suggestions when I have a little more time on my hands, hopefully it works. In the meanwhile, it's just more time for me to fix her up. Thanks for the well wishes.