Re: re-title an EV (was: E.V. tax deduction)

[Michael A Perry <mperry@efn.org>]

I'd check closely on this. It's a perfect way to get a new title, but it
varies from state to state. In some states, you get this license when you
buy a totaled car, as they cancel the title when it's sold for total. In
one case, a friend bought back his own car, which had only $300 in parts
needed to make it drivable again. It only needed 2 front fenders, a
bumper, radiator, and hood (wrecking yard) but they totaled his $6000 for
$300 and paid him $800 for the car... because it was "old". He had a heck
of a time with his insurance and had to change agencies... but that's a
different case.

Years ago, we'd often use the title from a VW when building dune buggies
to make them road worthy, because we didn't have to have it reinspected.
In some states you have more troubles having it reinspected, or in getting
insurance on a one-of-kind car (even if there are hundreds of identical
rigs). That's something to consider.

I asked my mom about it (she worked for IRS for years, and still does tax
work) and she was not certain. If it isn't challenged, you can always get
by... but they could insist that at least 51% of the vehicle be new. How
they measure that could be up to the agent. If you consider the running
gear to be > 50%, then you could get by... especially if you rebuild the
car from the ground up. In the late 50s, there was a guy who built PU
trucks using older Chrysler/Dodge parts. He used the frame and running
gear from 40s model cars, and put on his own body. Back then he ran into
problems in some states in licensing, so I'm told.

With my buggy, I had few problems. It was licenses as a 1962 VW and
insured the same. My friend did the same as me (new everything except
floor pan, basically) and he had to license it differently, as he didn't
have a clear title (it was from a wrecking yard, where they have to turn
the title in). He had some problems with insurance (but not a lot) and had
to rig up wipers (mine never had any) and even had to mount some temporary
doors (stupid, eh?) to get license. He duct taped some metal over the door
openings, which was legal.

In Oregon, it's usually very easy to get license, though... I'm not sure
about your state. In our state all you have to show is that you can prove
you have title to the parts you've used. The biggest hassle to this is
when relicensing a used car, as the motor doesn't always match the title
you bought it with. Occasionally, selling a relicensed car has problems.
This is often a scam for rebuilding totaled cars, and many used dealers
won't buy a relicensed car, I'm told... and some individuals, too.

Mason Convey wrote:

> + Ah, but there are always loopholes. Both of my EVs have been
> + retitled as "new" when converted into EVs.
>
> How does one go about doing that? Is there anything special I should
> know? Is it an option in every state? Or Arizona for that matter?
>
> I would love to re-title my soon-to-be EV as a "new" vehicle, so to
> speak. Afterall, I'm rebuilding nearly everything but the frame and
> body panels! And that includes replacing the speedometer, which has an
> odometer that reads 000000.0
>
>      "I hope if dogs ever take over the world, and they chose
>      a king, they don't just go by size, because I bet there
>      are some Chihuahuas with some good ideas." -- Jack Handey
>
>      mason s. convey
>
>      1994 electric Chevy S-10
>           * conversion in progress!
>           * license plates: NO N GIN
>
>      phone   602.237.3771
>      pager/voicemail   602.422.7996
>      http://www.public.asu.edu/~opossum