trouble with car inspection
Discussion
Man! I am having the worst luck with my esprit! Anyone know what this means? I went to the Tag Office today to get a tag. Well, I bought the car out of state, so it had to be inspected. The inspector looked really confused when looking for my VIN number on the car, and could not find my engine VIN. Well, I waited for an hour and she was calling and looking up the insurance companies of the previous people on the car. She would not tell me what was going on, and I had to make an appointment for tommarrow at a different station. They were real wierd about it and would not let me know a thing. The car has no salvage or theft history. What could be up?
Welcome to Lotus World. "Who makes that?" etc. You didn't mention what state you live in, but I would venture a guess at the PRC. Just stick to your guns (oh, the PRC banned those too?) Anyway, just be persistent and keep asking for supervisors.
If all else fails, come on over to Arkansas. Half the people here are refugees from California.
Dr.Hess
If all else fails, come on over to Arkansas. Half the people here are refugees from California.
Dr.Hess
Who in the hell needs an engine vin??? (Uptite state???) Most states go by the vin on the little silver strip you see through the windscreen! ANY other number I have ever needed was located under the bonnet on the right side wheel well arch... I really did not have any issues other than the seller signed his name "name-middle initial-name" and it appeared as "name-name-name" on the title. An amended application took 10 days, but I got a temp tag...Also, the lady at the DMV I delt with was a Pretty Woman fanatic... in this case a big plus... she knew what the car was!
Try bribes. For a ride around the block, I got to be first in line when I returned to the DMV with the amended forms! Drive Topless!!!
Cameron.
>> Edited by autocross7 on Tuesday 17th February 21:51
Seem like the VIN confuses everyone. In Oklahoma the TAG agency tried to tell us we had bought a truck. Of course 90% of the people working that particular office were lacking something upstairs. We bought the car in PA and drove it to OK. Somehow they couldn't understand why the odometer read 1000 more miles than the title. Even suggested the car was stolen or tampered with, we asked if they had any other cases of rolling an odometer forward and please do call the police if they were that concerned.
Yeah, I think they think it is stolen or something. I don't know. I will probably find out tommarrow. Most cars have the metal things wedged in the window. They did not like the plastic stickers that have the VIN on it. They sort of looked at me like a new guy in a small town. I live in Kansas...not far from OK.
I had the same problem. Here is what causes it: most DMV computers use the same type of software. When a VIN is entered, it recognizes the manufacturer and immediately pulls up a type and year of car.
The software does not recognize Lotus VINs, resulting in puzzled bureaucrats. That's when the "it's stolen" look comes over there face.
What I had to do (in North Carolina) is show a DMV inspector, with teh car present, that the VIN on the title matched the VIN on the car. That's probably what they are going to ask you to do. No big deal,just another small hassle that actually makes owning and driving the car all the sweeter once the titling experience is through.
The software does not recognize Lotus VINs, resulting in puzzled bureaucrats. That's when the "it's stolen" look comes over there face.
What I had to do (in North Carolina) is show a DMV inspector, with teh car present, that the VIN on the title matched the VIN on the car. That's probably what they are going to ask you to do. No big deal,just another small hassle that actually makes owning and driving the car all the sweeter once the titling experience is through.
Well, it turns out the people at the tag office are just trained people off the street, and could not understand why the VINs were on lables and why there was not one on the engine somewhere. So, I guess they "assumed" the car was stolen and made me go into the state troopers garage to get inspected. They were very nice and excited there. They said next time I needed an inspection, just call them and they would do it. They really loved the car. You know what that means....no mean people and long lines anymore.
I'm game for an occasional outing.
I'll probably be renting Hallet again this spring if you're interested in a track day. I gave my wife the track for a day as her birthday present last year. The people at the track are great and the facility is excellent. Indy Lights ran there about 8 years ago and Car & Driver frequents the track on its One Lap of America tour. I'll post again nearer the time.
Cost split 2 or 3 ways would be quite reasonable.
www.hallettracing.com/
I'll probably be renting Hallet again this spring if you're interested in a track day. I gave my wife the track for a day as her birthday present last year. The people at the track are great and the facility is excellent. Indy Lights ran there about 8 years ago and Car & Driver frequents the track on its One Lap of America tour. I'll post again nearer the time.
Cost split 2 or 3 ways would be quite reasonable.
www.hallettracing.com/
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