Legal Loopholes regarding salvage title?

[420sx]

Looking for information regarding registering a vehicle in PA that currently has a salvage title. PA requires the car to be reinspected an issued a reconstructed title in order to be registered. Unfortunately, the car is a 97 240 w/ RB25, itll never make it through that inspection process. I remember reading a while back about guys with dirtbikes that would send their title to VT and get it back allowing them to register it on the street. I also remember reading that its possible to transfer the title into a state that doesnt define a difference between salvage and reconstructed, and register it that way? Or transfer it into another state, and then transfer it back as reconstructed? Does anyone have any information regarding this?

Im not looking for a speech on morals or whats "technically" legal, so if thats your intention, save your breath. I know its possible to do this, I just cant remember how. Any useful information would be greatly appreciated.:mrgreen:

[DPancoast]

sounds to me like you just need an inspection guy

[420sx]

I dont think its the same type of inspection as your yearly inspection... I can get stickers no problem- it needs to be inspected and reissued a reconstructed title- not something that your average shop can do. It cant be registered until thats done (and until its registered, it cant have its yearly inspection done)

[DC2.2GSR]

To get an R title, you need to have pictures of the damage before work has begun to reconstruct the car. You need to have pictures of the repair process as well as all the receipts and work orders from the shop where the work was done. You then need to go to an enhanced inspection station (HERE (http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/pdotforms/inspections/enhancedstations.pdf)) for the initial inspection. They'll do the first in depth inspection and send in the paperwork and everything in order for you to get the R title. If you don't have pictures of before and during the repair and you don't have every receipt and a repair estimate as well as the paperwork from a shop that did the work, and you also have an RB25 in the car... my guess is that you're screwed unless you know a friend at one of those enhanced stations.

ETA: If you want to call around a bit or stop in and ask, I see nothing wrong with asking a few enhanced inspection shops in your area about the process and asking exactly what you can 'get away with'. A lot of the enhanced shops are restoration/custom shops and have plenty of experience with upgraded or flat out hot rod cars. They might tell you that they'll look past the motor swap but not X or Y. You'll never know unless you talk to them. You might get lucky and find one that will tell you the best way to put it through.

[omgjacki]

Looks like you have to do some VIN changing.











I never said this.

[DC2.2GSR]

^ or that. Ever hear of hot rod guys paying thousands for a rusted out hunk of sh** car that's been in a corn field for 50 years? That car will never make it back onto the road, but the VIN will.





I never said that either.

[DPancoast]

ah, my mistake. I didn't know it was so involved. good luck!

[evomike]

Buy another shell and swap vin tags you could do it and be somewhat legal about it.

[jpalamar]

It will cost more and be more headaches to just buy a 240 that is beat to **** with a clean title and swap stuff.

[420sx]

Yeah Im pretty sure theres a way to transfer the title into a different state.. Some states dont define a difference between "Rebuilt" and "Salvage," so when you transfer the title to that state, you receive the universal Salvage/Rebuilt title. Then when the title is transferred back to PA (since the other state doesnt define the difference), it will come back to PA with the reconstructed status. Im almost positive Ive read about doing this, I just dont know the specifics.

[jpalamar]

I think you can only title a car in the state you reside in IE your driver license... otherwise we would all be running on NJ plates because of no inspection.

[i_ride_fieroGT]

Looks like you have to do some VIN changing.











I never said this.


Not the smartest thing to do to get a vehical back on the road. If caught your looking at I beleave a fedral crime. Plus theres vins stamped all ofter the fram's of cars.

As for the transfering. All ststes see the car as it is. When you transfer a car to a diffrent state all of its record's go to the state that it is being transfered to most states now and days expect for a select few share a DOT database. This meaning if it has a salvage title on it in VA its going to be transferd to PA with a salvage title. In order to get it reconstructed you need to go through a very indepth inspection (a type i have preformed a couple times) Your car MUST pass emmissions and must pass all guidlines of PA safty inspection to be issued a reconstructed title. And if your RB25 does not meet emmissions standerds it will not be givin a reconstructed title.

[katillidie]

i dont know if this helps u at alll... but here is what i went thru.... i my second 240sx was totaled in an accident! the insurance company took the car and did what ever with it.. at the time i coulnt find the title so they never recieved it. well 8 years later i bought a 240sx that had a f'd up title. long story.. anyway. one day goin thru all my paperwork i found that 2nd 240s title that was totaled... so i thought to myself lets take this to the tags place and see what heppens when i send it in to get tags... well i sent it in, and in the normal time it takes to get ur registration and title back.. there is was, with a big ole reconstructed title at the top... no pics no inspection... a valid reconstructed title and tag... now the car no longer existed, and it was for the wrong car, but i got it... so there is my story hope it helps...

[420sx]

i dont know if this helps u at alll... but here is what i went thru.... i my second 240sx was totaled in an accident! the insurance company took the car and did what ever with it.. at the time i coulnt find the title so they never recieved it. well 8 years later i bought a 240sx that had a f'd up title. long story.. anyway. one day goin thru all my paperwork i found that 2nd 240s title that was totaled... so i thought to myself lets take this to the tags place and see what heppens when i send it in to get tags... well i sent it in, and in the normal time it takes to get ur registration and title back.. there is was, with a big ole reconstructed title at the top... no pics no inspection... a valid reconstructed title and tag... now the car no longer existed, and it was for the wrong car, but i got it... so there is my story hope it helps...

The car was totalled, but never issued a salvage title? The 240 were trying to register states very boldly on the title "DO NOT ISSUE REGISTRATION FOR THIS VEHICLE."

[420sx]

I think you can only title a car in the state you reside in IE your driver license... otherwise we would all be running on NJ plates because of no inspection.

I will be registering my 240 in Georgia under my moms name for that very reason. No inspection.

[katillidie]

The car was totalled, but never issued a salvage title? The 240 were trying to register states very boldly on the title "DO NOT ISSUE REGISTRATION FOR THIS VEHICLE."


i see... then i dont know...sorry

[i_ride_fieroGT]

I will be registering my 240 in Georgia under my moms name for that very reason. No inspection.

Does GA have any kind of inspection? If so PA can still pull you over for it not being inspected in your home state.

[jpalamar]

I will be registering my 240 in Georgia under my moms name for that very reason. No inspection.

Does GA have any kind of inspection? If so PA can still pull you over for it not being inspected in your home state.

:screwy:

[420sx]

Does GA have any kind of inspection? If so PA can still pull you over for it not being inspected in your home state.

Wrong. Police of one state cannot enforce inspection on a car registered in another state. My home state is irrelevant- its where the car is registered that matters. GA goes by county- some counties dont have inspection, some do. I would have the car in my moms name, registered in GA, with GA lisence plates, and no inspection stickers. And I'd be fully legal in any state.

[i_ride_fieroGT]

Wrong. Police of one state cannot enforce inspection on a car registered in another state. My home state is irrelevant- its where the car is registered that matters. GA goes by county- some counties dont have inspection, some do. I would have the car in my moms name, registered in GA, with GA lisence plates, and no inspection stickers. And I'd be fully legal in any state.


They cannot police inspection issues such as exaust's and other things like that, but they can cite you for not having the car inspected. happend to 4 friends of mine from jersey.
But if your state/county does not have inspection it will be fine. But if you regester the car to your mom and it has a salvage title on it even after it has been repaired than they will take your car. You must have a reconstructed title to drive any car that was previousley salvaged in any state

[420sx]

They cannot police inspection issues such as exaust's and other things like that, but they can cite you for not having the car inspected. happend to 4 friends of mine from jersey.
But if your state/county does not have inspection it will be fine. But if you regester the car to your mom and it has a salvage title on it even after it has been repaired than they will take your car. You must have a reconstructed title to drive any car that was previousley salvaged in any state

I think youre missing my point. Some states dont distinguish a difference between "Salvage" and "Rebuilt." Effectively, ALL cars that have ever been totaled get the same Salvage title (rebuilt or not). States that work this way do not require an inspection to register the car- it can be registered as a salvage vehicle. When a title from one of those states is transferred into PA, the vehicle (i believe) automatically receives a Reconstructed title, so that it can be registered in PA. I cant imagine that you could buy a car in another state thats salvaged, registered, and insured, and not be able to do the same when bringing it into PA simply because the other state doesnt define a difference between Salvaged and Reconstructed like PA does.

For clarification, were discussing two different cars here, and two different inspections. For MY 240, im getting around the annual inspection by registering it in GA. For my buddies 240, he needs to get around the process of applying for a reconstructed title (which involves an entirely different set of standards through that inspection).

I guess what I'm unsure of is- If we DO transfer the title into a different state- a state that does not define a difference, am I correct in stating that the title would come back reconstructed when being transferred back into PA?

[jpalamar]

I guess what I'm unsure of is- If we DO transfer the title into a different state- a state that does not define a difference, am I correct in stating that the title would come back reconstructed when being transferred back into PA?

I doubt it... otherwise lots more people would have R titled cars.

[driftingrx5.7]

i had a civic a few years back with an r title and i got right when the law changed. I had to take it to an enhanced inspection shop they put it up on the lift inspected that the frame was not bent or any major damage to the frame. They checked to make sure the wheels can be aligned, they didn't care that i had a b18 in it. they also checked to make sure i had the correct emmissions and that was it. paid my $100 bucks went to the dmv and that was it