state inspection requirements

monkeymissile · Post by **monkeymissile** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 12:17 pm

Hello Gents,
As I start researching what NH is going to require my truck to have before it passes inspection, I am curious about your own experiences.
I know I can register mine as an antique, but have heard that may restrict my planned usage of it as a daily driver.
And what about turn signals, back-up lights, seat belts, etc? Mercifully I don't think emissions is going to be an issue in NH.
I appreciate any stories, hints, tactics, even if they don't apply to NH.
Thanks!

xm708 · Post by **xm708** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 6:27 pm

I know here in Vermont it does not need what it did not have originally. I did not need back up lights, seat belts but I did have turn signals so they needed to work. I can only assume that if the equipment is on the vehicle original or not they may ask to see it work. Kinda funny had a hole the size of a nickel in the drivers floor and they had me patch it before passing me but the transfer case shifters were a bit more drafty ? Good luck on the inspection.

ed

monkeymissile · Post by **monkeymissile** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 3:06 am

Thanks Ed,
I'm going to call NH DMV today. I hope NH's rules are the same as our upside-down neighbor to the west.........

xm708 · Post by **xm708** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 4:09 am

Roger that good luck.

captain kirk · Post by **captain kirk** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 1:36 pm

Here in Indiana is the same, if it came with it, it should work, mine is as built so i have no seat belts, backup lights or turn signals. And i am running antique plates which you are allowed limited miles which does not hamper my type of driving, parades,shows and weekend driving.
Hope you have good luck at thr DMV.

Nickathome · Post by **Nickathome** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 4:36 am

Here in Pa, if I registered my truck in the normal fashion, I'd be required to have it inspected yearly, then have to deal with all the hassles involved therein. I went the antique route so I could avoid all that, plus I don't have to renew my registration yearly as well. Antique registration here is a one shot deal.

Yes, licensing your truck as an antique does come with limitations, but in Pa, the laws regarding antiques from what I've witnessed, are laxadazically enforced at best. I am only supposed to drive (per the law) to and from shows, or parades, or "occasional driving", which equates to one day per week. Now nothing is mentioned defining that "one day" per week. It just says one day per week.

As was previously mentioned the anrique laws governing my truck don't impact my type of driving anyway, so its not a big deal. And the way the laws are enforced I could drive my truck pretty much any time I wanted if I so choose.

monkeymissile · Post by **monkeymissile** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 10:13 am

I called both the Registration and Title offices at the NHDMV yesterday. If you register as an antique in NH, it has to be in showroom condition and the fee is less. They're are no longer any restrictions on usage though. Forgot to ask about renewal intervals......
In terms of inspection, the vehicle has to have all safety equipment as would've been installed during it's production year. So in my case, no worries about seatbelts and backup lights (both not required until the 60's anyway). However, all vehicles built after Jan 01, 1952 have to have turn signals installed in NH regardless of whether or not they originally were. Dang, my M43 is a '53!
Fortunately, mine came with a newer solid-state module that is, unfortunately, not yet installed!

Lifer · Post by **Lifer** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 10:16 am

Illinois did away with pickup truck inspections long ago, except for those being used commercially. The IL antique registration is good for 5 years at a time, but carries similar restrictions. You can drive it to and from parades, to and from car/truck shows, and to/from servicing, with a limited number of days/miles/whatever for general driving. As others have mentioned, this is so sporadicaly enforced that the statute might as well be rewritten to remove those restrictions completely. If some LEO does happen to stop you, which is very unlikely, you can always say "I was just going to (name of city/town/village) to get my tires rotated."

(While you're driving, your tires are getting "rotated" right along with the hubs and rims, aren't they?

)

monkeymissile · Post by **monkeymissile** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 10:25 am

I need to decide if registering as an antique is worth it in my case, I may have a fun time convincing my truck IS in showroom condition, if you consider the showroom to be Korea (old oxidized paint is less visible to the enemy right?)

Brett · Post by **Brett** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 2:05 pm

I guess I have it pretty good in TN. I went to the county clerk for tag renewal on my wife's suburban, and decided to ask about titling my truck. I brought the bill of sale just in case they wanted to see it. I had no intention of actually doing anything, since my truck is a LONG way from being roadworthy. My bill of sale was pathetic. It was hand written, and only had the date my name the sellers name and the serial number, No addresses, or price. 20 minutes and $91.00 later, I had taxes paid, a Permanent antique tag, and a title coming in the mail. The title arrived about 2 weeks later.

Brett

Wayne64 · Post by **Wayne64** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 2:41 pm

New York, Yes it sucks and my truck had to be registered commercial because it's over 5500 pounds. So I have a normal set of plates and can not use parkways (wouldn't anyway) nor can I park it in the street over night with commercial tags. Antique insurance and a yearly inspection, no emissions and safety only inspection. In my case a joke as I can get my inspection with anything that will coast (or not) into the station. In NY pre 64 doesn't need seat belts (mines a 67 so I may have a problem?)

poor rich · Post by **poor rich** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 3:38 pm

Well for the first time I think Im lucky living in flyover Wisconsin, I registered mine as a 54 dodge 3/4 ton. I pay for regular plates but also have no restrictions on use, and no inspections either.
Rich

Rich · Post by **Rich** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 4:39 pm

In North Carolina I needed to post a bond for one and a half times the value of the truck, get two auto dealers to give me value estimates, go to the DMV inspector (actually a real good guy) and get the paperwork,fillit out and return it with the above info. Then make an appointment so the inspector can inspect my truck. It is supposed to be in road worthy condition, mine has 40 yr old tires and I had the whole windshield off at the time. He said it did not matter to him, he only looked at the Frame #, serial# and the engine #, copied them down and told me he would contact me later. He called later that day and said it was clean, not stolen. I brought down my state paper work bill of sale , my bond paperwork and dealer estimates and proof of liability ins. He called my 15 minutes later to say there were errors on my state paper work( under make it needed to have the model year even though it does not ask for it) and my bond paper work was not witnessed. I got it fixed, and he issued me a Temp plate and told me I would have my title in 6 weeks. Total cost 180 for Liability ins for 1 yr,100 for the bond, 85 for the plate. It does not have to be inspected, no emissions, what is on the truck has to work, If you add seat belts they have to work, if it had directionals they need to work thats it.
Rich Szklany

Nickathome · Post by **Nickathome** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 2:31 am

I thought I had it bad when I tried to get my truck licensed the first time around. But after reading some of these other stories, I had it pretty easy. In Pa you have to have the truck to what they deem "fully restored". I found out later that "fully restored" means one paint color. We are required to take four pictures "front', "back", and "sides" which get sent to the DMV when the antique app gets filed. The first time, I listened to my idiot insurance guy who said it wouldn't be a problem that the truck wasn't then painted. "Just add an addendum to say you're in the process, etc." Wrong! I got denied. Took them 6 weeks to send the paper work back to me too. Man I was pissed. Second time around, I made sure the pictures showed as much detail of the truck as I wanted them to see(insides are still not painted). I got my license plate and title within a week. I have no inspection reqts, no emissions testing because the truck is over 25 years old. No mention of need for turn signals brake lights, etc. Just the aforementioned rules regarding amount of driving, etc.

Wayne64 · Post by **Wayne64** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 5:12 pm

Nickathome wrote:I thought I had it bad when I tried to get my truck licensed the first time around. But after reading some of these other stories, I had it pretty easy. In Pa you have to have the truck to what they deem "fully restored". I found out later that "fully restored" means one paint color. We are required to take four pictures "front', "back", and "sides" which get sent to the DMV when the antique app gets filed. The first time, I listened to my idiot insurance guy who said it wouldn't be a problem that the truck wasn't then painted. "Just add an addendum to say you're in the process, etc." Wrong! I got denied. Took them 6 weeks to send the paper work back to me too. Man I was pissed. Second time around, I made sure the pictures showed as much detail of the truck as I wanted them to see(insides are still not painted). I got my license plate and title within a week. I have no inspection reqts, no emissions testing because the truck is over 25 years old. No mention of need for turn signals brake lights, etc. Just the aforementioned rules regarding amount of driving, etc.

That just brought back a funny memory. About 10 years ago I wanted to insure a Jag and the out of state company wanted pics. The black paint was so bad it looked like BBQ flat black. What I did was grab some oil and wipe the whole car down. Pictures came out great but the oil I used was olive oil and in two days the car had a coat of bugs stuck on it

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