I'm having a hell of a time getting my CRX road legal. I've been playing the run around for several weeks now, if not months.
Here's the back story. I bought a crx with a salvage title for $1200. It had been hit on the rear left side. It was pulling hard to one side. I found that the rear left trailing arm had been bent from the wreck, so I had it replaced. It only pulls slightly now, which I think can be solved by some suspension tuneup and an alignment.
Also the rear left taillight had been busted so I replaced that. The sheet metal on the rear left quarter panel is dented, but it hasn't altered the frame of the car, it's just superficial damage that can be bondo'd. The bumper is shoved in about 1/4 to 1/2 inch, deeper at the site of impact. It hangs slightly from the sight of impact.
Now I fixed the trailing arm and the brake light so I figure it's basically road legal, the dents and scratches are nothing more than an eye sore.
I have the title, it says salvage, rebuildable. I got it insured no problem. I went to the tag office to get a plate and I'd be all done. But they refused to give me a plate saying it hadn't been rebuilt yet. They said I needed to drive to West palm beach (about 35-45 minutes away) to get inspected.
I made a appointment with this place, soonest was over a weeks wait. My local tag office gave me a temporary tag to drive the crx down to be inspected. Bad news was not only could I not find this place, but when I finally did I was about 10 minutes late. By the time they could see me I was 30 minutes late for my appointment. They said I would have to make another appointment and next time be on time or 30 minutes early
. They also said I needed to get paperwork, receipts from all the work done on the car, 3 copies of each. They kept giving me this application for title, and I kept saying I don't need a title I have one already, but they didn't seem to care or understand, I couldn't tell if it was ignorance or apathy towards my situation. The paperwork claimed I had to replace all major parts of the car, including fenders. I told them they're just dented, it's superficial.
Again, they just sort of drew a blank expression like they didn't know what to say. They said, "You may call it superficial, but this is how it goes." Why would I have to spend all kinds of money on new fenders or professional body work for some dents in cosmetic body panels. Getting shit like that done would cost more than the whole car.
I've seen cars with worse condition on the road that are completely legal. Shit, I've owned cars that are completely legal with many, many dents in body panels.
So I get out of there, pretty fucking furious at the amount of time I've wasted on this shit for no reason. I've gotten no further except wasted time, gas, money, etc. I was ready to give up on this rex at that point. Now I've calmed down and I'm again resolute to stick by it. But no one seems to really know what they're talking about or doing in these dmv places. If they are actually following the system, the system is broke, it doesn't make sense. I don't think it's that fucked up, I think they just don't know what they're talking about. But it seems like everyone I talk to is befuddled, confused, and has a different answer, or supposition.
I'm hoping there's someone on here who works or has worked at the dmv, or who has registered cars in the past, or anyone who can help me out. I'm getting to wits end trying to get something that I thought would be easy to do done.
Here's the back story. I bought a crx with a salvage title for $1200. It had been hit on the rear left side. It was pulling hard to one side. I found that the rear left trailing arm had been bent from the wreck, so I had it replaced. It only pulls slightly now, which I think can be solved by some suspension tuneup and an alignment.
Also the rear left taillight had been busted so I replaced that. The sheet metal on the rear left quarter panel is dented, but it hasn't altered the frame of the car, it's just superficial damage that can be bondo'd. The bumper is shoved in about 1/4 to 1/2 inch, deeper at the site of impact. It hangs slightly from the sight of impact.
Now I fixed the trailing arm and the brake light so I figure it's basically road legal, the dents and scratches are nothing more than an eye sore.
I have the title, it says salvage, rebuildable. I got it insured no problem. I went to the tag office to get a plate and I'd be all done. But they refused to give me a plate saying it hadn't been rebuilt yet. They said I needed to drive to West palm beach (about 35-45 minutes away) to get inspected.
I made a appointment with this place, soonest was over a weeks wait. My local tag office gave me a temporary tag to drive the crx down to be inspected. Bad news was not only could I not find this place, but when I finally did I was about 10 minutes late. By the time they could see me I was 30 minutes late for my appointment. They said I would have to make another appointment and next time be on time or 30 minutes early
. They also said I needed to get paperwork, receipts from all the work done on the car, 3 copies of each. They kept giving me this application for title, and I kept saying I don't need a title I have one already, but they didn't seem to care or understand, I couldn't tell if it was ignorance or apathy towards my situation. The paperwork claimed I had to replace all major parts of the car, including fenders. I told them they're just dented, it's superficial.Again, they just sort of drew a blank expression like they didn't know what to say. They said, "You may call it superficial, but this is how it goes." Why would I have to spend all kinds of money on new fenders or professional body work for some dents in cosmetic body panels. Getting shit like that done would cost more than the whole car.
I've seen cars with worse condition on the road that are completely legal. Shit, I've owned cars that are completely legal with many, many dents in body panels.
So I get out of there, pretty fucking furious at the amount of time I've wasted on this shit for no reason. I've gotten no further except wasted time, gas, money, etc. I was ready to give up on this rex at that point. Now I've calmed down and I'm again resolute to stick by it. But no one seems to really know what they're talking about or doing in these dmv places. If they are actually following the system, the system is broke, it doesn't make sense. I don't think it's that fucked up, I think they just don't know what they're talking about. But it seems like everyone I talk to is befuddled, confused, and has a different answer, or supposition.
I'm hoping there's someone on here who works or has worked at the dmv, or who has registered cars in the past, or anyone who can help me out. I'm getting to wits end trying to get something that I thought would be easy to do done.
and its an expensive inspecation to get done. i believe its like $150+ at the mechanic, then at the dmv its around another $100.
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