Title a track car in NY State?

I have sold a few 211's (www.manhattanmotorcars.com) along with the old 240 cup cars and all you need is your bill of sale to state ownership. You will get a MSO/Title when you buy the car and that is it. There is actually no way to register the Lotus's, but if you go Ariel Atom I am pretty sure you can make that car street legal so you could register it if you wanted to. Bottom line is if you plan on trailering the car to and from the track and never plan to drive it on the street you don't have to register it at all.

 

There was a time that I was thinking about buying an Ariel Atom, and Ariel doesn't have an official position on whether are not the cars are legal in a state-by-state way. Basically what you'd have to do is buy the car, get the title, and then go to the DMV and try to register it as a kit car. Your success or failure would depend entirely on whether or not that particular DMV employee is having a good day. I browsed several Atom forums, and they all had the same conclusion. Seriously. Good news is that if you don't want to register the car on the street, none of that really matters.

 

If the car is not street-legal (does not meet US DOT and EPA requirements), and is not intended for street use by the builder, then it was not originally sold with a state issued title. Rather, it would have been sold only with a bill of sale. In that case, if you buy the car used, you will only get a bill of sale from the seller, not an official state issued title. If you are buying a new race car from a dealer or builder, the same is true, you will only get a bill of sale. As long as the car is only used on private property, i.e., at the track, and is not driven on the street, it does not need to be registered with the state. And, of course, under no circumstances should you ever drive such a car on the street.

Now, if you buy a car that can be titled, you can do that in NY, I believe, without being a resident. But if you do not intend to drive the car on the street, and only use it for the track, you do not have to register the car. To register it (that is, get license plates to drive on the street), I believe in NY you must be a state resident, and you need insurance and a NY state drivers license. But you should be able to get answers to those questions from the NYS Motor Vehicle department's website.

Hope that helps.

 

Interesting question. I think in most states, maybe NY too, a private seller does not collect any sales tax on the car. At any rate you would pay sales tax, if any, to the state in which you would register the car. You would pay the sales tax when you register the car with the department of motor vehicles. Since you don't plan to do that, I wonder what other method the state would have to collect that tax?

 

You pay sales tax when you register the car.

If you do not register it... you do not pay sales tax.

I've done that with track cars in the past in New York... and I'm in the process of doing it again in California.

 

They dont as the car does not exist for NY state for sales tax purposes as is it is not being registered/plated to drive on NY state roads..as was mentioned before...buyer gets a Bill of Sale...and thats all...if it is a true track/race car. I think the more interesting issue is insurance....Canadian resident...insuring a track/race car which will be used/garaged out of his home country??....where does he hold insurance??..In the states??? NY or Canada???.
S

 

You insure the transport vehicle for the value of the load to cover transportation. Should be pretty straight forward -- or unnecessary if you're keeping it at Monticello.

On the track, you've got to get track insurance. Most insurance companies are now dropping the "timed competitive event" loop hole. I'd recommend checking out these guys. Also, make sure that you have a comprehensive casualty policy that covers your hobby.

 

Ariel Atom is recognized by NY State, when I had mine it was registered in Florida, just easier, no inspection. In NY you must have a windshield to pass inspection, so when you register at DMV you get a temp inspection, then if you go to an inspection station they shouldn't pass you b/c of the lack of a winshield. If you know the station i am sure they will just give you the sticker, but if you ever get a ball breaking cop he could take down the sticker # and they could be fined by DMV.

In any event, when you title a car in NY state you pay sales tax on the purchase price, my suggestion, register the car in florida, you dont need a florida license or a florida address. If you title it in florida and do it under a company name, just tell them you are a leasing company and you wont ever pay sales tax unless you register it there.... can you say "LOOP HOLE"