Thread: Thinking about buying a HotRod in NJ

Tweet

Having owned a car previously brought into NJ by the seller, I can't speak to that part, but I can tell you that an antique vehicle is your best choice. It flies under the radar of most NJ vehicle law with respect to inspection (not required) and registration (one-time fee). Considering that NJ is "the land of laws", it amazed me to learn that. I owned the car in NJ from 1992 to 2014 when I moved to PA and am now trying to figure out how to title the car in PA, having put it into storage for two and one-half years, but that's another issue.

Originally Posted by Dorsey

Having owned a car previously brought into NJ by the seller, I can't speak to that part, but I can tell you that an antique vehicle is your best choice. It flies under the radar of most NJ vehicle law with respect to inspection (not required) and registration (one-time fee). Considering that NJ is "the land of laws", it amazed me to learn that. I owned the car in NJ from 1992 to 2014 when I moved to PA and am now trying to figure out how to title the car in PA, having put it into storage for two and one-half years, but that's another issue.

Each state has their own interpretations, but here in KS an "antique" has to be original through and through, other than some allowance for safety issues. For example, converting to hydraulic brakes vs mechanical is seen as an acceptable modification, but upgrading the driveline is not. We also have a "street rod" designation, which allows for the obvious changes in power train, wheels & tires, suspension, stance, etc, but the kicker is that it has to be OEM steel, matching body & chassis for the starting point. Anything else falls into the Assembled Specialty Equipment Vehicle classification, and is titled by year first registration, and taxed based on the documented dollars spent for the build.

It pays to research and understand the rules for your specific state, then follow them to the letter. The horror stories are becoming much more common, with cars registered improperly in one state being turned away when a new owner in another state tries to register them at home.