Help...NC DMV issues with registration

[Model T Ron]

Hey Guys
I recently purchased a 1915 Touring car titled in my home state of NC. I thought it would be easy to register as it is an in-state car as it does not require a theft inspection like out of state cars. I was wrong. The title has it listed as a body style of 3S not Touring. The car has been in NC since at least 84 as a 3 door sedan but in 2021 the DMV does not have a 3S body style listed in the system. NC law has antique cars caped at $5000 for tax purposes but they are telling me I need to 2 appraisals from two different North Carolina Dealers.

Anyone have this issue in North Carolina? I have a feeling I am going to look rather stupid pulling up at a car dealer and asking for an appraisal for a 1915 Model T. Besides I cannot even legally drive it without a plate.

Thanks
Ron

[sweet23]

NC has become increasing difficult to register an antique automobile. It seems to get worse each year. I will be going through the same mess shortly with a car I bought in Georgia. Georgia dose not even issue a title to antiques, all I have is a bill of sale. Should be right up there with stepping on a nail for pain. Best of luck ! Darryl

[John kuehn]

Unfortunately its usually who you talk to and deal with at the DMV that can make it easy or hard. It seems to be that way here in my county in Texas when dealing with antique cars.
Some of the DMV folks get really detailed and particular in what they want. Instead of going through the DMV I used a bonded title service to get a title for the last T I restored and in three weeks it was done.
Good luck

[Pops]

Hello Ron-------Sent you a PM

POPS

[paddy1998]

I'm not familiar with the registration policies and procedures in North Carolina, or what an "in-state" vehicle is, but since it has an existing NC title couldn't you just transfer the title and register it as a regular vehicle? Like you would if you bought any other normal car?

You're turning in a title issued by NC, right? They have THAT particular vehicle title in their system (the title number). I can't imagine that the State would not accept their own title.

I know, I know . . . government doesn't always make sense.

[Model T Ron]

Like the old saying goes.....I am from the government. I am hear to help ....what a joke...you have to love the Gipper lol

[Luke]

Like the old saying goes.....I am from the government. I am hear to help ....what a joke...you have to love the Gipper lol

Not that old really (12th August 1986); Reagan's 'nine most terrifying words here': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhYJS80MgYA

[bron-hertford-nc]

Ron, I'm Bron from Hertford NC
I assume you have a notarized/signed transfer title. When I transferred titles from VA to NC on my MGs when we moved here in 2004 - I called the local DMV office and they sent out an old head inspector to check the numbers- all went fine .
In 2013 bought a 26 T in Newland NC out past you. Took the transfer title in to the Hertford DMV office and walked out w my temp antique plates. No hassle - but a senior person runs the place.
See if you can find an old head - know a sheriff - give him/her a call w your dilemma, they know how to work contacts.
Good Luck

[Philip]

i am also in nc while i had no problem with my t i have a 46 chevy truck that had a title but had not been
sent in for many years you have to get the dmv to come inspect it and record the engine number then you
get an insurance agent to bond the title. fairly cheap as i recall then if someone pops up and claims or proves
that they own the car the insurance company pays them out and you still own the car. philip

[Model T Ron]

My title is clean and was issued in 2012 as a 3S. In NC in 2021 a 3S is not a valid Body Style but that's what I have on my title and it's been that way since at least 1984. I was told if I can get the DMV to list it as a 4S I should be good to go.......the problem is getting the DMV to do it lol.

[GG Gregory]

So are you saying everyone in NC with a 3S title is driving illegal now ? Something screwy with that. The State issued a valid title in 2012 and now it’s not ? I think you need to do a little more investigation with someone higher on the latter.

[paddy1998]

My title is clean and was issued in 2012 as a 3S. In NC in 2021 a 3S is not a valid Body Style but that's what I have on my title and it's been that way since at least 1984. I was told if I can get the DMV to list it as a 4S I should be good to go.......the problem is getting the DMV to do it lol.

This is what I'm wondering; who told you that? Have you actually presented the title at the DMV and been rejected? Or did you just call and ask?

[John Codman]

Massachusetts had my '27 as having an automatic transmission.

[George Mills]

I take it 3S means the car has 3 doors? Don't try being firm on the 3 part in NJ...lol...NJ DMV software can not accept a 3...period. (I learned a while back if the clerk questions number of doors to either pick 2 or 4...lol...never an issue with that, they move on to next question!)

Like mentioned, talk around to see which DMV to go to, and how to answer questions.

We have something similar here in NJ. The local branch has people who think they have PhD in statute interpretation and don't care whether you leave with title and plates or not. My picture of the Hack had a hood still in primer. She looked at it, commented on the primer and was it a new hood I made the mistake of saying yes. From that point on the only way I was going to walk out with new title and plates was by accepting a 'reconstituted title'. I walked out without.

Head to the DMV branch 20 miles south? Usually in and out in 5 minutes no matter what you take in! Down south they are use to barn finds, project cars, or even modern pick-ups where the bed, cab, hood, and fenders are all different colors from junkyard finds. I went in, same pics, same info, walked out with a regular title and new plates!

NC just might have the same sort of thing....ask around.

[John Codman]

Hear in Florida all titles and registrations are handled by the county tax collector's office (except for YOM plates). The smart procedure is to not go there the first or last business day of the month; do not go there on a Monday or a Friday, and find an older (anything over 40) clerk, preferably one who speaks Spanish. These clerks are the ones who will work with you. The police did come to my house to verify the serial numbers of all of my vehicles except for the one that I drove to the tax collector's office. They verified the VIN for that one on the spot. It was painless.

[TRDxB2]

Hey Guys
I recently purchased a 1915 Touring car titled in my home state of NC. I thought it would be easy to register as it is an in-state car as it does not require a theft inspection like out of state cars. I was wrong. The title has it listed as a body style of 3S not Touring. The car has been in NC since at least 84 as a 3 door sedan but in 2021 the DMV does not have a 3S body style listed in the system. NC law has antique cars caped at $5000 for tax purposes but they are telling me I need to 2 appraisals from two different North Carolina Dealers.

Anyone have this issue in North Carolina? I have a feeling I am going to look rather stupid pulling up at a car dealer and asking for an appraisal for a 1915 Model T. Besides I cannot even legally drive it without a plate.
Thanks
Ron

Could you ask them if they every abbreviate body styles in 1984 - like can 3S mean 3 door Sedan
Back in the day many computer records utilized punch cards to input data, initially these were 80 columns/characters so may things were abbreviated. So 1 column could be for the number of doors and another for the body style: C-coupe,S-sedan,R-roadster,T-truck,V-van,L-limousine. No SUV's then.....and a 3 door car today is called a hatchback - not applicable

[Model T Ron]

My Thanks to Pops
The title I got when I purchased the car was issued in 2012 as 3S. The prior title number is also listed on NC titles and that one was issued in 1984 in NC as well as a 3S. Pops told me NC needs to have a touring car listed as a 4S. I called the only decent person I came across at the NC DMV and he changed it to a 4S in the system. It was then accepted and no issues at all. This was a bad experience with the NC DMV but like several people have said you need to have someone who is willing to help you. So many at the DMV could care less about you and only do what the computer tells them.....or they are just not capable or willing to help you.

Ron

[bron-hertford-nc]

Good to hear of your success- send that man a case of beer!
Bron

[DLodge]

... preferably one who speaks Spanish. ...

John, since neither "John" nor "Codman" strikes me as particularly Hispanic, I am curious why you recommend finding a clerk who speaks Spanish.

[Charlie B in N.J.]

I feel your pain. There’s only one DMV office in my area that handles collector car reg & plates. While it’s not all that far from home my local office is much closer and that local office was going to screw me up real good when a worker told me to go to the other office. Insane but true. And mind you this was registering a T with a Jersey title!

[TRDxB2]

Massachusetts had my '27 as having an automatic transmission.

Technically it is an automatic. Your foot switches from L to D.
The main difference between manual and automatic transmissions is that the manual transmission uses multiple sets of gears to the drive shaft while an automatic transmission uses a planetary gear set to produce different gear ratios.