NJ Inspection Question -- 1983 SC

mercman · 03-21-2009, 06:45 AM

Hello:

I have 1983 SC which was registered the past 2 years as a collector car -- it was exempt from inspection/emissions testing. My car came with a Bursch test pipe (no cat), so I'm wondering if anyone has a similar set up and how it was inspected.

Historic plates are one option for an exemption, but there are limits to transits to shows and displays. The car is registered through Hagerty.

Any guidance is greatly appreciated.
rwmoran@comcast.net

Aurel · Aurel's Garage

Hi,

First, you need to decide if you want to keep historic plates or get back to regular plates.

I too am in NJ and have a cat bypass, but I put it after inspection

. I run regular plates because I drive it more than 2,500 miles a yr. At inspection, they only test for CO, CO2 and HC emissions. The catalyst mostly reduces NOx, so you may pass emissions if it is tuned for that (lean mixture, mucho advance). I have seen them look under the car with a mirror, so there must be some kind of visual inspection. I do not know how strict it is, and it may depend if the inspector can see the difference between a cat and a pipe.

If I were you, I would make sure the car is properly tuned, and take it to inspection. They will give you the emissions report, and if you fail you get a month to fix it, no big deal. I once passed a second time after failing first for emissions, and the second time the car was smoking as hell from oil leaks burning on the heat exchangers, but tailpipe emissions were fine and that is all the report said I had to fix.

If you decide to keep historic plates (are they NJ ones?), I am not sure if the change of owner means you must reinspect. Maybe others can chime in.

mercman · 03-21-2009, 08:32 AM

Thanks Aurel.

This is a renewal, I registered it 2 years ago as a collector. Back then, cars were exempt once they hit 25 years of age, but now it looks like they've changed it.

I think qq historic plates might be the way to go, but I know there are BS restrictions on this -- only for use to shows and exhibits etc.

Aurel · Aurel's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by mercman

Thanks Aurel.

This is a renewal, I registered it 2 years ago as a collector. Back then, cars were exempt once they hit 25 years of age, but now it looks like they've changed it.

I think qq historic plates might be the way to go, but I know there are BS restrictions on this -- only for use to shows and exhibits etc.

From the DMV website, it doesn`t look that way. How did you learn about this change? This may be very recent then.

http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/Inspections/VehiclesExempt.htm

mercman · 03-21-2009, 10:47 AM

the kicker here is that the car is now 26 years old, so it won't qualify as a collector provided the info on the site is correct. Unless I misread the site 2 years ago, it stated that vehicles older than 25 years old were exempt.

Howard M · 03-22-2009, 05:33 AM

I'm almost positive that your car can be registered as either Historic (NO inspection, NO renewal fee, 2500 miles/yr and useage limits (but never checked)) or Collector. Each DMV office seems to have their own interpretation of the Collector (triangular inspection sticker) renewal duration. Each renewal requires a fee and a trip to the inspection station where they only check mileage since the last inspection (they have you drive a couple of miles to verify the odometer works). There is no practical downside to Historic plates.

Aurel · Aurel's Garage

The way I see it now, collector is for cars less then 25 yo, historic is for more than 25 yo.
I found this website about NJ historic plates:

http://www.freewebs.com/aaplates/nj.htm

mercman · 03-22-2009, 05:45 AM

thanks for all the quick replies, I'll get this sorted next weekend.

Best,

Rob

AndyK! · 03-22-2009, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mercman

thanks for all the quick replies, I'll get this sorted next weekend.

Rob, keep us updated as to what you find out. This is typical Jersey bureaucracy.

If I am reading the DMV regulations correctly, I can have Collector plates as long as the car is under 25 years old. Once the car hits 25 years plus and I am up for registration renewal, I can either go back to standard issue plates or obtain the QQ Historic plates.

If I go with the QQ Historic plates, according to the DMV web site, I can only operate the vehicle under the following condition: only used for exhibition and educational purposes by the owner. [/I]

What happens if I am involved in an accident or pulled over by the ever present law enforcement? This is crazy! Why would they not allow you to keep the Collector plates once the vehicle is older than 25 years?

Mysterytrain · 03-22-2009, 04:17 PM

I went thru this last year. My car is a 78SC with SSI's, I also have collector car registration. I called and asked DMV to explain the change in collector status. I was advised that as long as I already have collector car status that I am grandfathered in. I took the car thru inspection last year without issue. The change applies to new registration of cars older then 25 years.
Clearly, NJ-DMV does not want 25 year old cars on the road.
Collector car allows me to drive 2500 mile per year, day or night. Historic plates limit the mileage to 1200 miles / yr [or so] to and from shows, parades, etc and no night time driving..a bit restricting. I'm not sure that the police enforce that restriction.
As for inspection with the collector car reg, for the last 6 years all they have checked was that my odometer was working and recorded the mileage.

FPB111 · 07:45 PM

I had QQ on my 1972 for 11 years. When I first registered it I had to send three pictures to document condition. In the original mileage form I had to state current mileage. I never had to show miles covered. I paid once and every three/five?? years they wanted to know if I still owned the car. I did drive it to work once in awhile. I mostly used it on weekends and for track events. I kept records of mileage in case anyone wanted to see documents. I was stopped by a state trooper once for speeding. He let me off with no question about the QQ registration.
No night time restrictions if you have modern "sealed" beam headlights and modern, two stop/tail + lic plate light, lighting equipment. I did not see any restriction on miles driven on the form or in the DMV site.

dw1 · 03-22-2009, 08:52 PM

I registered my '87 as a collector vehicle. Per the NJ MVC requirements, I had to send photos, "proof of limited production", and the application form. I used a copied page from one of the Porsche books showing the production numbers to provide the "proof" requested.

Mileage is limited for collector cars, and needs to be checked every (2) years at an inspection station, but no testing is performed.

For QQ vehicles, there is no documented mileage restriction, but use is limited to travel to and from "exhibition" events. However, I know of no documented case where a ticket was given for improper use of a QQ vehicle.

mercman · 03-25-2009, 05:35 PM

Looks like I found the answer officially, thanks guys for your help.

The new rule applies to cars granted collector status after September 2007 -- which thankfully, I qualify for. To renew, you need to purchase an inspection voucher for $10 at any DMV and then get the car inspected -- which for collectors is a visual inspection and odometer verification. New applications need to be completed and sent to Trenton for processing, then inspected locally.

For cars granted collector status after September 2007 (and the car's age exceeds 25 years), registrants must decide to either get the car inspected/registered as a standard motor vehicle or register the car as a historic vehicle, which is more limited. Cars under 25 years are still granted collector registrations until they reach the 25 year mark.

Seems to be a clear statement by NJ to start curbing the numbers of older cars from the roads...or at least make it a bit more difficult to enjoy...

Here's to the driving season!

scooter911 · 03-25-2009, 07:21 PM

Look at collector car reg. it's great! no inspection except for odometer. no more than 3 K per year

bkreigsr · 03-26-2009, 05:43 AM

go historic ... only way to fly
Bill K

AndyK! · 03-26-2009, 09:33 AM

I just got off the phone with Trenton DMV and was advised that on the Historic QQ plates, there is no yearly mileage restriction nor any restrictions on night time driving. The only restriction is the the vehicle be used for exhibition and educational purposes by the owner.

The best part is no longer going for any type of inspection.

bkreigsr · 01:21 PM

When I drive mine, it is to 'exhibit' the fine art of Porsche design, and occasionally to 'educate' the unknowing WRX/EVO driver.

AndyK! · 03-26-2009, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bkreigsr

When I drive mine, it is to 'exhibit' the fine art of Porsche design, and occasionally to 'educate' the unknowing WRX driver.

Hey, that makes sense. Every time I have gone into a corner with too much speed, it has been an educational experience.

That's what I love about Jersey; there is always a loop hole to some of the ridiculous regulations.

Mysterytrain · 03-26-2009, 01:12 PM

Hmmm, so it appears they have changed the restrictions for historic cars. At one time it was very limiting. At this point it seems that there is little on no advantage to maintaining my collector car status except for the fact that I should be going or returning from an event.

AndyK! · 03-26-2009, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mysterytrain

Hmmm, so it appears they have changed the restrictions for historic cars. At one time it was very limiting. At this point it seems that there is little on no advantage to maintaining my collector car status except for the fact that I should be going or returning from an event.

That about sums it up. I called DMV Trenton in order to clear up the confusion about the mileage . Historic plate seems to be the way to go, especially if miles per year is an issue.