TITLING A REBUILD OR RESTORATION

Winter will be over soon and that tricked out piece of steel you’ve been getting ready for cruising will be finished and ready to get legally titled.

Sure you can go to the Missouri DMV office and see how to title your ride, but there are some things you aren’t informed of up front when it comes to getting a title for a rebuild, specially created, modification, or restoration. The process in Missouri is a lot different than for one in its original manufacture’s condition compared to when reconstructed with new components.

First let’s understand what qualifies under this category for different procedures:

• Rebuilt Motor Vehicle

• Reconstructed Motor Vehicle

• Motor Change Vehicle

• Specially Constructed Motor Vehicle

• Replica Motor Vehicle

• Non-USA-Std. Motor Vehicle

These types mean that something was created or added on to change the appearance, style, or type of body; and/or operation of the vehicle. Anything of these specifics that isn’t originally provided or is an option from its manufacture is considered modified as custom. Just doing basic or standard repairs with brand new parts isn’t what is meant by this.

These are the exact definitions per the state of Missouri to determine how your motor vehicle will be classified and titled.

REBUILD MOTOR VEHICLE - A motor vehicle which has been repaired or restored to its original appearance and design by means of repaired sheet metal or by replacement of new or used major parts such as the bumper, hood, fender, grille, trunk lid, and doors of the same vehicle make, model, or description. The title will be issued for a rebuilt motor vehicle which conforms to this definition. The title will be branded “Prior Salvage”.

RECONSTRUCTED MOTOR VEHICLE - A vehicle that is altered from its original construction by the addition or substitution of two or more new or used major component parts, excluding motor vehicles made from all new parts, and new multistage manufactured vehicles. The title will be branded “Prior Salvage” or “Reconstructed Motor Vehicle”.

MOTOR CHANGED VEHICLE - A vehicle manufactured prior to August 1957, which receives a new, rebuilt, or used engine, and which used the number stamped on the original engine as the