Custom Built Car Registration

There's something almost magical about building your own transportation, whether it uses some old rollerblade wheels, a worn-out lawnmower engine, and the body of a VW―or comes in a kit with everything included. It's been a shade-tree mechanic's rite of passage for decades.

Modified? Assembled? What's the Difference?

In Michigan, modifications to a vehicle, even fairly major ones, won't push it into the category of an assembled vehicle―which requires special titling―unless the changes are radical enough to make the car unrecognizable. For example, a new hood with an air scoop, or a spoiler, or a larger engine and oversize tires are fine. Add a tail fin or two, lower the roof, and extend the front end two feet, and you're probably going to need to get a different title.

Assembled vehicles fit into three categories:

• Homemade vehicles are those assembled―generally by individuals rather than manufacturers or shops―from new or used materials.

• Kit cars often come complete with engine, frame, and body and simply need to be assembled―again, usually by an individual or group of private owners.

• Vehicles that are significantly altered or modified from a manufacturer's original design, like putting a pickup truck's bed on the back of a Jeep Wrangler.

How Do I Title My New Wheels?

To title your vehicle, have an On-Road Equipment Inspection form (TR-54) completed by a police officer. Then bring all your ownership documents for the major pieces of your vehicle to a Secretary of State branch office. You'll need bills of sale, titles, and possibly a Release of Abandoned Vehicle form from a law enforcement agency for the engine, transmission, various body parts, and frame.

You'll need to provide information that summarizes the project, like who built it, where it was built, when it was put together, and any other information that will help.

All assembled vehicles require a state-assigned vehicle identification number (VIN). There is a $10 fee for this.