Big thanks to Exocet builder Darryl for going through the steps of successfully registering your Exomotive Exocet in the state of Louisiana.
Make sure the car meets Louisiana safety equipment. Review LAC 55:III.813 (2016), §813, “Required Equipment.” The car has to have all of the emissions controls from the donor vehicle, including the charcoal vapor recovery canister, EGR valve, catalytic converter, etc. If it’s throwing an OBDII code (check engine light) it will not pass.
Step 1
Contact the OMV Special Vehicle Unit at: Louisiana OMV. P.O. Box 64886, Baton Rouge, LA 70896.
I spoke to “Joyce,” she seems to be the one that starts the process. There is no direct phone line to her, you’ll have to call the regular OMV number and wait to get a person, then ask to be transferred. You’ll need to send her copies of your Certificate of origin, invoices from Exomotive, receipts from your build, and the title of the donor car (if you have it). Note: do this when you are close (within weeks) of getting the car finished.
Step 2
OMV will send you a “letter of rejection.” This is expected and part of the process. The date on this letter is important, because it’s when you officially start the process and you’ll get significant tax penalties if you don’t finish it quickly. This will come on letterhead with no form number. It will tell you to collect the following stuff:
An affirmation that your car meets safety requirements. LA-ExampleAffidavitOfCompliance.pdf (62.9 KB)
The owner signs this. This must be notarized.
A signed statement from a state inspection station that the car will pass a vehicle inspection. (Note: this was a real pain to get because no inspection station will have ever heard of this process.) You’re not actually getting an inspection, but it’s stating that it WILL pass. (LA-ExampleStatementOfCompliance.pdf (373.7 KB)
it does not have to be notarized.) Bring the letter of rejection, it will help.
At this point you can call the Louisiana State Police to come an inspect the car. The number is 225-925-6113 ext. 205. The LSP will send an officer to inspect the car. In my experience, the officer only cared about where the major components came from and was not interested about safety equipment or construction. (Hint: run the VINs from your engine, transmission, and donor car and make sure they’re clean. If they are not, the officer impounds the entire car on the spot.) The officer will leave you a form 3515; hang on to this. In a couple of weeks, you’ll get an emailed letter from the LSP with a VIN (the VIN letter, form 4117). You have to stamp this VIN onto the chassis in two places: one prominent, one hidden.
Take pictures of the car, and print them (4x6 is fine). You’ll need them for the OMV.
The letter repeatedly talks about the 3512 form, and the OMV people were insistent that I needed it. But you don’t get it until AFTER the OMV, which adds to the confusion. The 3512 form actually activates the VIN but you can’t even get a copy of it until the process is totally finished.
Step 3
Once you have a VIN, your affidavit of compliance, and a signed safety statement you can get insurance (you do not need a title). Note: this is important! The VIN will list the year and make of the car as “2018 Assembled.” When you get insurance, you have to use this as the make/model. (Mine is titled as a 2017 Assembled Roadster.) If the insurance card doesn’t say “Assembled” on it, OMV will not accept it. (Mine initially said “Exomotive Exocet” and OMV wouldn’t take it, as the title says “2017 Assembled.”)
Step 4
Once you have all of the above you’re ready to go back to the OMV. This isn’t a standard OMV office, but the headquarters office. Bring:
Exomotive’s certificate of origin
The safety affidavit
Inspection certification
Letter of rejection Proof of insurance card
Donor title (you don’t need it, but it’s easier if you have it)
Inspection form 3515
VIN letter form 4117
Any other receipts that you have. (Note: the OMV values the car by what you spent to build it, and you’ll pay taxes on that amount at registration.)
The OMV will probably ask you for the 3512: they seem to think you have it (I had several people insist on it) BUT you don’t get it until the last step. At this point you’ll pay taxes, they’ll get you a plate and registration, but you don’t get it yet… They give it to the LSP officer that did your inspection.
Final step. Call the officer that did your inspection and gave you the 3515. He should have gotten your title, plate, and registration from the OMV and you will make an appointment for him to come back and inspect the car again. All the officer looked for was that the assigned VIN was stamped into the car in two places (I used custom made engraved plates, and riveted them on and this was fine). He then put the official VIN sticker on your car and gives you your title, registration, and plate and you’re legal!
Like any car it will need a safety inspection. Since it’s officially a 2018 model, it will get an emissions test in some Parishes (Counties) but since it has a donor engine it’s going to fail miserably. The techs will likely know what to do if it fails but if they don’t, tell them that you can challenge it as you have a kit car which should prompt them on what to do.
I started the process in April and finished in mid-October. I likely could have done it faster if I had pushed it.
Good luck!
Darryl
