Licensing home built vehicles?

[superdave]

Anyone have any info on this? I know there are some people on here that have done it... I searched the MTO website without any luck. Any links or info would be appreciated! :)

[yellowhotshoe]

Someone just asked the same question on our Cobra Club Forum and was told to try and contact Pandora McMillan at the Ontario Handcrafted Vehicle club. Apparently she works for the MTO and deals with it on a regular basis.

From my own experience, you basically take all your receipts to the local MTO office, sign off on a notarized form that you have built this vehicle (kit etc.) and they should provide you with an assigned VIN number. It's still a 17 digit number using the last 9 as a combination of your birthday with the last 3 of your own choosing.

Once you get your VIN and get the car completed, you must get it saftied as you would any other vehicle. Then you can go and get your plates! The beauty of an assigned VIN is that it also exempts you from Drive Clean!!!!!!!!!!!!

The only down side to any specialty vehicle is the insurance issue :( :mad: :( :mad: If it is a replica of a vintage vehicle you might be able to convince the local MTO office that it is in fact vintage. Once you have a registration / title for a vintage vehicle (15yrs or more) you have a good shot at getting into the Silver Wheels plan. Cheap, but restrictive.

So, whats in the works?

[spoonie]

not to threadjack, but does that mean we could import an ariel atom into canada as a kit (sans honda engine) then build it here, and register it as a kit car?

[yellowhotshoe]

not to threadjack, but does that mean we could import an ariel atom into canada as a kit (sans honda engine) then build it here, and register it as a kit car?

I'm not too familiar with that car, however, importing vehicles has become a whole new fantasy. Transport Canada has become more strict on what can be imported in a kit. It revolves around suspension bits and not being tested to CMVS standards. Factory Five and a couple of their Canadian distributors have worked together to formulate a 'Canada Only' packlist for their Cobras. Now, TC and Customs are quite cooperative when the FFR Cobras come in.

Best thing to do is contact someone at TC or again, the Ont. Handcrafted Vehicle folks.

[spoonie]

i see. well, this thing has a pretty whack suspension so i guess i'll leave it up to the company to make it legal here (it's available in the US).

http://www.openwheelers.com.au/videos/Top_Gear_Ariel_Atom_2_Full_segment.mpg

[yellowhotshoe]

I checked out the Atom website...what a car! Couldn't find any pricing, but it would make a wild track-only piece. I might have to investigate further. I wonder if it comes with divorce instructions? :rolleyes:

IMO if you can import, build and licence a Super Seven, there has to be a way to do the same with the Atom.

Factory Five basically ships their kits without suspension bits (control arms etc.) and lets you source them yourself after the fact. TC cannot stop these parts by themselves, its only when they come with the kit does it present a problem.

[Marsh]

HA! The Atom's not even legal for Solo, let alone the road. Good luck!

[Ron]

Hey Dave,

I was able to license my home built super seven as 1959 Lotus. When I brought my signed affidavit and list of receipts to the MTO and told the person it was a home built car, she asked what car did it resemble and wrote that down as the year make and model. I did have it insured with Domminion for 3 years and then was dropped for no reason 2 years ago. By then I did not drive it on the street anymore anyway. Because it was registered as a 1959 Lotus, I could have gotten insurance through Lant in Stouffville, if I had wanted it.

The MTO office I went to was in Newmarket.

good luck
Ron

[gatherer]

HA! The Atom's not even legal for Solo, let alone the road. Good luck!


what would need to be done to make it legal?

[spoonie]

it's road legal in the US. its just not road legal here - yet?

i spoke w/ the importer and he said they were working on it.

[aolsen]

I researched kitcars requirements for Quebec recently (I know it's not quite Ontario, but it should be similar): For the ariel atom to be legal you would need to install a windshield and wipers, a windshield heater, bumpers and some other tidbits. I guess it would carry about an extra 200lb after you're all done. Bummer.

[ScotcH]

HA! The Atom's not even legal for Solo, let alone the road. Good luck!

Why not? You mean class wise (and I assume Solo II)?

[Marsh]

Why not? You mean class wise (and I assume Solo II)?

The Atom doesn't have body work. Solo-2 requires body work up to the driver's waist. Some clear plexi and zip ties would do it though.

[Cheers!]

The Atom doesn't have body work. Solo-2 requires body work up to the driver's waist. Some clear plexi and zip ties would do it though.

Get the westfield car then.

[CanLuck]

not to threadjack, but does that mean we could import an ariel atom into canada as a kit (sans honda engine) then build it here, and register it as a kit car?
It is quite possible to import an Ariel Atom into Canada as a kit (with or without a Honda engine), assemble it, and license it. In fact, that has already been done and there is a street-legal Atom in Mississauga; see the related thread here (http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=375411&highlight=import).

[sjagman]

so in general, if one was to import a kit car, get without suspension and source the suspension locally. true?

Steve

[feds]

Not necessarly, you could still import the suspension stuff, just have it come in a separate shipment.

Then you are importing car parts twice, rather than a car once.

[Marsh]

We were discussing the Atom at a WOSCA meeting. If it passed safety then the mechanic likely did the owner a favour. Safety requires a winshield. Beyond that it wouldn't be too hard to make an atom pass.

[Ron]

We were discussing the Atom at a WOSCA meeting. If it passed safety then the mechanic likely did the owner a favour. Safety requires a winshield. Beyond that it wouldn't be too hard to make an atom pass.

It didn't used to when I licensed my Super Seven in 2001. The requirement then was, if you had a windsheild you needed to have wipers. Perhaps this has changed.

[CanLuck]

We were discussing the Atom at a WOSCA meeting. If it passed safety then the mechanic likely did the owner a favour. Safety requires a windshield. Beyond that it wouldn't be too hard to make an atom pass.
The safety inspection regulations (http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/DBLaws/Regs/English/900611_e.htm) are open to interpretation. In practice, the individual inspector has a reasonable amount of discretion ... which is as it should be.

[coneman]

Years ago I had a street legal tube framed dune buggy. The law regarding windsheilds at that time was that if your car had a windsheild as factory equipment it had to be made from safety glass and had to have working wipers. If it wasn't produced with a windsheild you didn't have to have one. I received a ticket for running without a windsheild and took it to court. The judge agreed with me and thru out the charge.
I looked in our Safety Standards book and a fairly recent Highway Traffic act and I couldn't find anything to say the rules have changed.

[Locost]

My Locost has been on the road for 5 years now with Brooklands screens. No windshield, wipers or demister.
My buddy just got his Locost certified today. He has the same setup, the mechanic had no issues.

[Marsh]

The issue isn't with the safety, it's with the HTA for the year of manufacture of the kit. Some things aren't required of kit cars (like air bags) and some things are.

[feds]

One more on the windshield front:

I do not believe that the HTA requires one, but I know certain insurance companies do.