Registering Locost in MN

This forum is for discussing the process by which an "Assembled Vehicle" is titled and licensed.

Moderator: dhempy

Post Reply
User avatar
Johnny
Posts: 7
Joined: February 12, 2025, 11:22 am
Building: Locost 7
Location: Willow River MN

Registering Locost in MN

Post by Johnny »

Hello everyone! My name is Johnny and I'm 16. (I'll turn 17 in April.)
I am going to build a Locost 7. I am trying to figure out what I will need to do to get it on the road, as far as legal stuff goes. Here's where I'm at.
I know I will have to pass an inspection to apply for a title. I think it is a DPS inspection? Is that something federal or does it vary by state? How do I build it to pass the inspection? I can't find a guide or rulebook anywhere. I don't wanna build it and it gets the inspection and come to find out I did something wrong and have to rebuild it lol.
Will I need to get a new VIN for it somehow? Not sure how all that works.
Also, am I not reading this right or does it forbid home-built frames? Someone told me that was for something totally different, and I really hope that's so. https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/dvs/vehicl ... r-vehicles
Any advice or input is greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
User avatar
anduril3018
Posts: 16
Joined: June 2, 2024, 9:42 pm
Building: Classic Style S2-S3
Location: Los Angeles

Re: Registering Locost in MN

Post by anduril3018 »

This has been posted by others, but it's a good place to start. I'm not sure how current it is, so validate each claim with info directly from your DMV.

https://www.semasan.com/resources/every ... -50-states
KB58
Mid-Engined Maniac
Posts: 6499
Joined: April 23, 2006, 8:26 pm
Building: Midlana
Location: SoCal
Contact:

Re: Registering Locost in MN

Post by KB58 »

Yeah, it's really important to hear this straight from YOUR local DMV, not listening to what someone living elsewhere tells you. Even finding someone in your state who tells you that it's easy and no problem doesn't guarantee anything - rules change and you need the latest. Either visit your state's DMV site, or walk in and say that you're building a kit car, hear them out, and then at the end, say, and "what if I'm building the frame myself?" That's important because if they treat it as a kit, they may require info from the kit car supplier. Oh, and keep all your component receipts. I was required to show them the receipts for the steel that the chassis was made from - different state than you but just be aware what they might ask for.
Midlana book: Build this mid-engine Locost!, http://midlana.com/stuff/book/
Kimini book: Designing mid-engine cars using FWD drivetrains
Both available from https://www.lulu.com/
User avatar
Johnny
Posts: 7
Joined: February 12, 2025, 11:22 am
Building: Locost 7
Location: Willow River MN

Re: Registering Locost in MN

Post by Johnny »

Thanks for the responses and the resource! Looks like I will be calling the DMV when I get a chance.
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 6 guests