8.13.5

reconstructed and specially constructed vehicle

Effective Date: June 05, 2026

Review Due: June 05, 2028

Summary of Changes

Added a dash and removed additional "are vehicles" from each sub-bullet in Section G. Added to Section H that all categories of reconstructed vehicle shall be branded reconstructed, and added a policy reference.

Purpose

To provide guidelines for the proper completion of titling and registering a reconstructed and specially constructed vehicle.

Authority

Two Year Review, A.R.S. §§ 28-2051, 28-2052, 28-2094, and 49 CFR 586.

Policy

1. The Division requires that every vehicle being titled and/or registered be identified by the name of the manufacturer, a brief description of the vehicle and the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Additionally, for the purpose of obtaining a more complete description of the vehicle, the applicant is required to indicate whether the vehicle is reconstructed or specially constructed.

1. A reconstructed vehicle is defined as any vehicle which has been assembled or constructed largely by means of new or used essential parts derived from other vehicles. A change to any of the essential parts may require a vehicle to be classified as a reconstructed vehicle.

2. Essential parts of a reconstructed vehicle are integral body parts which, when removed, altered or substituted will tend to conceal the identity or substantially alter the appearance of the vehicle. Essential parts include, but are not limited to the following:

1. The body.

2. The engine (motorcycle only).

3. The transmission (motorcycle only).

4. The frame or chassis.

5. The rear transaxle assembly.

6. The floor pan.

7. Any parts of the body that change the identity or appearance of the vehicle.

3. A Level II or III inspection is required when the owner of a vehicle has:

1. Changed or altered the vehicle.

2. Purchased a vehicle that was modified or altered.

3. Constructed a vehicle that was not originally constructed under a distinctive name, make, model or type by a recognized manufacturer of vehicles.

4. Prior to issuing a Certificate of Title (title) for a reconstructed or specially constructed vehicle, the owner must provide satisfactory proof of ownership, at the time of the vehicle inspection, for all of the essential parts that were used in constructing the vehicle. Ownership documents, which must describe the vehicle or the vehicles from which the parts are obtained, may include:

1. Manufacturer invoices

2. Certificates of origin

3. Vehicle titles

4. Dismantle branded titles

5. Registrations

6. Bills of sale

5. A Level II or III inspection is required to determine the make, year, body style, and VIN/serial number.

6. When an out-of-state title indicates that the vehicle is a reconstructed or specially constructed vehicle and the original VIN is displayed, an Arizona Serial Number (AZ SNO) must be assigned to the vehicle.

1. An out-of-state assigned serial number is acceptable, provided the assigned serial number is on the vehicle and the title.

Types of Reconstructed Vehicles

7. Reconstructed vehicles are categorized into three groups:

1. Category 1 - Vehicles that lose their original identity:

2. Category 2 - Vehicles that are given a new identity but will retain the original VIN and make of the vehicle.

3. Category 3 - Vehicles that will not lose their original identity.

8. A Level II or III inspection is required for all categories of reconstructed vehicles and shall be branded as reconstructed, see Policy 8.5.1 Title Brands.

Types of Specially Constructed Vehicles

9. There are four types of specially constructed vehicles that are titled by the Division. They are dune buggies, sandrails, kit vehicles, and homemade trailers.

Glider Kits

10. Glider Kits are vehicles with a new body built by a recognized manufacturer of truck tractors and a powertrain from a used vehicle.

11. To title a Glider Kit, in addition to all other titling requirements, the customer must also submit:

1. Ownership documents.

2. A Level II Inspection.

3. The Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (MCO) for the kit.

1. The Peterbilt Truck Company does not place the model year on the MCO for the reason that the Glider Kit is considered to be a part of a vehicle.

2. The date provided on the Peterbilt Truck Company MCO represents the invoice date and the approximate date of manufacture of the Glider Kit.

Kit Vehicles

12. A kit vehicle is assembled from a manufactured kit.

1. The kit may be a replica of a vehicle originally made by another manufacturer or an original kit of a vehicle never before manufactured.

2. The kit vehicle is handmade not mass-produced.

3. Some kits come fully pre-assembled with a chassis.

• The only parts the individual supplies are the engine, transmission, wheels and tires.

13. To title a kit vehicle, in addition to all other titling requirements, the customer must submit:

1. Ownership documents.

2. The kit MCO.

3. A Level II inspection.

1. The make and body style of a kit vehicle previously titled in another state can be changed in order to conform to Arizona requirements.

2. An AZ SNO is assigned and becomes the vehicle VIN.

1. The number provided with the kit is used as the secondary number.

1. When an Arizona title has already been issued with a kit name and kit number and the vehicle is being transferred, an AZ SNO must be assigned.

Dune Buggies

14. A dune buggy is a small, light automobile generally made from a small rear engine chassis and a specially constructed or prefabricated body.

15. To title a dune buggy, in addition to all other titling requirements, the customer must also submit:

1. Ownership documents.

2. The original invoice, MCO or a bill of sale for the vehicle’s body.

3. Receipts for the essential parts.

4. A Level II Inspection.

Sandrails

16. A sandrail is a small, light automobile generally made from a small rear-engine chassis.

• The sandrail is constructed of rails (either a pre-fabricated rail-cage or rails that are constructed by the owner).

17. To title a sandrail, in addition to all other titling requirements, the customer must submit:

1. Ownership documents.

2. Receipts for the essential parts.

3. A Level II Inspection.

Replica Manufactured Vehicle

18. A replica vehicle is a motor vehicle that is produced by a replica motor vehicle manufacturer and is intended to resemble the body style of another motor vehicle that was manufactured for consumer sale not less than 25 years prior to the manufacturing of the replica vehicle.

19. A replica manufactured vehicle will have all of the following:

    1. A 17-digit vehicle identification number (VIN).

    2. A Replica Vehicle Certification Label on the vehicle.

    3. A secondary label explaining which modern or contemporary National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) safety standards are not met.

20. To title and register a replica manufactured vehicle the customer must submit a Manufacturer Certificate of Origin (MCO) or ownership document. A Level i Inspection is not required.