Hello from New Jersey USA! First post with questions....

[Rez90]

Hi there. I'm currently a New Jersey Resident looking to purchase an Ariel Atom. I am aware that there is no way to legally register one in NJ but my mother lives in PA very close by.

I joined to find out if there are any other members on here in PA with registered Ariel Atoms. And if so i'm wondering what it takes to get through this process.

Any info would be very helpful. and if i'm not in the right section with my question...please redirect me to where this post would get the best response.

Thanks!!!

[bolus]

I believe the last person that went through the process in PA that we heard about was in 2006. I think he did end up getting registered but it was a long painful process. One of the main limitations was the car needed a bumper. Since TMI sells the car as a roller now it may be the easiest to try and register as a kit car.

Here are the PA laws collected by SEMASAN
http://www.bipac.net/semaga/TagTitleToolbox_PA.pdf

Also, NJ has this. Looks like it is a case by case acceptance though

"Collector Motor Vehicle. A motor vehicle that is less than 25 years old and which was either: originally manufactured as a restricted issue make or model, or in a sufficiently limited quantity; or at the time of
qualification for designation exists in such limited numbers; either one or the other or both of the above,
according to any generally recognized compilation of motor vehicle statistical information on file with, or
supplied by the owner to the Motor Vehicle Commission, as may be accepted by the Chief Administrator in
his or her discretion, so as to establish it as a unique commodity having a current monetary value in
excess of similar make and model vehicles with routine manufacture and distribution patterns, and,
further, that is not driven in excess of the maximum mileage permitted by the terms of a valid limited use
motor vehicle insurance policy issued for, and covering such vehicle, proof of which shall be supplied to
the Motor Vehicle Commission at the time of application for designation as a collector vehicle, which
mileage shall in no event exceed 3,000 miles per year. This term shall not include motor vehicles with
elevated chassis height that are subject to inspection in accordance with N.J.A.C. 13:20-37."

[Rez90]

good info. Thanks very much for the help.

[Steve]

Welcome! Please keep us up-to-date on your registration efforts. You may want to post your questions in one of the main forums, and hopefully someone with more experience in your area can help you. We'll keep our fingers crossed for you!

[Terry Kennedy]

I believe the last person that went through the process in PA that we heard about was in 2006. I think he did end up getting registered but it was a long painful process. One of the main limitations was the car needed a bumper. Since TMI sells the car as a roller now it may be the easiest to try and register as a kit car.

I think that was MattF, and I seem to remember him saying that PA would not register any additional Atoms after his.

Also, NJ has this. Looks like it is a case by case acceptance though

There are a bunch of issues in NJ. It's too long to get into in details here, but I want to make a few points:

1) NJMVC has a strict definition of "motor vehicle" which includes "complies with all relevant FMVSS". Which the Atom doesn't.
2) Top MVC managent are political appointees; office staff and others are a mix of civil service and private sector. With the past history of the whole MVC being carted off to prison every decade or so, NOBODY wants to do anything out of the ordinary, even when directly told to do so by top management (or even the Governor's office).

If you want to pursue this, I can give you the name of an attorney who specializes in this very esoteric area of practice. Be prepared to pay. Also, even if you prevail, what you will end up with is a registration "by stipulation", so it is not a precedent which will allow others to register their Atoms. So there's no way to split the costs among multiple potential owners.

After all that, the roads in NJ / NY are pretty much all in terrible condition. When I bought my new BMW, a rim was damaged beyond repair by potholes within the first 50 miles of ownership. Subsequently, I found a place which rebuilds them and I spend $600-ish a year getting them straightened. I send a copy of the bill to the Mayor's office every year, but they ignore me.

And that's on a BMW, which rides like a sofa compared to an Atom. If you have any fillings in your teeth, they'll come loose. Other than visiting, I no longer drive my Atom in NY / NJ. The only time it's there is when it's leaving. Over the last several years, I can honestly say I've never driven my Atom in those states except to leave them.

[Cyberbug]

Another New Jersian with same issues

Please share the lawyer info with me too.

Why can't we register it under the kit car rule?

3K mile limit is fine with me, I drove my track car 2600miles last year. Between the two cars I will be fine.

Also, I wanted to compile a list of insurance companies in the US that will insure the AA.

I posted on the official forum and no responses. Lots more activity here.

BTW - I have schedule time with TMI and will be visiting them in a few weeks, they should do something about this

[MadMaxAtom]

THIS is the un-O-fficial USA Ariel Atom site. That "other" site is for narrow minded prats with their heads up their asses.
While you are at TMI,ask them why they still call the Atom an offroad only vehicle on their website. NOT very helpful to Atom owners who live in states where the Registry of Vehicles enforces everything "by the letter". Best of luck and welcome!

[Gage]

Welcome to the forum Rez and Cyberbug!

[Cyberbug]

Thanks guys

I am serious when I say I have thought of moving to a different state because of this..

But due to work (including wife) and house.. it seems impossible

So I might as well try the other impossible get the AA in NJ

[Norm]

Welcome Rez and Cyberbug. I hope you find a wat