I'd like to clear up this bit of myth.
Titling:
If you have an SF-97 without the "Off-road Use Only" stamp OR a legal, on-road title from any state, Maryland will title your HMMWV. The clerk will need to obtain a "supervisor override" to enter the VIN because it is not 17 digits. Simply explain that it is a surplus military vehicle auctioned to the public. Tell them that it is 10k GVWR or less (unless you have one of the heavy models).
NON-HISTORIC Registration:
(Standard passenger vehicle tags)
At the time of titling, the Maryland MVA will issue you a 30-day tag for the purposes of obtaining a safety inspection.
Obtaining a Vehicle Safety Inspection:
First- the ASED bulletin referred to in post #49 above, is irrelevant and illegal. It is not grounded in any existing or pending legislation in Maryland. I'm working with a Maryland House delegate who flatly stated that the MSP/ASED cannot do this. It is an attempt to legislate from an agency and is overreach.
Second- After communicating with nearly a dozen vehicle safety inspection stations, not a single one was even aware of this bulletin. Not a single station refused to inspect my vehicle based upon this bulletin or the lack of a 17 digit, Federal VIN. Several stations refused to inspect my truck for the following reasons: "Not familiar with the vehicle"/"Don't have a lift that can accommodate the width"/"Not interested in inspecting this vehicle." The faulty bulletin isn't even being enforced as far as I can tell.
That's right. In Maryland, a safety inspector can refuse to inspect your vehicle simply because they don't want to. They are private shops, not government employees. Never was the bulletin used as a reason for refusal. When I brought it up, they'd never heard of it.
Lastly, I found an inspection station/shop nearby that works on classic and custom cars. They are used to unusual vehicles. I asked the inspector if he was willing to inspect the truck. He said yes. I had a detailed conversation with him about the truck's oddities (location of brakes, geared hubs, lack of "Park" pawl and operation of the 3-lever light switch. The inspector said "No problem, I understand."
You WILL:
Need to add the following equipment in order to pass inspection in Maryland:
- Interior rearview mirror
- Reverse lights
- Patch the "field mod" drain holes cut into your floor pan by gun shots or pick-axes
I flunked my inspection today for a sloppy U-joint. I've ordered the part, the inspector will install it tomorrow and I'll be on my way. I will take my safety inspection ticket to the MVA and obtain my 2-year, regular passenger tag. Not Historic, no restrictions.
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- In this process at no point did I lie, dissemble or omit to any government official or inspector.
- Nobody heard of the bulletin, nobody cared about the bulletin. Nobody cared about the lack of a 17 digit VIN, except to obtain the supervisor override.
- I did all my own paperwork, I did not use a titling service or contractor.
- I used the Annapolis main branch of the Motor Vehicle Administration which is known for being difficult to work with.
- Essentially, I followed the same legal process that Mission BBQ uses to title and register their M35A3 trucks as catering trucks.
If you follow the "Politics in MV's" forum, you are aware that I am working with sympathetic delegates to pass legislation that will protect all FMV's from this kind of bogus police and agency overreach, INCLUDING HMMVWs with the "offroad" restriction. That process is still ongoing. (HB-114
If you PM me, I can refer you to my inspector who is now very familiar and comfortable with HMMWV's.
