SL-C Manual: Registration

Always plan your build with the end use in mind. A road car that cannot be registered for the street, or a race car one that cannot be raced as-is, is not a very valuable commodity. Plan your build, and build to your plan.

While the SL-C is designed as a track-capable street car, the responsibility for actually constructing the car, including selecting approved parts based on the local licensing jurisdiction, is that of the builder. The sections below address, in general terms, what is required for each of the geographic areas below, but laws and policies change, and the builder is responsible for understanding local law, and building the car accordingly.

This kit has been designed with the intention of the owner completing the vehicle in accordance with Individual Constructed Vehicle (ICV) legislation, which requirements must be met to register a road car in Australia.

The ICV process is controlled by the states. The process may be similar between states, but there can be significant differences in the requirements or processes as well. You should construct the vehicle to the requirements of the state approved engineer if possible, to avoid surprises later in the process. 

Several SL-Cs are licensed and running in Australia and they have had no difficulty passing the required beaming and other strength-related tests. Expect to have to use some different parts (some states require electric mirrors, for example).

In most cases, you will need to engage an engineer to provide certain documentation for tests. At present, Superlite cannot provide such documentation with the kit, and the responsibility for whatever your state requires is up to you, the builder.

Many car builders find it easier to register a car first in the UK where the requirements, though strict, are somewhat more relaxed than other countries. Once a car is registered in any EU country, it is a simpler matter to register it another.

The UK now uses a set of rules known as “IVA” which are quite detailed. While the SL-C is generally compliant with the IVA regulations from the design standpoint, builders working to this standard will need to understand the details of the IVA rules and build their car accordingly. For example, you may need to choose “e-marked” lighting for any required side or tail lights, and you will probably be required to use brake fluid level senders and lights. Different mirrors will likely need to be fitted to comply with the regulation that they can be adjusted from within the cockpit. You should choose the “street” tail version as an unmodified race tail will not pass the IVA requirement of covering the rear tires. Consult the factory for more details.

The SL-C has been designed to make it as easy as possible to register as a licensed road vehicle in the USA.

All of the lighting for SL-Cs targeted to the US market is DOT-approved, as is the safety-glass windshield, making it simple to meet most state requirements for such equipment.

Superlite provides a Manufacturers Statement of Origin (“MSO”) which is accepted by all US states to begin the titling and registration process. 

Registering a car for road use in the USA is relatively simple in most states, although there are exceptions. Recent work by SEMA (the Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association) has led to a large number of states adopting some variant of the “SEMA model law” which makes it simpler to register and license kit cars. You can check the SEMA website at http://www.semasan.com for more details about progress in this area, and your own state department of motor vehicles for detailed information.

In some states, notably California, there are emissions implications in registering cars. In California, all cars must meet emissions requirements in place for California for the year for which the car is registered. However, at the time of this writing, the state offers an exemption for 500 cars per year under the SB100 program that permits a car to be licensed with no emissions requirements at all- if you are one of the 500 cars per year allowed under the program.

Some states have no emissions requirements at all, while in others, certain areas of the state may require emissions standards to be met. Alternatively, component cars like the SL-C are sometimes exempted from emissions testing in some states that otherwise require all vehicle to meet certain emissions requirements. 

It is worth noting that recent trends in emissions testing in the USA have begun to depend less on dynamometer testing, and more on merely querying the OBD-II port as to the condition of the engine and emissions equipment. This bodes well for builders who choose to use late-model engines with catalytic converters and associated computer controls.

While the SL-C is designed to be compliant in every state, it is your responsibility to understand the requirements in your locality, and build the car accordingly. As an example, some states require the installation of a handbrake or parking brake, while others do not-- so you need to understand what is required in your state for registration, safety inspection (if applicable in your state) and emissions.

For builders in some states, the e-Rod program may be of help in emissions. Essentially, the program permits specific combinations of engines and related drivetrain parts that have been certified under the program to be installed in vehicles that would otherwise not be able to meet emissions rules. GM is the only participant in this so far, and the GM e-Rod LS series engine and related parts can be obtained from the usual sources. Before you purchase an e-Rod package, be sure that it is accepted in your state as an alternative, and that the engine and accessories you intend to use are acceptable to the regulatory authorities in your state.