OAR 735-024-0050: Definition and Application of Terms — To Wreck, Dismantle, Disassemble or Substantially Alter the Form of a Vehicle

(1) As used in ORS Chapter 803, 819, and 822 and OAR 735-024-0030 through 735-024-0170, the terms “wreck,”“dismantle,”or “disassemble,”or other forms of these same terms, mean any action or occurrence to a vehicle that results in: (a) Total destruction of the vehicle such as where the vehicle is taken apart with the intention of never again being operated as a vehicle, whether or not the frame or unibody will be used to repair, rebuild or construct another vehicle; (b) The vehicle being crushed, compacted or shredded; (c) The removal of the engine, drive train, or transmission from a motor vehicle for purposes other than repair, replacement or restoration, or regardless of the purpose, where the frame or unibody is sold or transferred separate from such parts; (d) The permanent removal of the wheels and the frame or undercarriage of a trailer (other than a mobile home); (e) The vehicle no longer meeting the definition of a vehicle under ORS 801.590, except as provided in section (2) of this rule; (f) The destruction of the frame or unibody of the vehicle; or (g) The clipping of any quarter, section or half of the vehicle. (2) Examples of situations when section (1) of this rule shall not apply include, but are not limited to: (a) The frame or unibody is removed for the purpose of repair or restoration, as long as ownership of the vehicle is not transferred while the frame or unibody is removed, and the vehicle is reassembled in essentially the same form, using the same frame or unibody; (b) The tires or wheels of a motor vehicle are removed, with no other action to change the unit to something other than a motor vehicle. (3) As used in ORS Chapters 803, 819, and 822 and OAR 735-024-0030 through 735-024-0170, the phrase “substantially alter the form of a vehicle” means any action or occurrence to a vehicle that results in: (a) The frame or unibody being cut, severed, or welded together with parts of two or more vehicles or other materials; or (b) Changes or alterations to the body or unibody of a vehicle that cause the body to no longer resemble the original vehicle or otherwise cause the vehicle to meet the definitions of an assembled or reconstructed vehicle, or replica. (4) Examples of “substantially altering the form of a vehicle” include but are not limited to the following: (a) The front or back clip of a unibody vehicle is replaced; (b) The frame or unibody is crushed, compacted, or shredded, and replaced with another; (c) The body of the vehicle no longer resembles any particular year model or make of vehicle; (d) The body of the vehicle resembles a different year model or make of vehicle than the one the title was issued for; or (e) A motor truck is rebuilt using a component kit as described in ORS 801.405(2). (5) Examples of when section (3) of this rule shall not apply include but shall not be limited to the following: (a) The bed or box of a pickup truck is replaced; (b) A flatbed truck is transformed into a stake truck; (c) The changes involve the addition or accessories, or other modifications commonly known as “customizing,”as long as the frame or unibody of the vehicle is not affected, and the body still resembles the same year model and make of vehicle; or (d) The repair or replacement of body parts, as long as the frame or unibody of the vehicle is not affected, and the body still resembles the same year model and make of vehicle.