No. Registration and title are for DMV purposes only. Oh and for law enforcement use on street driven vehicles too. If you're worried about it being stolen, get the VIN and have a cop run it for you.

 

Many states require only a bill of sale for older vehicles. Odds are, as long as the VIN isn't on the hot sheet, you could register it using a notarized bill of sale, if you wanted to.

 

you do not need a title for a track car.
you can also hire a person who specializes in title work and they will get you the title to the car. I have bought abondoned vehicles before and recieved clean titels for them by using a title service who does all the leg work and paper work filling.

 

you do not need a title for a track car.

I remember a few years ago Ford was selling "bodies in white", that is, Mustang unibodies with no parts, no undercoating, no paint, and no VIN, for the express purpose of building racing vehicles.

 

Here's a principle that folks haven't mentioned. I agree you won't NEED a title or ability to register, buttttt.......
If you plan on building a high dollar, valuable, track car, there's always the SLIM chance that a person holding THE TITLE may show up and claim your track car that all your money is tied up in.

 

If it's a shell then there are no VIN's on it anyway. When I got it I would be sure and stamp in my OWN serial number, like your initials or the last 4 digits of your social security number on the LH door post, same as you would label your tools in case they were stolen.

 

The NASCAR Sprint (Used to be Winston) cup "stock" cars probably have $300,000 each invested in them. Bet they have no VIN. Doubt they worry much about one getting stolen!

Slim

On the other hand a Sprint Cup car is unlikely to be confused or passed off as a modified original!!!

 

They do have chassis numbers though.