Topic: Bill of Sale and Registration

[Prospect]

Are there any provinces that will issue a registration (ownership) from just a bill of sale?  I mean lets say you found a basket case and have no history of where the bike is from and who owned it and all you have is a current bill of sale. 

Ontario will do it buy you have to jump a lot of hoops and provide detailed history on the motorcycle plus involve a lawyer.  If there is no history of the bike at all then you're pretty much out of luck.

[754]

 AB, SK , and MB are considerably laxer than here in BC... might be woth looking into...

[bwaller]

I registered a bike here that had no regie (lost in a house fire)I stopped by the cop shop and they ran the ser. number to be certain it hadn't been stolen. Then it only needed a safety before I could register it, and an evaluation before I could insure it.   

[Prospect]

Is that typical procedure for Quebec or did you just get lucky?

[HondanutRider]

Prospect, I don't think you need a lawyer - just a notarized description of the bike showing that it was originally a model sold new as a vehicle to be licensed in Ontario at the time.  You can draw up the description probably better than a lawyer, and then swear to it for a Notary Public which is often found at municipal offices. 

If you need a sample of the description, here's a copy of what I successfully used a few years ago for a CB160.  (Its pretty simple.)  I also had a copy of the original bill-of-sale to back-up the price I paid for it, but maybe that would not even be required.


-----------------------sample of notarized description, also signed by me------------------------------
June 1, 2006


This document is to itemize the particulars regarding a 1965 Honda motorcycle that was acquired without original ownership registration.

   Make: Honda Motor Co.

   Model: CB160

   V.I.N.: B160-100xxxxx

   Type: 2-cylinder motorcycle

   Displacement: 161cc

   Year of manufacture: 1965

   Color: red

   Purchased from: Xxxxx  Xxxxxx (905-nnn-nnnn– Oak Ridges, ON)

   Date of purchase: February 24, 2006

   Purchase price: $200


   ...my name and signature...

[Prospect]

Did they have a record of the bike in their system and was it showing the last owner as the person you bought it from?

[bwaller]

Is that typical procedure for Quebec or did you just get lucky?

This was five years ago so I don't know if things are different today. Why not stop by an OPP station and ask if they can give you any advice.

[HondanutRider]

Did they have a record of the bike in their system and was it showing the last owner as the person you bought it from?

No, there was nothing in the registration records that the MTO maintains.  This was my first check, and when it came up "unkown" the clerk at the office gave me guidance for the notarized statement, even although I had a bill-of-sale.

[albertaboy]

Here in Alberta, Bill of sale only plus proof of insurance and your ID is required, as the agent checks their registries computer system (MOVES) for a record of where the motorized vehicle was last registered. If they find it as being last registered in Alberta, bam! you're done and out the door with a plate and registration in hand.  A correct VIN number is important. 

If they cant find it or it shows up last registered out of province, then you have to get an Out of Province inspection for either of these two circumstances. If you bike or other was recorded as "write- off" then a write off inspection is required.

Where having an old Alberta registration document comes handy is when the motorized vehicle has been parked so long that it's VIN or records never made it into MOVES and doesnt show up.  Typically ( an approximate date I can give) is pre 1983.  Alberta registries were manual paper records until this year and they slowly computerized in 1984 on. So for example- that 1970 CB750 was parked prior to 1983 (ish) and never ridden again, that VIN number likely would never have made it MOVES and you are s.o.l. unless the PO/seller had kept the paper work from long ago. Good luck with that. 

Hope this helps someone.

V.