Topic: New "No Title" laws, any work around?

[B.O.X.N.I.F.E.]

Arkansas until 2 months ago was a vintage bike buyers dream. No title? So what. You insure the bike, register it as an antique and 2 weeks later a brand spankin' new title was in your mail box. That easy.

Well that's over, they've got wise to the game. They want that bonded title money. Here's the recently updated law:

http://www.dfa.arkansas.gov/offices/motorVehicle/Pages/specialityPlateDetails.aspx?show=4

Here's the interesting bit on what is necessary for an antique tag:

a) The previous title, if available, or if not, bills of sale reflecting the year, make, model, and vehicle identification number; OR b) If the vehicle is assembled from a variety of sources, the owner may present bills of sale for the principal parts. The bills of sale should indicate the source and include the motor or body serial number.  If only one bill of sale is presented, the customer will be informed that he or she must use the Bonded Title Procedures for issuance of title.

Pretty black & white - no previous title in your name = (expensive) bonded title

But is there a loop hole in this? I'm thinking so.

This bit - "If only one bill of sale is presented, the customer will be informed that he or she must use the Bonded Title Procedures for issuance of title" - implies to me that, when taking this part into consideration - "b) If the vehicle is assembled from a variety of sources, the owner may present bills of sale for the principal parts. The bills of sale should indicate the source and include the motor or body serial number." - theoretically you could show up with 2 bills of sale; one for the bike and another for a second major component, ie motor. The way I read this is 2 bills of sale = title.

Anyone see flaw in the logic? It makes sense to me. There are guys building bikes from scratch. The change in the law seems to be aimed at guys buying complete cars or bikes that are 25 years old (which is only the mid-1980's) without titles and getting new ones basically for free, outside the bonded title process. Maybe I'm overlooking something. This will be a major pain in my ass if I have to add the bonded process to my already marginal profits from bikes I've cleaned up cheap and sold.

[Xnavylfr]

There is a company called ITS= International Title Service.
I think they are located out of Rhode Island (a NO TITLE state) they have a process to GET you a title.

Contact them!!!


Xnavylfr(CHUCK)

[Scott S]

 Better read up on ITS. They're getting bad reviews these days. Plus, the cost has gone way up and there's no guarantee that you get a title. Many states are cracking down on this process.
 That, to me, is crazy. If you can verify that a vehicle is not stolen and has no liens, why not make a process to get it into the system? More taxes for the state, the insurance companies win and, in 90% of the cases, parts suppliers and garages will see some money from it. But, I digress.

[tomkimberly]

Does anyone know if any of the Indian Nations can issue titles? They do have many of the same rights as most states.   

[seanbarney41]

yep, this same #$%* has happened in Michigan too...new law sounds almost identical to what you have posted

[fmctm1sw]

Still waiting for someone to try Impala66K on ebay....

[FrankenFrankenstuff]

I was in the same situation. MA is a tough title state, and i am too cheap to do a title service. My technique was....

(This was for my S90, I bought off the side of the road for short money - no papers)

1)  I first did a VIN identification paper. -The Police Dept has the paper, then a cop comes by to verify the number on the paper is the same as the one on the bike.

2)  Registration history search. - Typically costs $5 through the state. It will tell you if, when and who was the last to register the bike.
If it comes up with nothing...good. You can just make up a Bill of Sale and make it out like you bought the bike 5 or 6 years ago. (before title rules changed) Just be prepared to pay all of the back sales tax. ALSO- they will typically charge you an "estimated value" on the bike. They dont care what you put for a price on the "Bill Of Sale".

3)  If you do come up with a previous owner on the registration search....either contact or just put their name on the bill of sale. Not a signature of course...The Registry will only give you a title if they see that you actually bought it from the last person that technically "owned" it. (last person to pay taxes, fees etc)

4) I told the woman at the DMV that the bike I was trying to get the title for was "Never registered because it was used as a dirt bike" and that "there never was a title for it" .