Author Topic: Lost title... (Read 5470 times)

theslayedsaint · « **on:** April 26, 2016, 07:24:29 AM »

Hey guys, got a question for anyone that has bought a bike that had no title. Did you find the process easy and straight forward or was it a lot of work? I'm thinking of picking up a few 350s and want to see if I'll be able to get them titled after I get them running. I know each state is different and I have read about Oregon and it seems easy enough, just want some first hand accounts.

Johnie · « **Reply #1 on:** April 26, 2016, 07:52:03 AM »

If the seller just "lost" the title he can apply for a lost title replacement. But that is if the seller is telling you the truth that the bike is actually titled in his name. In WI I can send in $5 to the DMV and they will tell me who the bike was titled to last. If you can find that person and they are not dead you can go the lost title route. If that does not work then it depends on how hard the DMV make it in your state. In WI it is hard so I went the Vermont DMV route. You can get a certificate of registration pretty easy and then take that into your DMV to get a title. Cost to VT is around $75. Vermont does not issue a title for a bike over 15 years old. So I just took my VT registration into the WI DMV and they gave me my title.

TomsK8resto · « **Reply #2 on:** April 26, 2016, 09:11:51 AM »

Johnie,

I've seen others who have gone the Vermont route for lack of a title in their own state. So do I understand that you contact Vermont, pay them some $$$, provide them with some info and you get a "registration and license plate" from Vermont? Which can then be taken to another state and get a title/registration? Thanks.

Tom

Johnie · « **Reply #3 on:** April 26, 2016, 11:14:37 AM »

That is correct. Go on the Vermont DMV website. The forms are on there. You get the registration and the plate. I also had to have something from the local police saying it is not stolen. A cop came to the house and ran the VIN and then signed off that it was not stolen. When my DMV asked why VT did not issue a title I just said they don't issue titles on bike over 15 years old. It is on the VT website if they want to verify it.

7 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 27, 2016, 09:39:13 AM »

Not my story but I've had two friends (in MI) that bought bikes without titles. Straight forward process. Need to bring a bill of sale to the Secretary of State (our DMV). Fill out a form that you inspected the vehicle and state the VIN is XXXX.... No issues for either of them.

I had a similar issue but my title had the bikes engine code on it instead of VIN. Same form for me and the new title has the correct VIN and bike info.

CycleRanger · « **Reply #5 on:** April 27, 2016, 04:18:42 PM »

It all depends on your state.
I am in the process right now of getting a bonded title.
The worst part is having to haul the bike to the county sheriffs office to get a vin verification and have them run a check to verify it wasn't stolen.
After that you to go to the regional DMV office for the required "rejection" letter.

Then have your insurance company issue a surety bond, that costs about ~$100, and take that to the county tax office with the paper work and get a new title.
Beware that in Texas you will have to pay tax on the SPV (Standard Presumptive Value), as determined by the state, not the purchase price.

carnivorous chicken · « **Reply #6 on:** April 27, 2016, 05:18:27 PM »

Depends on state, some are easy, others make you go through the ringer. VT is easy, I've done it a few times.

One thing I would recommend: get 'em titled before you do significant or costly work to them -- hate to dump money into a project then go to register it, only to find out it's hot.

heyitsrama · « **Reply #7 on:** April 27, 2016, 05:30:56 PM »

I just bought ANOTHER 240z this past weekend, went to get it registered at a California DMV with nothing but a bill-of-sale.... Im currently waiting for the title in the mail, but it was similar when i got my cb500, just fill a form and wait. As long as its not stolen you should be in luck i assume.. Long story short the wonderful lady at the DMV told me it was 740 for the registration, to which i informed her that the seller told me that there were no fees on the car, she asked me how old I was, then told me "its good you look like your 18" and i got away with only paying 360 bucks

Have a kid? Send them on a Friday morning to go the paperwork.

Motocorpse · « **Reply #8 on:** April 27, 2016, 06:14:20 PM »

I just got the title to my CB750 today. I bought the bike from a neighbor who lost the title and had not registered it since 1992. I live in California and first went to AAA with a bill of sale and non-op'ed the bike. This put it back in the system and in my name as the bike had fallen out of the DMV system. After non-oping the bike AAA referred me to the DMV for an inspection. Made an appointment and got that done. DMV then referred my to CHP for another inspection to see if any parts (frame/engine) were stolen. Made another appointment and got that done. Went back to DMV and turned in the CHP inspection and paid $94 in fees/registration. That was less 2 weeks ago and the title came today. Good luck!

atm cycles · « **Reply #9 on:** April 27, 2016, 06:27:17 PM »

I'm in New Jersey where the DMV is freakin horrible!!! But I've gone the VT. Route twice very easy and smooth. And when I used the VT registration to title in NJ. No hassle in and out done.

camelman · « **Reply #10 on:** April 27, 2016, 11:42:09 PM »

I go to a lien title sales provider in California and it costs me $60 (used to be $70). The process takes about 60 days if done right and I get a title. Might want to check on lien title options in your state/area. You need a garage/house/storage that you rent/own that you can say the motorcycle was stored in for X many days at $X/day for past due storage fees. The lien title sale provider then files paperwork with the DMV and notifies prior owners that they can reclaim the bike for the amount due for storage. No one usually cares about old bikes, and you have evidently purchased them, so the title will be uncontested and come to you. Possession is 90% of ownership.

You can file the paperwork yourself, but it isn't easy if you don't know what you are doing.

Camelman

zammykoo · « **Reply #11 on:** April 28, 2016, 08:09:28 AM »

Quick question for those who did the VT route. Does the bill of sale have to be notarized? I got my bike with bill of sale a year ago, and although I can meet up with the seller again, I'd rather not bother them unless I have to.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Johnie · « **Reply #12 on:** April 28, 2016, 01:35:40 PM »

I thought it did, but found out last year it did not need to be notorized.

Bailgang · « **Reply #13 on:** April 28, 2016, 02:45:32 PM »

This only applies to the state of Indiana but I was informed by my local license branch office as they're called here that a Vermont registration was no longer accepted in Indiana. If I purchased a vehicle with no title and couldn't get in touch with the last registered owner to sort it out I would then have to go to the local court house and file for a court order which she said costs around $300 by the time all is said and done.

Johnie · « **Reply #14 on:** April 28, 2016, 02:53:55 PM »

I have found that not all DMV employees think the same or do the same. Might try another rep and get a different story on VT. If it is registered in VT I don't know how they can deny it?

zammykoo · « **Reply #15 on:** April 28, 2016, 03:10:37 PM »

Has anyone located in Texas done a Vermont registration recently? I will probably ask my local DMV for information this weekend.

Johnie · « **Reply #16 on:** April 28, 2016, 03:29:12 PM »

Don't ask to many questions if you know what I mean...just tell them your bike is registered in VT and VT does not give titles for bikes over 15 years old. "Will this be an issue?"

CycleRanger · « **Reply #17 on:** April 28, 2016, 04:03:05 PM »

Quote from: zammykoo on April 28, 2016, 03:10:37 PM

Has anyone located in Texas done a Vermont registration recently? I will probably ask my local DMV for information this weekend.

Does the bike run, can it pass an inspection? If so then the inspection station can do a VIR.
If not you may have to have a vin verification done by the county constabulary prior to titling in Texas.

http://www.txdmv.gov/motorists/buying-or-selling-a-vehicle/out-of-state-and-foreign-vehicles

Stev-o · « **Reply #18 on:** April 28, 2016, 06:27:18 PM »

Quote from: Bailgang on April 28, 2016, 02:45:32 PM

This only applies to the state of Indiana but I was informed by my local license branch office as they're called here that a Vermont registration was no longer accepted in Indiana.

I'm concerned that this may happen to all states very soon.

Posting about it on a public forum may not be a good idea, I typically don't reply to such threads for that reason.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #19 on:** April 28, 2016, 06:30:09 PM »

Quote from: Johnie on April 28, 2016, 02:53:55 PM

I have found that not all DMV employees think the same or do the same. Might try another rep and get a different story on VT. If it is registered in VT I don't know how they can deny it?

Johnie · « **Reply #20 on:** April 28, 2016, 06:39:10 PM »

I agree with you Stev-o....I would rather see this thread go away to the benefit of us.

CycleRanger · « **Reply #21 on:** April 28, 2016, 06:46:45 PM »

Quote from: Stev-o on April 28, 2016, 06:27:18 PM

Quote from: Bailgang on April 28, 2016, 02:45:32 PM
This only applies to the state of Indiana but I was informed by my local license branch office as they're called here that a Vermont registration was no longer accepted in Indiana.

I'm concerned that this may happen to all states very soon.

Posting about it on a public forum may not be a good idea, I typically don't reply to such threads for that reason.

Listen, and understand! The DMV is out there! It can't be bargained with. It can't be reasoned with it doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop, ever, until you pay that vehicle tax!

Bah, the VT title thing is no secret and is well published in all over the internet.

There's way too much FUD about lost titles, bonded titles, etc.
Don't be afraid of getting a bonded title.

The process is easy (at least in Texas) if you can read and follow instructions.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #22 on:** April 28, 2016, 07:22:10 PM »

Quote from: CycleRanger on April 28, 2016, 06:46:45 PM

Quote from: Stev-o on April 28, 2016, 06:27:18 PM
Quote from: Bailgang on April 28, 2016, 02:45:32 PM
This only applies to the state of Indiana but I was informed by my local license branch office as they're called here that a Vermont registration was no longer accepted in Indiana.

I'm concerned that this may happen to all states very soon.

Posting about it on a public forum may not be a good idea, I typically don't reply to such threads for that reason.

Listen, and understand! The DMV is out there! It can't be bargained with. It can't be reasoned with it doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop, ever, until you pay that vehicle tax!

lol That's from 'The Terminator',right?

The DMV 'Terminator' machine

carnivorous chicken · « **Reply #23 on:** April 29, 2016, 12:25:00 PM »

I don't think that writing about the VT registration route on a forum is going to cause other states to ban VT registrations -- they can't really do that because there are plenty of VT residents who use them legally and potentially move out of state. I also doubt that a local DMV would refuse a VT registration -- it's a legal, valid, state-sanctioned document. Any DMV that did could potentially face a lawsuit. If anything, I could see other states pressuring VT to tighten up their requirements, but I'm guessing VT makes a decent amount of money without much effort by doing this so it's not in their interest.

Bailgang · « **Reply #24 on:** April 29, 2016, 03:04:02 PM »

Geez guys I didn't mean to stir things up, I just thought it would be useful info to be aware of for members here that live in Indiana. That is what the clerk said however how they can deny a valid Vermont reg is a point well taken so I'm not sure under what circumstances she was referring to, if they can actually deny it at all. I was in a hurry to get out of there so I didn't dwell on the topic for too long.

News:

Author Topic: Lost title... (Read 5470 times)