Topic: Bought a Ducati without a title, ya, I'm with stupid.

[heffay]

Been a long time, gents. How you been the last few years? I still have the 350f, which is not the topic of discussion... this time.

Let's consider it any bike other than a CB, which, this time, happens to be a '96 900 Super Sport Ducati. I thought I was buying the bike with a title from a work buddy. He's young, he gets talked into stupid #$%* daily, but evidently, so do I. About a month later after telling me he knows he got a title when he bought it, he has searched all his spots and can not produce one. I have registration receipts from 2007-11, but those are not a title. I work with him at our shop, he's a good guy, but young.

He bought it from a local Duc dealer, I won't mention the name... in his words that dealer is "kinda sketchy". I asked him to call them for a bill of sale. They told him they couldn't give him one because it had been over one year since they sold it to him. At this point I wonder what it really is that's sitting in my garage. Is the only step to try to contact the "current owner"? I don't think this bike was ever actually titled since the last owner in 2011.

Oh my god, what do I do now?

[MoMo]

Did the young guy at work have the title transferred into his name?  If so, all he needs to do is apply for a duplicate title. At least that is how it would work in PA.   Welcome back BTW....Larry

[heffay]

Nope, I'm fairly certain the dealership never did either.
I'm also in a state where you can't buy or sell a vehicle without a title.

[b52bombardier1]

If it is not stolen, you can always use the Vermont Method for registration and a plate.  They won't title a bike older than fifteen years but a Vermont registration is almost always sufficient in other states to register, plate and ultimately title a vehicle.  And Vermont DOES NOT CARE one whit about where you live or even if you don't prefer Vermont maple syrup on your pancakes. Aunt Jemima is OK with them.

But first, I think I'd send Moose and Rocko over to your buddy's house to "assist him" in finding that misplaced title. =8-)

Rick

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Whats up Heff? Hope all is well.

Do you have a plate for the 350? .........................

Otherwise run a VIN check and go from there. Looks really nice.

[scottly]

Hey, I was thinking about you recently while stacking box upon box of CB400 parts onto newly erected shelves, that came with a bike I stupidly bought without a title.

[heffay]

I want to ride this one to work though.
Maybe I'll race it... good point.

[Stev-o]

Do they have bonded titles in AZ?

[heffay]

Not in AZ anymore. KCMO this go around.

[scottly]

So did you get a good enough of a deal on the Duck to go through the title issue?

[neal]

Look into the laws in your state re: a Mechanics Lien Auction. I have done this several times, here in Maryland. You start by sending an invoice for labor or storage via certified mail to the last registered  'owner of record'...wait 30 days for the bill to be paid... then two consecutive weeks, (one ad per week) of a published newspaper ad for the auction. Assuming nothing happens at the auction, you take all the paper work, including a "Proof of Publication" to the DMV, and they issue a new title. *The ad for the auction should state the amount of the lien, and the bidding starts at the lien amount. **If there`s a high bid (over the lien amount), the extra funds must go to the Owner of Record.

[Bankerdanny]

The State should be able to tell you if the bike was ever titled. Registrations receipts would indicate that bike was titled and likely in his name, otherwise how would he have registered it.

When the dealer gets it from the manufacturer they get a certificate of origin, which is turned in by the buyer and a title issued along with the plate. That's why dealers have special license plates for demo vehicles that are not tied to a particular vehicle.

[RAFster122s]

Sometimes you can call the local police or find a cooperative officer to run the vin on a bike you are ooking to buy to see if it is a stolen vehicle or other warrant on the vehicle and its prior plate.


If it comes up stolen you are going to lose it and all the money into it for purchase or repairs.

[Steve_K]

I had that same model, a 96 900 SS/CR, what a lovely engine, 3K to 7K revs would just launch you out of corners.  Fond memories of that bike doing a track day at Road America in 1997.  BTW, it was a Keith Code class, I learnt so much that day.
Enjoy the ride after the title problems cleared up.
Steve

[heffay]

The dealer he bought it from said they won't produce a bill of sale because it was over a year since he bought it from them.
Yes, Scottly, I got a smokin' deal on the bike. It won't start, but I'm not putting too much into it until I know the outcome of the title situation.
I'm considering the Vermont method. http://www.chinonthetank.com/2014/04/get-a-title-with-a-vermont-registration/
I have a phone # and address for the previous owner, so I may hit him up first.

More news you guys probably don't know about, I work for an Indian/Triumph/Polaris dealer here in KC as a service writer.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Wow, great news Heff! Glad you're back in the business.

[carnivorous chicken]

Too bad you're not still in AZ -- the abandoned vehicle title process is quick, easy and cheap. If you come through again and can bring the bike, it might be worth it to pursue that option -- just need an inspection, some paperwork, and a fraction of what a bonded title or the VT route would be. MO might have a similar option, might be worth looking into, I just know AZ is easy for that route and I've done it quite a few times.

If it's hot, however, it'll get seized on the spot.

[bill440cars]

The dealer he bought it from said they won't produce a bill of sale because it was over a year since he bought it from them.
Yes, Scottly, I got a smokin' deal on the bike. It won't start, but I'm not putting too much into it until I know the outcome of the title situation.
I'm considering the Vermont method. http://www.chinonthetank.com/2014/04/get-a-title-with-a-vermont-registration/
I have a phone # and address for the previous owner, so I may hit him up first.

More news you guys probably don't know about, I work for an Indian/Triumph/Polaris dealer here in KC as a service writer.

           Hope you can get that "Title Thing" worked out soon, so you can get on with it, Hef. Pretty cool that you are now working in the Indian/Triumph/Polaris dealer too. Kansas City Missouri, huh? A neighboring state of Arkansas, where I am. Again, hope all goes well, with the title thing and being in KC Mo. .