Topic: Title help Texas title search

[Ozzietx]

I have an opportunity to purchase a complete 750F1
at a good price. It does not have a title. I don’t mind
getting a bonded title, but can’t seem to find a website that
does a title search for VINs that are not 17 digits.
Does anyone have any ideas how I can verify that there
are no issues with the VIN?

[69cb750]

Each state has it's own procedures.
Most states require a vin inspection and form from police officer.
Police usually run the vin through the "lein machine" to verify not stolen.
Never had any problems, if nervous call police with vin and state your intentions.

[goodtryer]

I found it easier to deal with this in person.

Take a photo and make a pencil rubbing of the VIN plate.

Take those to the main tax office downtown (on the I10 frontage between Martin and Houston streets). The other tax offices do not deal with lost titles.

[Ozzietx]

Goodtryer,

Thank you for that info.
I sent you a DM

[goodtryer]

DM replied.

[johans]

Contact Vermont DMV . I did it with my 78' that i had for over 20+ years and i never registered it  . PO was long gone & i lost the title . Here in NY i had to take it to a seperate DMV office just for this purpose ( they care side arms here in NY @ that office ) . It was called a VIN # verification . They even had a r hand drive Japanese car that was bought from a NY police auction that had a stolen transmission  ! ( Good job leo ) At least you can get your vehicle back but you have to remove the stolen part at their facility ; very odd indeed .
You had to ride the bike in under its own power ( don't ask me why ) and all they do is take the engine & frame #'s to make sure those bits were not stolen . After i received that document i mailed that with the fee and the  Vermont registration application and viola after 1 week i had plates and a reggy . You do not receive a title , you can eventually get a title ( states vary ) . That bike was ridden in NY , Wisconsin and back in NY .  Renewed it a few times w/ no problem . NY wanted to do that bonding thing but it sounded like a huge hassle & the VT. folks were super nice & it could of not gone smoother ( and its cheaper ) . 
 i'm not a big fan of ny bureaucracy ; especially with dmv and their  really bad attitude here & the local leo are worse .  VT  was the path of least resistance. 


Good Luck -

[Maltboy]

If I'm not mistaken, Vermont now charges 6% sales tax based on the NADA GOOD value.  A CB750 in good condition is worth over $3K according to NADA.  That's about $200 before you add registration fees.  Then you have to do the whole thing over to get your Texas title.  It's easier to get a bonded Texas title and convert it after 2 years.

[Maltboy]

Here is a free service that does a national check. https://www.nicb.org/vincheck

Enter the VIN as CB750XXXXXXX.  No dashes.

[Ozzietx]

I thought I would post my progress so far on this. This will be particular to Texas.
I called this # 1 (888) 368-4689.
I spoke to a very friendly, and helpful woman.
She was able to check the pre-17 digit VIN. She determined that there were no liens, and that it had not been reported stolen.
Yea for that.
She sent me to this link: https://www.txdmv.gov/motorists/buying-or-selling-a-vehicle/bought-a-vehicle-with-no-title

I will fill out the VTR-130-SOF and take it with my Bill of Sale to the DMV.
The DMV will review my documents, and determine the amount of surety bond that I will need to purchase and also complete a
VTR-130-ND.
I will forward those documents to my insurance company (USAA in this case).
I have spoken to USAA, and they do issue surety bonds.  Technically called a Motor Vehicle Title Surety Bond.
Once I have the surety bond, I will add that to my growing pile of documents, and take them to my county tax assessor's office.
They will issue me a bonded title.
After 3 years with no issues being brought forward, Texas will issue me a clear Texas title.

All of this is theory at this point, as I do not have all of the documents in hand.

I will continue to update this if there are any issues, or there are further steps that I have not documented.

[Maltboy]

I thought it was 2 years, but I guess I was wrong.  Is it true you don't have to take the bike to get the VIN inspected?  I thought that was part of the process.

[goodtryer]

Did this title process myself with a vehicle I sold within months after receiving the title. Nothing special about the title or the sales process.

The title issued at the end of this process is a clear "blue" title. It is complete, free of encumbrance, good for the life of the vehicle. There is no conversion or waiting period.

The bond is the protection that makes whole a person who comes forward later with a valid claim (title) to the vehicle. And this is why the State is particular about the value they will accept/allow on the vehicle and hence, the bond. The bond is for 1.5x the value of the vehicle noted on the application and they reserve the right to use NADA or similar when you make the application.

Cheers

[johans]

God Bless Texas  !

[Ozzietx]

Just a quick follow up. It took a few days to get my Surety bond, then we were hit with a blizzard.
I went to the tax assessors office today with my paperwork, and surety bond.
They had me complete a form 130-U.
I paid $13 for the title application fee, $20 for the Texas Mobility Fund Fee, sales tax on $16.88, and a $1 fee for using a credit card, for a total of $50.88 to get the bonded title.
They said I should have the bonded title within 2-3 weeks.
If there are no issues within 3 years, the state will issue a clear title.

[Maltboy]

The VT DMV will require that you pay sales tax on the KBB value for a bike in "good" condition.  This can amount to several hundred dollars.  Plus you have to pay the registration fee, so you're looking at $300 for a CB750. 

[Just John]

Check CycleVin.  You can run the numbers for free.  If there is no record, you should not have any problems.  If it shows records exist the full report costs $25.00 and it will indicate if the cycle is titled and which state.  It also shows the last date the title was active.  They pull the data from NMVTS.  I got stung on a 1973 CB750 purchase last year.  I didn't run the numbers through CycleVin as I knew the owner.  Poor judgement on my part.  The title was in use by someone else.  My guess it was used for a chopper project with a non stock frame. 

[Stev-o]

Just a quick follow up. It took a few days to get my Surety bond

How much was the Surety bond and where did you get it?  Thanks