Topic: No title

[Bodain]

I always prefer to buy my beater bikes with titles. My recent project came without title.
There are several ways I could approach this.

1.. Do alot of leg work to gather documents and setup a hearing...

2.. Pay International Title Service a fee and let them do all the work.

http://www.its-titles.com/

I decided to try step 2....  So basically you send them the fee, bill of sale, proof of insurance, signed power of attorney document.  They send you a license plate and a vehicle registration from the state of Maine.

I just received it today.. So I suppose I can slap on the plate good for one year from now. Get the inspection and be riding. Well not really..

Since I'm a resident of Texas I'm certain there is some law saying I must transfer it to Texas within x amount of days... I would want to do this anyway...

So has anyone used this service?

For some reason. I don't think presenting a Maine registration without a Title to my local DMV will go over well.

I suppose I take this and apply for Texas title... Any experience out there??

[dkruitz]

That's pretty much what I was going to do here in Texas on my project bike - looks like it was last registered in California in 1981 - called California and based on the VIN it wasn't stolen (those records never expire, and are national) and they said they couldn't tell much more because it had been purged out of their system after a few years.  I figured Texas would be the same, and I'll just say, "Hey, I've got this old Texas bike found in a barn - not stolen, need to get a title."

Check here for forms for Texas:
http://www.dot.state.tx.us/forms/vehicle_titles.htm

If the bike isn't going to be riden - ie. needs work like mine, you can request a title only without registration.  Once the biek is done, you request the safety inspection then can get it registered for the road.
VTR-131     Request to Issue Negotiable Certificate of Title Without Registration (Title Only)

Welcome to Texas, I'm new here myself.

[Bodain]

I'm not new to Texas.... I've been here 25 years....

I used the International Title Service.  I did some checking around. Now I think I understand how the International Title service works....

Maine has some rather interesting laws...In Maine any vehicle over than 1992 does not require a title... Wow....I'm almost ready to move there.

So the International Title Service uses this little fact... Hence what they sent me is quit legit..... I should be able to take this Maine registration to my local DMV and register it in Texas.... Then apply for Texas title.

[KB02]

That's one thing that I do, and don't like about living in Vermont. If a bike is over ten years old, the state does not require a Title, only a bill of sale. It's nice that you don't have to worry about it, but bad in that they loose track of ownership after a while.

They also don't care about mileage either.    When I registered my wife's bike they asked me for the mileage and I said, "Shoot. I forgot to write it down." The clerk said, "Just make something up. It doesn't matter, it's not title-able anyway."   

[relative q]

Pennsylvania is the same way about the mileage, which is convenient, because my odometer doesn't work.

[jtraceypgh]

Has anyone used this service successfully in Pennsylvania?  I'm considering this for reasons too extensive to go into here, and they claim it will work, just hate to risk $125 and still not be able to ride...

[Bodain]

Has anyone used this service successfully in Pennsylvania?  I'm considering this for reasons too extensive to go into here, and they claim it will work, just hate to risk $125 and still not be able to ride...

Can't speak for the Penn state, but Texas is very stringent... Actually the bike I did this on is a 1985 Yamaha RZ... There is a story... The guy I bought it from had title in original owners name. He had signed the title as the buyer. He never transfered the title to himself. So when he sold it to me.. I had title with his name on it as buyer. So I took title and bill of sale to local DMV. They refused to touch it with his name on it. Their statement is... He must transfer the title into his name and pay all fee's then sign title over to me. OK... I contacted him telling him the story. He was willing but expected me to pay to transfer it to his name. Needless to say it got nasty...

Thats when I decided to give International Title company a try for $150.00 . Three weeks later license plate and registration on the state of Maine arrive. I get the bike inspected and I'm riding.  Ok now it's time to take the Maine registration to Texas DMV and transfer to my state.
I presented Maine registration, Inspection, and proof of insurance. She didn't even blink. She wrote it up and I now have it registered in the state of Texas.

This gets more interesting... Facts. I bought the bike in Texas and have orginal title that I can't transfer to my name. I never payed Sales tax. I still have the title problem...  With this situation it occur's to me... I don't really need a title. I will pay the registration fee each year like everyone else.  I will in a few months now try to get a title in my name.

[dusterdude]

bodain,texas didnt give you a title when you transferred the maine documents?in 1993 i bought a super bee out of georgia,no title.dealt with a title service in alabama (forgot the name),they sent me an alabama bill of sale and i took it to dmv (virginia) and they gave me a title with no problems.

[UnCrash]

 

Maine has some rather interesting laws...In Maine any vehicle over than 1992 does not require a title... Wow....I'm almost ready to move there.

I personally love the lack of need for a title here in Maine.  You see people from here buying older cars and bikes from other states without titles all the time.  It devalues the item in its native state which makes up for the gas to go and get it!

Come on up! 

[Geeto67]

Just go to your dmv and tell them you lost your papers, and you haven't registered it in 20 years. Unless previous owner titled it recently or its been stolen, it works everytime. DMV's don't keep old records from before computers.

Andy, whay DMV are you talking about that this works with? Never worked for me in any of the Nassau County or NYC DMVs. At best they hand me the paperwork to apply for a title from DMV (even pre 1971 which they take and then re-issue a transferrable reggie on the spot) and at worst they tell me they can't help me and I should go away.

If this really works I have a 73 cb750 that needs some papers - wanna take care of it for me?

[fmctm1sw]

Andy, whay DMV are you talking about that this works with? Never worked for me in any of the Nassau County or NYC DMVs. At best they hand me the paperwork to apply for a title from DMV (even pre 1971 which they take and then re-issue a transferrable reggie on the spot) and at worst they tell me they can't help me and I should go away.

If this really works I have a 73 cb750 that needs some papers - wanna take care of it for me?

I know what you mean.  Florida won't touch anything without a title.  Don't forget, there's Broadway Title as well as ITS...

[jbcb350]

Andy, whay DMV are you talking about that this works with? Never worked for me in any of the Nassau County or NYC DMVs. At best they hand me the paperwork to apply for a title from DMV (even pre 1971 which they take and then re-issue a transferrable reggie on the spot) and at worst they tell me they can't help me and I should go away.

I've done it w/ pre 1973 bikes (before titles) and give MV a frame # rubbing, fill out some forms. Non-transferable regi given on the spot; transferable regi arrives in mail in 6 weeks or so. Riverhead DMV. Could be problem if it was registered within last few years and you didn't know about it. Or if its stolen.
Not sure what procedure for 1973 or newer vehicles which are titled.

I just bought a 72 350f w/o a registration and live in nassau county, Long island. Does this really work? When i went to the dmv they kept telling me i need a registration from the p.o. but he doesn't have one. I wonder why they didn't other me this option to apply for one??

[myhondas]

I am waiting for my title?/registration & plates from IT right now. I am in Ohio and only reason I did it was I want historic plates on the bike ( C100 Cub 50 ) I have been told that with the registration, I can go to title bureau and get a title for the bike. Ohio title and Maine registration will get me an Ohio Registration for the plates.  We will see how it goes... How long did you wait for the paperwork? It has been about 3 weeks going on 4 for me.

[MotoMartin]

I presented Maine registration, Inspection, and proof of insurance. She didn't even blink. She wrote it up and I now have it registered in the state of Texas.

You would think that when the DMV clerk entered the (Maine) VIN (or frame #) into the computer it would kick it out saying something was already registered (Texas) with that number?
I have registered a bike with no title here in California, you have to get documents from the PO stating why the registration is missing, take the bike to the Highway Patrol to verify that it is not stolen, and take the bike to the DMV to verify if it has emissions equipment/stickers.

[GammaFlat]

My brother used ITS to license my grandparents 65 Olds (long story but title got lost).  It worked great here in Indiana.  

A potential gotcha that will really ball things up is if the title status is changed to "junk".  I got a bike that the City of Chicago "towed" and impounded.  They subsequently auctioned it but gave the VIN junk title status.  I have been told by ITS and others that you are super screwed when this happens and the closest you can get to a legitimate recovery costs $700+.  Bottom line: Your bike might not be hot but if it's "junk", fahget about it.  

Also, there's a threshold in the year of the vehicle.  I think it's about 1975.  A 74 bike was gonna be easy and my 77 (junk   and therefor not do-able) was gonna be more money and take more time (if not junk) through ITS.  

[Blasbo]

I got a "bonded" title here in Mississippi for $50. PO did not have a title to sign over. I filled out some paperwork, took it to my insurance agent and paid her $50. Took the paperwork to DMV and got the tag for $33. No physical inspection of the bike at all. Best of all next year I can get a historical tag for $26 that never expires!

[Blasbo]

I got a PM about this so I figured I would add a link for the bonded title form.
http://www.dor.ms.gov/docs/title_78016.pdf

[Tews19]

I got a "bonded" title here in Mississippi for $50. PO did not have a title to sign over. I filled out some paperwork, took it to my insurance agent and paid her $50. Took the paperwork to DMV and got the tag for $33. No physical inspection of the bike at all. Best of all next year I can get a historical tag for $26 that never expires!

In the process of this right now.... Don't let bonded title scare you off. The DMV can issue a title with some leg work of course. Once inspected they give you a form informing your insurance company you need a sureity bond. Once you get the bond for 50 bucks, last four years, you bring documentation to the DMV and title on the spot!

[Really?]

I might be bugging you for a tad more detail in the not too far future Tews.

[Mcwilliams570]

Getting ready to go through this in Delware on a cb550 frame no title. See how this goes

[Tews19]

I might be bugging you for a tad more detail in the not too far future Tews.

REALLY!?

Just playing. I should have been more clear. Sureity bond is to protect the DMV for a certain period of time... Here is WI its 3 years. This covers incase the bike ends up being stolen and the DMV can not face a lawsuit. I just got back from Wal-Mart to pick up pictures of the bike. They need to see the bike. I took detailed pics of both vins. Now I will mail off the bill of sale and the cop inspection form with all other documents... OH YEAH there 70 bucks they want to title it.

[Really?]

For some reason I thought you were in Texas.  Doh moment.

[myhondas]

Wow, this is an old thread that hasn't been posted to in some time...... to follow through on mine.....I got the registration and license plate from Maine and later went to the Title Bureau with a color copy of the bill of sale that I sent to ITS and Ohio issued me a "replacement title" for the bike. Got to thank my lucky stars that I had made a copy of the bill of sale or I would have been out of luck.

In Ohio, I could of also gone and gotten a " Court Ordered Title "  by paying $125 and submitting all of my paperwork and a OSP stolen vehicle search results.  If the judge agrees you get the title, if he doesn't, you are out yur $ and still no title.

[fmctm1sw]

In Ohio, I could of also gone and gotten a " Court Ordered Title "  by paying $125 and submitting all of my paperwork and a OSP stolen vehicle search results.  If the judge agrees you get the title, if he doesn't, you are out yur $ and still no title.

Fascinating.  This thread got me thinking again.  I called a "title expert" here in Pensacola.  She was very helpful, on the phone a good 20 minutes.  She said she does mechanics leins and explained that I could have someone pick it up and go through the whole process somehow.  But this would involve the bike being taken out of my garage and posted in the paper.  I'd get real nervous with it not being in my garage though.  She gave me an unadvertised number to a "dealers DMV" who may be able to help me get started.  I may try that avenue and see what happens.

[greenjeans]

For you Texas kids.....

It's not really that big of a pain....

Fill out VTR-130-SOF & VTR-270.   Take a photo of your VIN number (tag and stamp) and a pencil rubbing.
Go to nearest regional office.  (Dallas guys - it's on Beltline in Carrollton)    After they receive and review the paperwork, they will mail you a form that you take to an auto insurance agency for a SURETY bond.

Then....you can take all that mess to your local tax office and apply for a title.   Form 130-U

So....I guess it is a pain, but it has to be done.



Bonded Title Procedure

If you do not have acceptable evidence of ownership for a vehicle you own, you may have the option of applying for a bonded title.

Step 1: Determine your eligibility

    * In order to qualify, you must be a Texas resident or military personnel stationed in Texas; or
    * Have a vehicle that was last titled in Texas.
    * The vehicle must be in your possession and cannot be considered abandoned, junked, stolen, or in any other pending lawsuits. Although not required to be operational, it must be a complete vehicle including a frame, body and motor or if a motorcycle, a frame and motor.

If you meet the above eligibility requirements take or mail the following documents to your TxDMV Regional Service Center:

    * A Statement of Fact for Bonded Title (VTR-130-SOF),
    * A Statement of Physical Inspection (VTR-270)
    * Any supporting evidence of ownership (Bill of Sale, Invoice, Cancelled Check, etc.)

If your documents are approved, you will be issued a letter with the amount of the bond equal to 1½ times the value of the vehicle. The department is responsible for determining the value of the vehicle using:

    * The Standard Presumptive Value (SPV) from our Web site (www.TxDMV.gov) as the primary source
    * If a SPV is not available, a national reference guide, National Auto Dealers Association (NADA) will be used
    * If a value is not available either through SPV or NADA, a licensed motor vehicle dealer or insurance adjuster may appraise the vehicle on a form provided by VTR.
    * Vehicles 25 years old or older
          o The department will determine and assign the bond value
          o Appraisals less than $4,000 will not be accepted.

Step 2: Purchase a surety bond

Take the letter and other documents given to you by the TxDMV Regional Service Center to an auto insurance agency or any agency that is licensed to sell vehicle Surety Bonds in Texas.

You have one year from the date of the letter to purchase a Surety Bond in the amount shown on the letter, otherwise a new letter and bond would be required.

Step 3: Apply for a bonded title

Within 30 days from purchasing the surety bond, take the original letter given to you by the Regional Office and the documents listed above, to your county tax office, in addition to:

    * a completed Form 130-U
    * proof of insurance.
    * weight certificate (if a commercial vehicle or a truck)
    * Vehicle Identification Certificate (Form VI-30), completed by a Safety Inspection Station (if previously titled out-of-state)
    * Customs Document (HS 7) (if vehicle imported from out of country)