Topic: F the DOT / how to salvage vehicle?

[Shoeboxjoe]

Basically, found a complete '63 Honda Trail 55 in a dumpster, no title or previous owner information. How can i get this titled? (i'm in Wisconsin btw)

I contacted the local police, they verified it was not listed as stolen but couldn't give me any information other than that.

I was hoping to just someone get a salvaged title. The DMV is no help though and told me i couldn't possibly possess a vehicle without a title because that would be illegal. Anyone been down this path before? Suggestions or advice appreciated.

Right now I'm filling out a form to request current owners information via snail mail. Thanks!

[hoodellyhoo]

There was an article about how to do this in Wisconsin in the recent VJEMC club magazine. Although it wasn't very clear, the gist of it was this: You should be able to get some kind of official form (don't know what it is) from the local police or whoever stating that the frame and engine vin had been checked and is not stolen. You then write a detailed letter explaining how you came to own the bike, the condition it is in, and why there were no papers with it. Also, take some pics. Fill out the normal registration form, and send all this stuff in (and the appropriate fees) and hopefully in a couple weeks you get a title in the mail.

If that doesn't work then I think your only option is to contact the last registered owner and get them to file for a lost title.

I would be curious to try this myself. Please let us all know how this works out.

[Shoeboxjoe]

The company that provided the dumpster and who's property it was found on, is will in to give me a notarized letter stating the vehicle was abandoned on their property and anything else i need. That sounds like it would be the best option however, i believe in Wisconsin an "abandoned" vehicle must be sold at a state auction. So i might screw myself going this route. I'll have to find that article. Thanks.

[Honda?]

Good luck man. I got my bike as abandoned property from a guy that was clearing out foreclosed land. The DOT told me I had to get info of every previous owner and pay the tax of the bike whenever it changed hands before me....and that would be AFTER a statie came out and made sure it was in acceptable road riding condition.

#$%* that. I'm in the process of picking up a titled frame. And if I hadn't come across the frame I would have just "ridden dirty" with my R1100S license plate on it. For the most part cops know nothing about bikes and nobody checks vins.

[Shoeboxjoe]

"Riding dirty" is starting to sound more appealing. I'm basically in the same situation, the cliche DOT sassy black chick at the counter told me i would have to have all previous owners (who bought/sold the bike with out the title?) register and title the vehicle. I have no idea how they would actually know any of that information. I was hoping since technically this was disposed of, although improperly in a private dumpster, it may be easier to obtain a salvaged title. I'm wading through Wisconsin legislation and DOT forms at the moment.

[Honda?]

If all else fails pick up a title for something very similar and register it as that. Then if you get caught claim ignorance. 

[hoodellyhoo]

It might be worth your while to see if you can get a bill of sale from the garbage company?

The only other worthwhile info in the article stated that you should ask a number of DOT employees what to do. You'll probably get a number of different answeres andsome may be easier than others.

There was another WI member who was able to get a title and I seem to remember him having to get the bike in roadworthy condition and then having to get the bike inspected.

[mgbgt89]

I will be riding dirty on one of my bikes. I would be willing to bet 99.5% of cops out there won't be able to distingush between an unbadged CB200 and a cb350 which is what the registration states. I've only heard of someone getting their vin ran once, and that was my buddy in a stripped out 240. The hacked up interior was a red flag, it pretty much looked stolen, and there was no vin plate in the usual spot since it had no dash.

[Bob Wessner]

On Glenn's behalf, I feel it should be noted that some of these suggestions involve breaking the law, an action I'm sure he would not want to see condoned on this web site. One final note, if a rider is ever involved in an accident, whether the rider is at fault or not, I'm sure paperwork will be scrutinized closely. Once your insurance company gets wind of how this was all done, good luck with any liability coverage.

[camelman]

If you can find the previous owner, then get a bill of sale.  If you can't, but you can verify it is not listed as stolen, then get a buddy to write you a bill of sale, and be done with it.  The DMV may require you to get it inspected by a sheriff, but that will be the end of it.  I had one inspected that was out of the system since 1976 (who knows if it was stolen, legit, if any owner ever registered it since 1976, etc).  I had to wait two months until my appointment came up, walked out to the bike with the sheriff, stood there for ten seconds while he inspected it, then walked back in to get my paperwork. 

Camelman

[Shoeboxjoe]

That's the process i was hoping for. The company that owned the dumpster and property it was found on will give me a bill of sale or a notarized letter stating it was found in their dumpster.

I'd guess since this is a trail bike with knobby tires and is really beat, this hasn't been registered for many years. Wisconsin seems a little more strict with vehicle titles though.

[Retro Rocket]

WTF...The transport department in OZ has all those type of details on their system, why should that be the onus of the buyer......ridiculous......Over here they just run the numbers and if all is clear you can register it....

Mick

[Don R]

My buddy inhereted his dads bike with no title, he sent in for a lost title but mistyped the number, an officer came out and checked the number and OK'd it. Then turned him in for the drag car sitting on an open trailer in the back yard because it was not licensed, the city told him it can't sit outside. He was so pizzed he covered it with plywood and called it a yard barn. Sorry for veering off subject but the point is be careful.

[Shoeboxjoe]

Well i spoke with a state trooper today that has gone through a similar process himself. He gave me the number of another trooper in another district that can get the ball rolling. The basic process he described was i have to pay for a bond, something like $250, and the bike sits in limbo for a year giving the original owner an option to claim it. If no one claims it, i get the bike and the bond back i believe. Sounds like a tedious process for a 45 year old scooter...

Another issue that came up from the trooper, since the bike is technically a "trail" bike and does not have the Certified decal on the neck reading "This vehicle conforms to all applicable federal..." that I would never be able to drive it on the street. Even though this has all street legal indicators, lights, and mirrors. Nearest i can tell, this is a 1965 or earlier bike so i don't believe that particular restriction applies.

Another option I've come up with, I called the local police again who ran the VIN/Serial Number and told me there are no records of the serial number in their system. Which means the DMV probably has no records of this bike or past registered owners. I could simply fill out a "lost title" form and see what happens. Although one of the criteria for applying for a lost title is that only the currently registered owner could apply for the title... which there is none.

At the moment i'm waiting for a call back from the Wisconsin state patrol officer who supposedly can assist me in claiming ownership of the bike through the bond process.

[I Zombie]

You're on the right track. I have a friend that fixes old wrecked scooters & gets salvage titles for em. He's also got an in @ the state troopers. If i see him I'll try to get you more info.

[HondaMan]

Basically, found a complete '63 Honda Trail 55 in a dumpster, no title or previous owner information. How can i get this titled? (i'm in Wisconsin btw)

I contacted the local police, they verified it was not listed as stolen but couldn't give me any information other than that.

I was hoping to just someone get a salvaged title. The DMV is no help though and told me i couldn't possibly possess a vehicle without a title because that would be illegal. Anyone been down this path before? Suggestions or advice appreciated.

Right now I'm filling out a form to request current owners information via snail mail. Thanks!

Contact ITS Title online. They worked perfectly for me, 2 times. 

[hahnda]

I've done it twice in WI. Different both times. I think it depends on whose desk it lands on. One was real helpful, the other made it painful.

I still have some of the forms needed to get it done.

What needs to be done - summarized.

• Completed MV-1 form
• Written statement how the vehicle was acquired
• Any copies of ownership proof from previous owner
• Signed bill of sale
• Photos of vehicle
• VIN Certification form filled out by police officer

I got them through with a couple of those missing.

[hoodellyhoo]

As far as ITS is concerened, there is a fellow on another forum from WI and he just went though them. He says he payed $235 and got a Vermont plate and registration, but no title. He's peeved cause that's not good enough to get a title in WI so he basically wasted his money.

[hahnda]

Somehow they must have figured out it was a title service paperwork and didn't want to do it?  By all rights they should do it though. I bought a bike from NY and it didn't have a title because old bikes in NY don't have titles. I did have proof of registration in that state from a previous owner and a bill of sale. That got me a title. Many states are this way, no longer issue titles to older vehicles.