Topic: Help needed, what's the difference between "TITLE" and "REGISTRATION"?

[cb750k7]

Hi friends,
A friend of mine just bought a 1980 GL1100 from EBAY.  The buyer wrote in EBAY that the bike has "clear title" in the "title" section on the web page.
Apparently,  the bike has only registration not a title.
The bike is from MAINE,  and the seller says that in MAINE ,  a bike older then 15 years does not require a title.

So,
Please help with the following questions:
1) Is it true that the bike can be legit without a title?
2) If not,  what does it take to have a valid title for this bike?

In order to import this bike to Israel,  the local authorities require a signed clear title to produce an Import Licence.

Thank you all for your comments.

Cheers,

Jona
 

[mick750F]

   First of all the seller of the bike lied about it having a clear title as it has no title. For that I'd file a grievance with ebay. Second, I'm pretty sure about what the seller says about bikes not needing a title in Maine if it's over 15 years old is true however this varies from state to state. In Massachusetts for example you need a title or you won't be able to register it. The bike could be perfectly legit, it just doesn't have a title. A title is a certificate of ownership and many states require one to register anything. Some states consider  a bill of sale proof enough on older vehicles. A registration is more than anything proof that you've paid the proper bureaucratic fees in order to have the vehicle on the road.
 
   One way to get a title is to go through a title service. Basically you sell them the bike, they obtain a title for it in their state and then sell it back to you. You could also do this privately with a friend in a state where they allow you to title a vehicle without a title, some states do this, some do not. Also, some states do not recognize a title from a title service, Massachusetts being one, so you have to consider that when buying a non-titled bike. Don't know how Israel feels about it or if they'd even care.

   Ain't bureaucracy grand?  Good luck to your friend, not sure what they're going to have to go through to get the bike legit in Israel.

Mike

[cb750k7]

TNX Mike,  will forward the info.
We must have a clear title to obtain import licence.
Jona

[Alan F.]

All of the info you'll likely need can be found at the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles http://www.maine.gov/sos/bmv/index.html

I'm uncertain if one can even request a title on a vehicle 15 years old or older in Maine, a phone call may be in order.
The Telephone Directory page http://www.maine.gov/sos/bmv/newnum.html lists the main phone number and which extension to dial for your specific issue.
Dial the Main Number (207) 624-9000; then enter 1; then enter extension number 52138 for Titles.

Here's a link to the form requesting a duplicate title (found near the bottom of the Forms and Applications page) http://www.maine.gov/sos/bmv/forms/duptitle.pdf

Best of luck, i hope they can help you.
Alan

[cb750k7]

TNX Alan.

[cobra2411]

You might try International Title in Las Vegas NV. I haven't used them but I've heard good things even from people that live in states that are really picky about titles.

[ferroussphinx]

okay i know nothing about israel would you please give me insight i know this has nothing to do with a motorcycle but i am 29 and have no clue about the country

[Spanner 1]

I used I.T.S. on the 750 Automatic I got with no paperwork.... several owners bought/sold it without ever fixing it and trying to put it on the road legally.... Anyway, I.T.S. got me a registration in Maine and a 'plate' good for 1 year, which I rode around on. Lots of folks here in TN said 'your a long way from home' when they saw the Maine plate!  When the year was up I just took the registration to the TN DMV and signed a paper saying ' This vehicle does not require a title in it's State of Registration' and presto got a TN plate and a crispy new Title in the mail 2 weeks later..... but to try and help the OP, I could have got the TN 'local' Title immediatly and 'gave up' the Maine plate right away if I wanted to..... So, if you want to send me the Registration I can get a TN plate for $79 and in 2 to 3 weeks get a new TN Title for this bike.. the Title will show the correct manufacture date and frame/ motor numbers btw.... Bottom line : if your bike has a valid Maine Registration it can be Titled here in Tennessee no problem   ( caveat; unless something has drastically changed here lately that I'm not aware of ).

[cb750k7]

Thank you all for your help.

The bike has a valid registration,  and it seems that maybe it might satisfy the authorities. It is now holidays in Israel so no one can be  consulted until next week.
Will update when I will have news.

Cheers,
Jona

[ferroussphinx]

Thank you all for your help.

The bike has a valid registration,  and it seems that maybe it might satisfy the authorities. It is now holidays in Israel so no one can be  consulted until next week.
Will update when I will have news.

Cheers,
Jona

hnolidays in israel    what holidays               jesus holidays???

[cb750k7]

Hi ferroussphinx

The week-long Sukkot festival, one of the Biblical pilgrimages to Jerusalem, will be celebrated this year from September 23-30. The sukkah (booth) commemorates the temporary, portable dwellings in which the Jewish people lived during their 40 years of wandering in the desert after their liberation from slavery in Egypt.


Slightly off topic,  you may find a little info in the following sites:
http://www.goisrael.com/Tourism_Eng/

Best regards,

Jona

[ferroussphinx]

Hi ferroussphinx

The week-long Sukkot festival, one of the Biblical pilgrimages to Jerusalem, will be celebrated this year from September 23-30. The sukkah (booth) commemorates the temporary, portable dwellings in which the Jewish people lived during their 40 years of wandering in the desert after their liberation from slavery in Egypt.


Slightly off topic,  you may find a little info in the following sites:
http://www.goisrael.com/Tourism_Eng/

Best regards,

Jona

   i sir am never off topic    gosh  giggle on my end  i am sorry to intrude i have always been a curious soul    i like all things that  i do not know about so to speak    and by that i mean  i would love to get to know your country better through you byour thoughts and opinions   than to read about them  and of course i do not wish to offend any one  here or reading this at all especially you sire     thank you for your time thoughts and wisdom       

[cb750k7]

Hi again ferroussphinx

I would be more than happy to assist.

Please send me your email in PM and I will try to answer your question the best I can.
Cheers,
Jona

[OWilde]

If you do get a title from the state of Maine,  post the procedure here please!

Maine does not title motor vehicles under a certain CC--I think 300CC (the brand new Ninja 250 I bought in 2005 didn't come with a title)--and over a certain age.  The Bill Of Sale,  is treated as title in these situations.

Here in Maine we go to our local town hall to register/pay vehicle tax(this can be a PITA as some smaller towns only have the offices open a few hours a week)--I've called the Maine DMV,  explained even though my car/bike does not require a title for ownership transfer that I wanted one,  in case I would like to sell to an out of state purchaser at some time in the furture.  I was told it wasn't possible,  by several different DMV officials,  though each had a differing explanation as to why this was not possible.

I bought an 87 BMW 325e from a guy in New Jersey this past July--went to register here in Maine,  and they didn't even take the NJ title from me.  Just handed it back after they took the VIN and car description.

If/when you figure this out post back here....

Toda Raba,

Geoff

[Spanner 1]

Not sure if your refering to my post above, but the Title Service got me a registration ( not Title ) in Maine and then the registration got me a Title here in TN......

[j squared]

About to deal with this tomorrow, registering my bike for the first time here in GA.  No title, too old to get a new one, and a very VERY brief bill of sale from the PO.

"I sold this bike to this dude."


A cop or tax commission official has to visually inspect the bike for the VIN and write it on my notorized form before I can get a tag, so hopefully he doesn't find anything funny.  Crossing my fingers!