Topic: No title? No problem! (In Manitoba)

[jneuf]

I recently acquired a new to me 750K1 that I'll be dragging home tomorrow, which I purchased with a bill of sale only. Needless to say, I was a little terrified of the process in which I'd have to go through to obtain a title.

Things I didn't have going for me:
- Owner I bought the bike from never actually insured the bike;
- Owner I bought the bike from never actually transferred over the title to his name;
- Bike had not been insured since 1985

One thing I did have going for me:
- Owner I bought the bike from was willing to be quite cooperative if there were issues.

So, I took my bill of sale and marched into the Manitoba Public Insurance office today expecting a run around...I didn't know what to expect. I thought, however, I would be proactive by starting the process now, just in case the bike was ready to ride by summer/fall  and that I might be close to getting something by then...

Anyway, after marching in, and speaking with the lovely individual I was assigned to, I walked out with a title in my hand in about 15 minutes, and only $15 poorer....

So just a heads up for anyone else here in MB, don't be afraid to buy a bike minus a title!

[brooze72]

Seem to recall another member from MB went thru hell last year with that process, guess you got the right office/person!

[Prospect]

Was the VIN in their computer system?  Do you know how far back their records go?

[jneuf]

VIN did not come up in the system. I'm not sure how far back the records go, I've heard someone say It's only like 15 years or so, but I can't verify that.

[Prospect]

Interesting.  I'm trying to find a loop hole to potentially register a bike with no papers.  Ontario is slowly becoming  a nightmare. 

[750K]

B.C. Is not to bad from what I hear, it's a couple weeks of waiting and under $20 a bike for the title search. I'm about to go and jump through the hoops to get the 72 750 I picked up put in my name.

[jneuf]

Prospect: What is the process like in Ontario? What types of hoops are you having to jump though?

I think it's sad, because I'm sure in a lot of places there are great bikes sitting without titles, but they're essentially worthless...

[Prospect]

If you find a bike with no papers you have to prove to the ministry that the previous owner isn't interested in the bike anymore or is dead.  Their system goes back to 1982 or so so all of our SOHC's are not in the system if they were abandoned a long time ago.  So how do you prove where the bike is from if there is no record of it at all.  I haven't been given a straight answer on that.

If they have the record of the previuos owner in the system it is up to you to search him out and get him to give you the registration or if he is dead then you need to see your lawyer and work through the estate etc.  BIG bucks. 

[jneuf]

That's insane! Perhaps you need to write me a bill of sale so I can get you a clear MB title!   

[Spiider]

It's actually not that difficult here in Ontario either....tip, check into the "storage liens" act. 
There is a company in Windsor Ontario that will walk you through the process...for $200.

[mrrch]

I did not have too much trouble getting a title for my bike. I had a receipt from who I bought it from( he never registered it/parts bike), got a vehicle abstract from the MTO(no history found/3-4 week wait), filled out an affidivit and had it notarized and every thing went pretty smoothly at the license office.

[Prospect]

I did not have too much trouble getting a title for my bike. I had a receipt from who I bought it from( he never registered it/parts bike), got a vehicle abstract from the MTO(no history found/3-4 week wait), filled out an affidivit and had it notarized and every thing went pretty smoothly at the license office.

Really?  That sounds easy.  Clearly there isn't much consistency between MTO offices.  I was told to do a lot more research as I mentioned in my previous post.  Once I heard lawyer and estate I knew if would be a lengthy and expensive venture. 

[Prospect]

It's actually not that difficult here in Ontario either....tip, check into the "storage liens" act. 
There is a company in Windsor Ontario that will walk you through the process...for $200.

Thanks!  I'll look into it. 

[754]

 So if I found a  KO in Manitoba, you could maybe regiter it, then sell it to me like a complete bike ..?

[jneuf]

Hey Frank,

Check your PMs

[HondanutRider]

I don't believe it is that difficult in Ontario - at least from my experience. 

A few years ago all I needed was a notarized description of the bike (eg. year, model, where & when obtained, VIN) and a copy of the bill of sale to me.  Without a bill of sale, it probably would have sufficed to include on the notarized description.  What the MTO want to know is that the vehicle was originally sold and approved for road use in Ontario as a new vehicle, and then what you paid for it so that they can charge you the required tax.  Fortunately they do not need an appraised value (yet) for older motorcycles, as they now do for autos. 

This process gets the vehicle registered in your name with an UNFIT ownership, and in order to get it licensed for the road as a FIT vehicle, it will require the Safety Inspection by a qualified mechanic.

[mrrch]

Sometimes it does come down to the person on the other side of the counter and their mood.