Bikes with no title

[JPaganel]

Apparently, motorcycle titles have a way of disappearing. There are tons of bikes on CL without a title.

Now, when the bike in question is a 4 year old Triumph and the asking price is $700, I have a feeling that thing is seriously hot. However, when we are talking a 25-35 year old Yamaha that doesn't run, I think it's a pretty safe bet it isn't stolen.

Theoretically, there are ways to obtain title if it's missing. I've done this with a car by tracking down the last registered owner and having him order a duplicate. However, I lucked into having his address. With a project bike which changed hands six times it probably isn't a possibility. Minnesota has a "no proof of ownership"  registration, but I have not tried this. https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/dvs/pages/dvs-content-detail.aspx?pageID=638

I have been told this is easy as pie, and I have been told it's next to impossible and expensive.


Who has bought a no-title bike, and what's your experience been like?

[simi_ed]

Who has bought a no-title bike, and what's your experience been like?

Not on your life.  I think they call it "Possession of Stolen Property" IIRC.  No title = no sale.  But I have been called a hard ass ...

[Dads_FJ]

I went to the Rochester Minnesota DMV with pictures of a 1967 Suzuki K11P (80cc street bike) with pictures of all four sides and pictures of the VIN and engine number.  I said I had no bill of sale because I bought the bike at a bike show in Ohio for parts, which was true.  I filled out their form and 4 weeks later I had a title in my name.  Works for older bikes only but I don't recall the cut-off.

[Capn Ron]

I met a guy from Georgia last week and he said he's re-titled cars in state.  Says it's not much more than showing up and signing a statement that you didn't steal it.     Can't imagine it's even possible in California.   

[rktmanfj]

I did it on my $150 XT 3fiddy a few years ago, after I had tho insure it wasn't VIN run to ensure it wasn't hot.

The Indiana BMV procedure for 'no-title, less-than-$2500-in-value' vehicles is pretty straightforward.

[Bminder]

Every state is different. Your best bet is to go down to your local title office and talk to them and have them spell it out very clearly.

[andyb]

Every state is different. Your best bet is to go down to your local title office and talk to them and have them spell it out very clearly.

+1

We have the winner.

[Bminder]

Every state is different. Your best bet is to go down to your local title office and talk to them and have them spell it out very clearly.

+1

We have the winner.

The law about this in Wyoming is very clear that you can't just buy a vehicle from someone with a lost title, go down to the court house and get a replacement title.  You have to have a VIN inspection done at the Sheriff's Dept or Police station to make sure it's not stolen, and the person who the vehicle was last titled to has to apply for a lost title replacement in whatever state it was titled in.

And if you try to go the abandoned vehicle route, you have to sign an affidavit that it was abandoned on YOUR property for so many days (90, 180, I can't remember) and you have to swear that it wasn't in someone else's possession before you took possession and you are just claiming it was abandoned so you can get a replacement title.  So you would have to perjure yourself to get the title.

So my state makes it almost impossible to get a replacement title for anyone but the person who last title the vehicle.
Your state may vary.

...

[Mark Olson]

Ok , semi-related story.

I was living in phoenix AZ, back in 91 . I purchased a dirt bike Maico 490 from a guy I met at the wash . (wash is the water overflow drainage channel that runs thru town and is 1/4 mile wide and 40 miles long full of sand and dirt and burms jumps etc. you git the idea.)

so the bike was running like crap so I bought it on site for 100.00 bucks. it was a 90 . got a bill of sale.
I fixed the problem , crank key sheared off.
rode the damn thing and had a great time .
I sold it to my neighbor for 800.00 and the very first time he goes to ride it the cops are at the wash and checking engine numbers and vins.
well it turns out stolen and cops come to my door , I produce bill of sale and think this is over.
yeah I gave my neighbor his money back.

I get a notice to appear in court and the real owner is trying to sue me for damages to the bike.
I show up with the bill of sale and lic # of guy I got it from.
I got off the hook.

so if you buy that bike , get the sellers lic# vehicle # address and all that to protect yourself.

[simi_ed]

Ok , semi-related story.

I was living in phoenix AZ, back in 91 . I purchased a dirt bike Maico 490 from a guy I met at the wash . (wash is the water overflow drainage channel that runs thru town and is 1/4 mile wide and 40 miles long full of sand and dirt and burms jumps etc. you git the idea.)

so the bike was running like crap so I bought it on site for 100.00 bucks. it was a 90 . got a bill of sale.
I fixed the problem , crank key sheared off.
rode the damn thing and had a great time .
I sold it to my neighbor for 800.00 and the very first time he goes to ride it the cops are at the wash and checking engine numbers and vins.
well it turns out stolen and cops come to my door , I produce bill of sale and think this is over.
yeah I gave my neighbor his money back.



I get a notice to appear in court and the real owner is trying to sue me for damages to the bike.
I show up with the bill of sale and lic # of guy I got it from.
I got off the hook.

so if you buy that bike , get the sellers lic# vehicle # address and all that to protect yourself.

Hmmm ...  I bet they charged you with "Possession of Stole Property".  Now where did I hear that ...

Glad it worked out for you Mark!