How to Title a Bike the Right Way

[HiroProtagonist]

Hey All,

Just wanted to let you know that I followed these instructions and it worked like a dream.  Within 20 days I was riding legally in Washington state for $70.  Saved me about $200 and a 6-8 week wait for an inspection - one that I probably would not have passed considering my blinkers are not currently wired up!

http://www.chinonthetank.com/2014/04/get-a-title-with-a-vermont-registration/

[lmarshall]

Did the same with my CB750 last year when my brother couldn't find the paperwork on the bike after it had been in his storage unit for 3 years. Worked like a charm in Florida.

[HiroProtagonist]

Awesome!  It was terrifying sending it off - particularly as there aren't any recent examples of people saying it worked!

[hdscarbro]

I've used a the "Vermont registration" technique a couple of times to get old bikes titled and back on the road in Massachusetts. For bikes of the right age, it's a great money saving bureaucratic bypass. In Massachusetts, if you don't have a previous registration or title, you're pretty much SOL.

[Mydlyfkryzis]

The only problem with buying and untitled bike is if it is a stolen bike......Then those plans go awry. 

Make sure the bike you are buying is not stolen.....

[irk miller]

I'm curious as to how many threads there are on this. 

[CALfeRacer]

I think I'm going to do this for my old project... It's getting late in the summer and I don't think I'll have time to get the inspection done, and really don't want to deal with the 3-year temporary process we have in WA. Glad to see it worked recently for someone else in WA. Let us know when you do the title transfer if they're weird about it.

[PLAZACYCLEJOSH]

For all my Utah members here is a link for Utah's system which is pretty easy and works quite well

http://dmv.utah.gov/titles/transfer-without-title

Also in Utah before 1986 they did not require titles for motorcycles so titling barn finds is usually pretty easy

[HiroProtagonist]

Yeah, I always call State Patrol with the VIN before buying.  It's an easy, but vital, step.  $74 total for the registration (including tabs for a year) was something I was pretty happy about, though.

[HiroProtagonist]

One thing of note for Washington is that you need a Cop to come by and verify the VIN and give you a business card.  Vermont will call them when they're processing the paperwork and just say "Hey did this guy really have this bike with this VIN" and the Cop will say "Yes", and then you rejoice.