All the legalities of buying a bike

[quark]

Hey so I'm about to pick up a '79 honda cb750 in the next few weeks if all goes well. This will be the first used vehicle I, or anyone in my family, has ever purchased that won't be through a dealership so I don't really have too much info on the process.

My questions are:
What should I be on the look out for as far as it potentially being a stolen bike?
What official documents must change hands?
How do I then register the motorcycle under my own name?

Any help will be much appreciated, I just want to get my bike and get on the road ASAP.

 

[Big R]

The title is the biggest thing. What state are you from?

If the seller has the title in his own name, it's 100 percent legit. If there is no title, then it depends where you live - some states may not require a title for older vehicles.

 

[soichiro]

Look that there are no lien holders on the title either, because that means the bank owns it. That's what is meant by a "clean" title - all paid off.

If the title is not clean, then walk away. Make the seller pay it off first.

But it would be hard to imagine a 30+ year old bike that is still not paid for.... :

 

[quark]

The title is the biggest thing. What state are you from?

If the seller has the title in his own name, it's 100 percent legit. If there is no title, then it depends where you live - some states may not require a title for older vehicles.

I'm from Ontario, Canada

So aside from the title there is no important paperwork which I must receive from the previous owner?

 

[Tim]

You'll need a Used Vehicle Information Package (UVIP) which you can buy yourself online at the MOT website with the VIN of the bike (you don't have to own a vehicle to get the UVIP but you do need the VIN). Typically it's the sellers obligation to provide this at time of sale as it documents the current and previous owners of the bike and identifies if there are any liens against it.

That's it - it even comes with a handy bill of sale form on the end to act as a receipt. Keep in mind none of these old bikes have any 'blue book' value, so you're gonna pay HST on the price you write on the sales receipt.

So:

-Ownership with the current owner's signature on it (You can fill in your info later - just need his signature)

- UVIP - doesn't need to be signed or anything unless you're using it as the sales receipt

- Sales receipt - "I Joe Blow sell to Jane Doe a 1979 Honda CB750K VIN AGFDUI409712340978 for the sum of $350.00". Dated and signed Joe Blow and Jane Doe - One copy for each party.

That's it. You'll need a saftey cert and insurance as well to get plates / sticker, otherwise it becomes titled as 'unfit' until you get a safety and go back to the MOT.