SaltCityCafe
Been Around the Block
Crazy the hoops you guys have to jump through. Here in Utah you just do the lost or missing title paperwork. It's easy peazy, had to do it for my bike
1sttimer said:Ok this is the Vermont way. It really is the easiest thing possible. Just got on the phone with them. Follow these steps exactly:
1. Go to the VT DMV website and download form TA-VD-119. Print it out and have it in front of you.
2. Call the main office at the VT DMV and tell them that you want to register your bike through the post. They could give a crap you live in a different state. It's pretty much free money for them.
Edit: call the Montpelier location at 802-828-2000. They are very friendly.
3. On the phone, ask them what sections of the form you need to fill out. They will ask you really easy questions to figure out what you're trying to do. Just tell them you're trying to register your motorcycle. They'll tell you from there what to fill out.
4. Tell them the make and model of your bike. They will ask you how much you paid for it. They will look up your bike in a big book of vintage bikes and tell you the book value. They charge you about 6% of that number plus the tag fee. Mine ended up being $96 and some change.
5. Ask them where to mail the form. I can't remember the address off my head.
6. Fill out the form the way they tell you, and all of the sections they tell you to. You will not fill out all the sections most likely.
7. Put the filled out form, a check with the amount they tell you and a copy of your bill of sale in the mail.
8. 5 days later you will receive your plate in the mail. A few days after that you will receive a transferable bill of sale and registration.
They won't provide you a title. That's not what it's about I don't think. They don't title motorcycles over 15 years old or something anyway. They provide you a "transferable registration." You take this to your local DMV, tell them you have a Vermont transferable registration and insurance and "would like to pay your taxes and get your bike registered in your state."
Think of it this way. Someone buys a bike in Vermont and didn't get a title. He/She moves to a title state, goes to the DMV and tries to register in the new state. What are they going to do? Tell him no and that he can't do it? Tell him he has to sell his bike because there is nothing they can do? No, not at all. There has to be a provision. Whether or not your DMV understands this is the problem. One DMV location in my state has no idea what they are doing and feel I'm trying to pull a fast one over on them. Another DMV in the next town is more than happy to do it. Just got to call around and ask questions.
Hope that helps.
Greyson
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carnivorous chicken said:Appreciate the step-by-step on this! I'm buying a 350F and the guy has been looking for the title for 3 weeks -- he's got an old shop and has mountains of paperwork. He's only dropped our agreed upon price by $100 since he can't (yet) find the title (but is continuing to look for it), but it sounds like I can get a VT reg. for about that much (and I want the bike). And he's got someone in NH who is offering the same and wants it too, but I get first dibs. I'll give him another 2 weeks after I pick up the bike, then I'm following these steps. I'll let you know how it goes. I've gotten an MA title on a RI bike that only had registration, so I know that shouldn't be a problem.
carnivorous chicken said:Waited my two weeks, guy still hasn't found the title, so I just talked to the VT DMV folks. Printed the form, filled out what they told me to, enclosed the bill of sale, and I mailed it off. Crossing my fingers. It was $44 for registration and $30 for tax for a 1973 CB350F. Will report back when I either get my registration or whatever else happens next...
crazypj said:That's cheap, it's been costing me closer to $220.00 to buy a frame with title, tags will be extra when I get around to it
1sttimer said:It's still not a title. It's a transferable registration. You still have to take it to your DMV, pay MORE taxes and title fees. Then you get the title. All said, you're better off buying a titled frame like you are.
crazypj said:Ah, probably going to work out about same a frame with title eventually then?
focusinprogress said:to buy a frame with title you still have to go and pay tax/title fee to put that in your name, whereas with the VT route you already technically have it in your name so you wait for the VT registration to expire, go to your local DMV, and register there. you end up only "losing" the cost of transfering the VT paperwork to your state's title. Some states you may not pay tax since you already "own" it and it's not considered a sale.
focusinprogress said:example: I live in NY....
if I go buy a titled frame for argument's sake $200.....I now have a title that's been signed over to me and it's considered a sale.
I take this to the DMV and process a registration, title, and plates.
Title is $50
tax on $200 is $17.50
Plate and 1yr Registration comes to $80.
This comes to $347.50 to get a title in my name for a non-titled otherwise perfect motorcycle, and I have to swap everything over to this new frame.
If I go the VT route, and it costs $74 like just recently cited, I can run the VT plate for the first year instead of paying the $97.50 it would cost if I already owned the bike in NY. Then when that expires, I take the VT transferrable reg to the NY DMV and register it here, while transferring the paperwork to a NY title. This would then be $50 for the title and $80 for a plate and 1yr reg.
that totals $204 the VT route, and additionally wouldn't need an inspection the first year while running the VT plate, which is an additional $11 saved. I also don't have to swap every part from one frame to another.
I'm sure this doesn't add up the same in other states, but in NY it's a no-brainer unless you can get a titled frame for less than $150 and the man-hours associated with swapping everything other doesn't play a factor for you.
carnivorous chicken said:Registration actually came today, with a plate tab, so looks like I'm all set. When I'm ready I will make the transfer to MA and go from there.