these 50% of bikes advertised online without titles....

jimw

Looking online for a bike, it seems like 50% or more have "no title." If whoever is selling the bike is the legitimate owner, which they are unless they're pretty stupid, they should be able to get a dupilcate title, or if it's necessary, they could look up some heirs and get them to sign it over, if it "came with the barn." Or at least take some steps toward get a salvage or rebuilt vehicle title. To me it would mean a possible purchase, to them it would mean 10x the selling price. Very frustrating, these people.

P.S. 50% of the bikes I'm looking at that is. Newer ones I assume mostly come with a title .

toycollector10 · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 11:42 pm Post subject:

But it gets better. I live in New Zealand and buy a bike for sale in Milton, Atlanta, that has a "clear" title, as advertised on eBay. Bike arrives three months later with no title. The seller said that in Georgia a bill of sale suffices for a bike that is older than a 1986 model.

Yeah, that really helped me out. It took six months of snail-mail dealing with the retards at the Atlanta DMV. They wanted the bike inspected by a State Trooper. I'm in New Zealand FGS. There was no effort, understanding or attempt at good will to solve my problem with ownership of the bike.

And on top of that the bike was totally misrepresented. I will never buy a bike sight unseen again. It's been an expensive bloody disaster. But it's sorted out now.

What you need to do if you are buying on ebay and the vendor says "clear title" is to not bid until he posts up a picture of the title.

MR.CHocko · Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 3:57 am Post subject:

This is a state by state issue. Here in Connecticut (where I live), any bike 15 years or older does not need a title to be registered. So you have to be take that into consideration when purcahseing a older bike. If you do buy a bike out of state and the sellers state does not require a title, and the buyers state requires a title, it is the buyers responibility for the title not the sellers.
Sorry, if I am little harsh but I have sold a few vintage bikes and have run into problems from buyers about a title. As always be prepared when buying a vintage bike outstate and on ebay. If you need to get the number of a good title search firm.

jimw · Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 5:50 am Post subject:

In my state, according to the local dmv, if you don't have a title signed over to you and notarized, you don't own the vehicle. Period. It doesn't matter if it's 1000 years old. If you moved here with it from CT, you wouldn't be able to register it for the road. In CT you owned it, but here you don't. No "title search firm" can help. If you mean somebody who creates a new title for the bike in their state and signs it over to me, the local dmv says that's illegal for me to do. I don't think even a salvage title can be gotten without the regular title.

smi481 · Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 4:29 pm Post subject: Look before you leap!

Your correct JimW.

The Bill of Sale vs. Clear Title problem has been around for
some time. The Triumph Owners Group advisor addressed it
last year -

"Should I buy a nice used 1968 Bonneville, if the seller will
only give me a hand written Bill of Sale from another state?"

Once you purchase a motorcycle without a title, and payment has been
made to the seller, the new buyer is responsible for the vehicle,
including obtaining a proper title.

Many multiple bike sellers admit that they do not NOT go through the title
application steps because they do NOT want to pay their sales tax, in their
state, which is typically required when you try to obtain a title - i.e. 7% in
California, NJ & TN = 7% of a $6,000 purchase = $420.00 cash for
one bike. Imagine the cost they would incur if you they sold 6 bikes
a year on Ebay and apply for titles for each, before they sell a vehicle?
Their theory - Let the separate new BUYERS worry about it!

Or because there is SOME problem/reason
with the paperwork in the first place. When you buy such an
untitled vehicle - you buy the problems too.

So the burden falls on the new owner of an untitled Triumph to
apply for an Official CLEAR title.

And if YOUR Secretary of State does a LEIN National Title Search,
which 46 states currently perform, and they find the vehicle is still
titled to a previous owner, perhaps the fellow who sold it to YOUR
seller, guess WHO has to try to clear up that MESS?

In our opinion, if a seller doesn't want to, or will NOT apply for or
produce a clear title for you, the new buyer, there is a REASON.

Typically, these sellers have owned the vehicle for years, taken
abundant time to prepare the bike for sale. Cleaning it, repairing little
problems, taking multiple pictures, etc. So WHY didn't they take care
of "first things first - obtaining a Clear title in their name?"

Is their time, standing in line a the Secretary of States Office, more
valuable than yours? NO it isn't. But many want the new buyer
to clean up their mess.

If the seller tells you there will be "NO PROBLEM" obtaining
a Clear State Title, for the bike you just "have to have," ask him
to do it BEFORE the sale. Or simply go to YOUR Secretary
of States office ahead of time and ask just how "easy" it will be
to obtain a Certified motor vehicle Title .... if you produce just a hand
written Bill of Sale .... from an out of state seller?? It could be the best
20 minute investment you can make .... before you send
away your money.

There is nothing like having the Triumph of your
dreams in your garage and a CLEAR Official Title in your hand.

Buyer beware still applies in 2007.

Arthur Weisburg