Vermont registration for lost title bikes

[Mike Sr]

A lot of you will know this already, but some may not. I bought a GR650 Tempter with no title a few weeks ago. After 23 years of crud, cobwebs, failed gaskets, a battery and regulator were attended to, I applied for a Vermont registration. It took 3 weeks to get my pretty green and white license plate and registration. Vermont does not title older vehicles, just registers them. The process is not too complicated. I needed a police officer to do a signed VIN check. A bill of sale(not notarized is accepted but recommended), A copy of the NADA "GOOD" condition value page from the NADA value book (on line) and the appropriate Vermont application gets mailed in. A fee of $48 plus sales tax of 6% of that NADA value (less than $50 in my case) got me in business. I live in Illinois(spit) and now I can take the Vermont registration to my local DMV and transfer the VT registration into an Illinois title. Get all the forms necessary from the Vermont motor vehicle website. A word of advice if you are purchasing a bike with no title. Do VIN check before you buy it. Bring the Vermont application and bill of sale with you when you purchase it. The former owner must sign the application.


This is pretty much what title companies will do for you and charge you a fee to do it. You sign a power of attorney and they do this all in your name. If you follow the Vermont instructions, it works. I imagine the state makes a pretty penny with all the people doing this for 15 year old (or more) bike and cars.


Mike Sr.

 

[chuck hahn]

So may i ask you this question?? Would you be willing to make a few bucks and do this for guys like me. Oklahoma ( far as I have been able to find out ) doesnt accept the Vermont registration deal.

 

[Frankenzuki]

You should double check that Chuck.I'm not sure how a state DMV cannot accept another states valid registration. If the state does not issue titles, it does not issue titles. I think you would be good with it. I'm in CT, I've had a couple guys at work get vehicles registered here thru the same process in VT.

Here's a vin check website. I've used it before, seems to be accurate, i checked the VIN of a Bike i knew was totaled and it came back as being total loss. https://www.nicb.org/theft_and_fraud_awareness/vincheck

 

[chuck hahn]

As far as I know is what i said about the OK system. from what i understand your only recourse is the Title 42 process and its a huge pain in the rear jumping through the circus hoops they have set up.

 

[mnferwerda]

Good info Mike, and pretty much what I've found when researching for a GS850 that i just bought.

I thought you also had to get an inspection too? Maybe I misread the requirements.

I also have a GR650. It is a fun bike. Too bad they never really caught on in the US. I've done a lot of work to get it all sorted out and now runs quite well for a 30 something bike.

 

[Buffalo Bill]

I was trying to get a title for my 1990 Katana 750, and was almost able except some P-O had in fact ground off the engine numbers. Would not pass with that funky business.
Lucky I found a frame with title and bought that.
The unbolt and rebolt transfer process went so fast and easy I can't remember doing it, only remember spending a couple days spray painting the titled frame silver.
Still riding the bike.

 

[tkent02]

Chuck, I've been doing it for years, on several bikes. It's my understanding that other states HAVE to respect the fact that Vermont doesn't title older motorcycles. They may have to go look it up in the big Green Weenie in back, they may bitch and moan, may go get some supervisor or manager, they may act like you are a criminal, but that are required to issue the registration and if you state has them, a title.

 

[chuck hahn]

Tom...I have been searching the Oklahoma DMV site and cant find any information on if they recognise the registrations from states that dont issue a actual title. Dont know but i guess i can stop in one of the several offices in my area and ask questions.

 

[Mike Sr]

They will accept it. From what I have read. the only state that gave any grief is New Jersey. Several years ago I went with a service that got me a Vermont registration. An Illinois title application then went smoothly. I am posting a link where I learned about this loophole. It is a few years old and the registration price is not current, but the info is very good and entertaining.

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

Sorry, I should have posted this first.

Mike Sr.

 

[Guest]

They will accept it. From what I have read. the only state that gave any grief is New Jersey. Several years ago I went with a service that got me a Vermont registration. An Illinois title application then went smoothly. I am posting a link where I learned about this loophole. It is a few years old and the registration price is not current, but the info is very good and entertaining.

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

Sorry, I should have posted this first.

Mike Sr.

That info was for small displacement bikes.
They have another more-recent posting for bikes over 300cc: http://www.chinonthetank.com/2016/03/how-to-get-a-motorcycle-title/

 

[Guest]

Tom...I have been searching the Oklahoma DMV site and cant find any information on if they recognise the registrations from states that dont issue a actual title. Dont know but i guess i can stop in one of the several offices in my area and ask questions.

There is no information just do it and it will work. Huge pain in the aZZ and the DMV people will look at you like you have a third arm or something but eventually they will go get a big book that tells the difference from state to state. Keep in mind it's not free or anything. They go off book value (vermont) for their sales tax and even if you paid a 5? that means nothing. If you paid a $100 and book is $1000 you pay the sales tax on $1000 period. It can damn near be a wash and save a bunch of hassle to just do the typical bonded title.

 

[chuck hahn]

OK doesnt have a bonded title system. If they did I would go that way as I did that in Texas and it was a cake walk.

 

[ShadowFocus603]

NH is much the same as Vermont for requirements. I can take a bike with only a bill of sale, have local PD vin check it ($10) then register bike and apply for title ($27). My reg usually cost $35 or so on the older Suzuki's, my CBR was $60. So all told I can reg and title pretty much any bike title or not to start with for less than $100.

 

[Mike Sr]

As far as I know, Vermont is the only state that allows out of state residents to register in their state and do the whole process by mail. I won't be afraid of another lost title bike/barn find as long as I check the VIN for theft. It is still another cost to consider on the purchase price. I'd still rather have the title and not jump through the required hoops, but it is a viable alternative.

Mike Sr.

 

[Jedz123]

NH is much the same as Vermont for requirements. I can take a bike with only a bill of sale, have local PD vin check it ($10) then register bike and apply for title ($27). My reg usually cost $35 or so on the older Suzuki's, my CBR was $60. So all told I can reg and title pretty much any bike title or not to start with for less than $100.

Not true anymore on anything 2000 or newer. I hear if it's 2000 or newer regrades of age you need a title now. My brother in-law bought a 2001 Buel without title and is now having a hell of a time for the only way to register is with title...

Vermont is awesome. The guys at the DMV actually love it when you walk in with a hand written bill of sale.

 

[sam000lee]

What exactly does the VIN check involve? Do they match the engine/frame VIN #'s or just look at the VIN on your frame and look it up in their database?

I have an untitled frame with the engine in my other (titled) frame that I want to title and then build on and would prefer not to put the engine in just for show.

 

[tkent02]

In Colorado they just read the VIN off the frame and write it on an official looking piece of paper. No looking up anything, no engine numbers.

 

[Guest]

In Colorado they just read the VIN off the frame and write it on an official looking piece of paper. No looking up anything, no engine numbers.

Wow, you guys have it easy. Here you bring in the bike....intact. Right down to the seat being on the bike, tank on the bike and headlight MUST be on the bike. They right the number down but they DO run it into the computer to check for stolens. Pay your $15 and on your way. Been refused an inspection twice now, once I rode the bike down but headlight was gone, once I trailered a honda down but had the tank off because it was in the process of paint

 

[mnferwerda]

Mialing address?

Mialing address?

Curios as the where you sent your forms to? I assume the main office would be best.

Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles
120 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05603-0001

A lot of you will know this already, but some may not. I bought a GR650 Tempter with no title a few weeks ago. After 23 years of crud, cobwebs, failed gaskets, a battery and regulator were attended to, I applied for a Vermont registration. It took 3 weeks to get my pretty green and white license plate and registration. Vermont does not title older vehicles, just registers them. The process is not too complicated. I needed a police officer to do a signed VIN check. A bill of sale(not notarized is accepted but recommended), A copy of the NADA "GOOD" condition value page from the NADA value book (on line) and the appropriate Vermont application gets mailed in. A fee of $48 plus sales tax of 6% of that NADA value (less than $50 in my case) got me in business. I live in Illinois(spit) and now I can take the Vermont registration to my local DMV and transfer the VT registration into an Illinois title. Get all the forms necessary from the Vermont motor vehicle website. A word of advice if you are purchasing a bike with no title. Do VIN check before you buy it. Bring the Vermont application and bill of sale with you when you purchase it. The former owner must sign the application.


This is pretty much what title companies will do for you and charge you a fee to do it. You sign a power of attorney and they do this all in your name. If you follow the Vermont instructions, it works. I imagine the state makes a pretty penny with all the people doing this for 15 year old (or more) bike and cars.


Mike Sr.

 

[BurntKittyForge]

Not true anymore on anything 2000 or newer. I hear if it's 2000 or newer regrades of age you need a title now. My brother in-law bought a 2001 Buel without title and is now having a hell of a time for the only way to register is with title...

Vermont is awesome. The guys at the DMV actually love it when you walk in with a hand written bill of sale.

There's some law regarding abandon vehicles too.(In probably EVERY state) For example: "It was in yard when we moved in and previous homeowner stated to keep it , but we cannot contact him, need it off our property, sold, scrapped ,but can't ..."
This also protects businesses when junked vehicles are abandoned in their parking lot, etc.
Otherwise it'd be impossible to get rid of/ sell.
On DMV site it's something like posting an ad stating it will be sold/auctioned for some period of time (like 30 days or such).
Can't recall exact details but should/could be useful for the Buell ...

Oh and after last night don't think anything is "awesome" about vermont...don't even want to eat syrup or whatever weird crap from there OR most new england BTW...WEIRDOS!
[EDIT: bad joke, not all, just too much, VA too, BTW]