Well, I bought a 2nd motorcycle a week ago and it turns out the guy never titled it in his name. I am a dumb-ass for not noticing this earlier.

The bike was originally titled in WA. I do have a "Certificate of Power of Attorney" paperwork trail that leads back to the name on the title, so there is documented evidence of the vehicle passing hands legally. The problem is none of the subsequent owners bothered to title it. Will this fly in NC? I called the DMV and couldn't get someone who knew what they were talking about. Suggestions?

9/9/2009 5:31:47 PM

As long as it's notarized, it shouldn't matter.

[Edited on September 9, 2009 at 5:47 PM. Reason : Well, I'm not sure about the out of state business]

9/9/2009 5:46:49 PM

Search "title question" in this forum or PM bbr.

9/9/2009 6:18:28 PM

I don't know about WA. But let's pretend the bike is from NC. If that were the case, you'd go to the DMV, ask for the currently titled owner's address, track him down and get him to sign a duplicate title form. If you can't find him you have to get a bonded title, which costs $$$.

When I took documented "evidence" of a vehicle history to the DMV one time(auction receipts, etc), the woman told me, "I'm going to pretend I didn't see that. See, you've just bought this vehicle from the original owner, only he lost his title and needs to sign a duplicate. See? See?"

9/9/2009 6:18:33 PM

Quote :

"I called the DMV and couldn't get someone who knew what they were talking about."

sounds like every time i ever contacted the nc dmv for anything other than license renewal

9/9/2009 6:24:02 PM

i had to do this when i bought mine last year. get the guy who sold it to you get an instant title at the dmv, then he can hand it over to you...its a 3 way transfer and cost a little more but at least it will be done quickly

9/9/2009 6:51:09 PM

what is ON the title???

is the owner from WA the last one to sign it? is it still "OPEN"?

it doesn't make a damn if the last person you bought it froms name is on it. if its open and you can sign your name to it--do it. submit paperwork and you're done. sounds like the guy you bought it from just didnt want to pay the fees to register it so he left the title open. i've done it many times

9/9/2009 6:53:03 PM

The title indicates a Harley dealer sold the bike to someone who lives in WA. That someone then sold it to another WA resident, who sold it to someone in NC, who sold it to me. Only the Harley dealer and the first buyer are on the title. I have certificates of attorney for the other buyers.

9/9/2009 6:57:59 PM

if it is an out of state title, and that state doesnt require notorization.. just sign that damn thing and go to the dmv.

i did this with a title from ny for a bike and had no problems.

9/9/2009 7:29:52 PM

Well, looks like I've finally got this thing settled. Turns out the Washington state DMV is really slack on stuff like this; you can just say you are a wholesaler and they won't require you to title a bike in your name. Thats why the title is 4 transactions old. I called the original dealership that the bike was bought from 3 transactions ago and they will re-title the bike for $40. I'll just need to send them the existing title paperwork and it will take 4 weeks; kind of a pain, but at least I'll own a road-legal motorcycle and not a mass of bike parts.

9/16/2009 9:23:39 AM

bbr knows all

10/15/2009 4:20:59 PM