Getting a new title from an out of state motorcycle (sale, 2014)

[cpeters1928]

Ok, so my current situation is I have a motorcycle that has no paperwork other than an affidavit in lieu of title as well as a bill of sale from the state of Washington. That is it. Apparently with this paperwork I still can not get a new title or anything. Basically what the dmv and AAA are telling me is that I am screwed and I have a bike that I can do absolutely nothing with. Does anyone have any advice on what I can do?

[cb73]

Why do you have an affidavit in lieu of title? What year is the motorcycle?


One possibility--talk to the Washington DMV about using their paperwork to get a Washington title, then turn it into California DMV.

[adr3naline]

My father has successfully plated a handful of no-titled motorcycles in the recent years using this method:

Get a title with a Vermont Registration - Chin on the Tank – Vintage Motorcycle Enthusiasts in Philadelphia

[cb73]

Originally Posted by adr3naline

My father has successfully plated a handful of no-titled motorcycles in the recent years using this method:

Get a title with a Vermont Registration - Chin on the Tank – Vintage Motorcycle Enthusiasts in Philadelphia

Yeah, that works. Not legal, though.

[adr3naline]

Originally Posted by cb73

Yeah, that works. Not legal, though.

Working with the tools made available by our government is not illegal in itself. If you fake a bill of sale as I anticipate some to do, then by all means, it's illegal and you're probably up to no good.

[cb73]

Originally Posted by adr3naline

Working with the tools made available by our government is not illegal in itself. If you fake a bill of sale as I anticipate some to do, then by all means, it's illegal and you're probably up to no good.

Generally the tools are available--a fake bill of sale is the easy way out. People think they're justified because of "government rules" then something happens with the vehicle and all of a sudden their titling paperwork won't stand up in court and they're wishing they hadn't gone that route.

California has a process of "bonding out" where you get a Motor Vehicle Defective Title Bond (generally $100 if you shop around) to obtain valid title as a last resort, which is legal and does stand up in court. The OP didn't really give enough information in his post to say if this would be the way to go, though.

[adr3naline]

Originally Posted by cb73

Generally the tools are available--a fake bill of sale is the easy way out. People think they're justified because of "government rules" then something happens with the vehicle and all of a sudden their titling paperwork won't stand up in court and they're wishing they hadn't gone that route.

California has a process of "bonding out" where you get a Motor Vehicle Defective Title Bond (generally $100 if you shop around) to obtain valid title as a last resort, which is legal and does stand up in court. The OP didn't really give enough information in his post to say if this would be the way to go, though.

My father is in WI--maybe that made things easier?
But I don't see why someone couldn't follow that process outside the CA border, then register the vehicle within CA.

[cb73]

Originally Posted by adr3naline

My father is in WI--maybe that made things easier?
But I don't see why someone couldn't follow that process outside the CA border, then register the vehicle within CA.

It's called title washing--moving shaky paperwork from state to state until you get the title you want. It's how people have taken non-repairable frame damaged vehicles and--3 states later--have gotten nice clean titles. Legal? Theoretically.

[adr3naline]

Originally Posted by cb73

It's called title washing--moving shaky paperwork from state to state until you get the title you want. It's how people have taken non-repairable frame damaged vehicles and--3 states later--have gotten nice clean titles. Legal? Theoretically.

There's no question shady people take advantage of it, but for upstanding citizens, it can also be a godsend. For example, being able to title clean motorcycles sold with only bills of sale because the owner passed away and the titles are no where to be found. Or purchasing a motorcycle previously used for racing that was never titled.

[misaligned]

I know people in CA that have been able to get a new title with only a bill of sale. However, some bikes are 49 state only. It will need to have a CA emissions sticker on it and in my experience they will come out and physically inspect it for this sticker. It's usually on the airbox. Secondly, it will need to have 7,500+ miles on it.