DMV Registering a used never titled bike??

[usedtobefast]

I've bought & sold a number of bikes and seen odd things before, but this is a new one for me.

Looking at a 3 year old used bike, excellent condition, low miles, great price, very excited about it.

But ... the guy never registered it. He has the original bill of sale from the dealership with his name on it and the manufacturer's certificate of origin which has the dealership info and this guys name on it.

The guy did not ride the bike on the track, I believe he just put a plate on from another bike and rode it, not sure, didn't dig into that.

So it is pretty clear he owns it, vin numbers all good, etc.

But ... what will happen at the DMV? Will they try to charge me back fees for 3 years (that this guy should have paid)? Or could this go thru DMV without any big issues?

 

[Map8]

Is this a street bike that was originally sold in California? Something sounds wrong.

Dealers send the paperwork to DMV and the DMV sends the buyer a plate and permanent registration to replace the temp registration the dealer supplied at time of purchase. Purchasers of new cars or motorcycles do not perform the registration process at DMV when buying new cars, motorcycles or watercraft from a licensed dealer in California. This transaction seems very unlikely to go through DMV without issues. The dealer would have notified DMV when the bike was sold because the dealership generated the MSO and would want to release their responsibility/liability for the vehicle.

Thats how it works unless there is some highly unusual circumstance. For example, if the purchaser was a legal resident of Nevada and the dealer was in California, the dealer could have delivered the bike to the purchaser somewhere across the state line and completed the transaction, at which point the purchaser is responsible for registering the bike in Nevada.

 

[295566]

Is this a street bike that was originally sold in California? Something sounds wrong.

Dealers send the paperwork to DMV and the DMV sends the buyer a plate and permanent registration to replace the temp registration the dealer supplied at time of purchase. Purchasers of new cars or motorcycles do not perform the registration process at DMV when buying new cars, motorcycles or watercraft from a licensed dealer in California. This transaction seems very unlikely to go through DMV without issues. The dealer would have notified DMV when the bike was sold because the dealership generated the MSO and would want to release their responsibility/liability for the vehicle.

Thats how it works unless there is some highly unusual circumstance. For example, if the purchaser was a legal resident of Nevada and the dealer was in California, the dealer could have delivered the bike to the purchaser somewhere across the state line and completed the transaction, at which point the purchaser is responsible for registering the bike in Nevada.

All this.

Red flag... something seems fishy. If he threw another plate on it and knowingly rode it around illegally for 3 years, what other shady and sketchy shit has he done to it? I'd run away, personally.

Even if it works out, you may be on the hook for the tax, title, license price for the bike. That would be for the original sale price, not to mention back fees. All that shit would add up to likely well over $1,000.

I would bet something is screwed up with the bike and he's trying to unload his problems on you or another unsuspecting or trusting person.

 

[LakeMerrit]

All this.

Red flag... something seems fishy. If he threw another plate on it and knowingly rode it around illegally for 3 years, what other shady and sketchy shit has he done to it? I'd run away, personally.

Even if it works out, you may be on the hook for the tax, title, license price for the bike. That would be for the original sale price, not to mention back fees. All that shit would add up to likely well over $1,000.

I would bet something is screwed up with the bike and he's trying to unload his problems on you or another unsuspecting or trusting person.

This.

Ordering a new bike in a crate from out of state for track-only use can be a good way to save a bundle on a track-only bike, but will never be financially worthwhile to put it back on the street.

 

[dangerzone02]

Use this: https://www.dmv.ca.gov/wasapp/FeeCalculatorWeb/usedVehicleForm.do

It'll tell you what will be owed on the bike if you try and register it.

 

[Whammy]

More information.
Is the bike an out of state bike and what is the mileage?

 

[Whodat]

Yeahhhh... you don't have the option not to register the bike when you buy new at the dealer, at least in California.
Run the vin through the DMV link and see what comes up. Something's not right.

 

[Frame Maker]

Use this: https://www.dmv.ca.gov/wasapp/FeeCalculatorWeb/usedVehicleForm.do

It'll tell you what will be owed on the bike if you try and register it.

This ^^^ and this >>> 1-800-777-0133

Instead of asking a bunch a paranoid forum trolls, call the DMV and tell the telephone agent the situation. They should be able tell you exactly what the process is and what fees will be due.

 

[Shigeta]

All the above.

Even if he "has" paperwork from the dealer, it's worth considering that it's relatively easy to forge that stuff if you know yer way around photoshop.

 

[sckego]

Yeahhhh... you don't have the option not to register the bike when you buy new at the dealer, at least in California.
Run the vin through the DMV link and see what comes up. Something's not right.

If you're from another state, you do. I bought an out-of-state bike a few years ago, and the dealer just gave me the MSO. I took that to the DMV in my home state and paid the reg, tax, and title fees there.

I'm betting they would just take the MSO, charge you the sales tax and title fees, and give you the title. As far as DMV is concerned, it's a new vehicle, never titled, never registered, never existed in their system.

 

[Enchanter]

Yeahhhh... you don't have the option not to register the bike when you buy new at the dealer, at least in California.
Run the vin through the DMV link and see what comes up. Something's not right.

Incorrect information.

A few years ago I purchased 10 motorcycles, for use in MSF courses, from a local dealer. The registration paperwork was never processed / sent to the DMV. I received a bill of sale and no Pink-slips (rainbow-slips?) Since then many of those motorcycles have been sold and then registered thru the dmv with no penalties.

I’ve also purchased a three year old race bike that was never registered, and incurred no penalties by the dmv when I put it back on the street.

 

[usedtobefast]

Will use that link to get the actual reg cost, thanks!

The bike was purchased new at an Oregon dealership by this guy, a CA resident. He drove up, bought the bike, carried it back into CA.

Obviously he was supposed to take it to DMV but did not.

Bike is a 50 state legal bike, has the "Meets California emissions" sticker stuff on it.

The bike is in excellent shape, well cared for. So no connection between his "I hate the government, and taxes, and fees, and insurance, etc etc" attitude and his bike maintenance skills/attention.

Also, I've saved a lot of money in the past dealing with odd situations. The odd situation is temporary, the money savings is forever.
Just never ran across this one before.

I'm also going to look over the MSO some more ... I didn't see a place to make a second transfer on there. It is like it is being transferred from the dealership to the first buyer.

I thought this might have popped before with a track bike. I guess when you re-sell those it continues to be a track bike? But wait, you are still supposed to title a track bike (and pay tax and do a non-op), right?

 

[stan23]

Will use that link to get the actual reg cost, thanks!

The bike was purchased new at an Oregon dealership by this guy, a CA resident. He drove up, bought the bike, carried it back into CA.

Obviously he was supposed to take it to DMV but did not.

Bike is a 50 state legal bike, has the "Meets California emissions" sticker stuff on it.

The bike is in excellent shape, well cared for. So no connection between his "I hate the government, and taxes, and fees, and insurance, etc etc" attitude and his bike maintenance skills/attention.

Also, I've saved a lot of money in the past dealing with odd situations. The odd situation is temporary, the money savings is forever.
Just never ran across this one before.

I'm also going to look over the MSO some more ... I didn't see a place to make a second transfer on there. It is like it is being transferred from the dealership to the first buyer.

I thought this might have popped before with a track bike. I guess when you re-sell those it continues to be a track bike? But wait, you are still supposed to title a track bike (and pay tax and do a non-op), right?

That's an easy transaction. I too have bought from OR, and came back with MSO. Since the bike is a CA emissions certified bike, just get the CHP vin verification (form reg 31) filled out, go to DMV and pay taxes/reg fee and you'll be out with your plate.

The *only* issue I see is that the MSO has the sellers name and not yours. DMV may make you fill out a transfer of ownership form first and that needs to be signed by the person who's MSO is first assigned to.

 

[Map8]

More details helped.

Sounds like you are in good shape for registration.

 

[Frame Maker]

... I've saved a lot of money in the past dealing with odd situations. The odd situation is temporary, the money savings is forever.

:thumbup

 

[ScottRNelson]

I bought a car back in January of 2000 from a guy who had brought it in from Oregon and just had the same paperwork as this bike. The only difference doing it with a car is that you have to get a smog test, regardless of how clean the vehicle is. Other than that, it was no hassle at all to register it.

 

[07chuck]

There's the "Statement of Fact" form.

It can work miracles at the DMV for vehicles with inconsistant paperwork.