Purchasing out of state bike: Title question

[geoff2k]

I'm purchasing a new-to-me 50-state bike (I had him take a picture of the sticker) from a seller in North Carolina. With regards to the title:

Q1. The NC title has a space on the back for notarization information. Do I *need* to have the title notarized by the seller to be able to register the bike to me in California?

Q2. The seller is selling the bike for his brother, I assume the name on the front of the title absolutely needs to match the name of the seller on the back of the title, correct? (Which means if the answer to Q1 is yes, his brother is the one that needs to have it notarized...)

Thanks for any advice, commentary or non sequitur anecdotes!

 

[thedub]

dmv.ca.gov

Contact Us

Telephone: 1-800-777-0133

Call Center business hours are: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8 am to 5 pm, Pacific time and Wednesday, 9am to 5 pm, Pacific time.

 

[mototireguy]

Q2. The seller is selling the bike for his brother, I assume the name on the front of the title absolutely needs to match the name of the seller on the back of the title, correct? (Which means if the answer to Q1 is yes, his brother is the one that needs to have it notarized...)

Name listed on the title not matching the person doing the deal is a basic RED FLAG.

In these situations the deal should be signed, sealed and delivered in person at the DMV office between the seller/buyer before any cash changes hands or else.

 

[geoff2k]

Telephone: 1-800-777-0133

Thanks! I'm actually waiting on a callback from them (hold times >2 hours). Thought I'd post here to get a quicker response...

Name listed on the title not matching the person doing the deal is a basic RED FLAG.

In these situations the deal should be signed, sealed and delivered in person at the DMV office between the seller/buyer before any cash changes hands or else.

Agreed. Given the scenario and the parties involved, I'm not worried about misrepresentation (i.e. that the brother is trying to sell the brother's bike without permission), I'm mainly worried about making sure that the correct person signs the title to avoid having to re-do this process when the seller is across the country.

 

[ScottRNelson]

Make sure that you get a separate bill of sale containing all of the relevant information.

That can help you at the DMV if they notice any small anomalies. I learned that the hard way. :mad

 

[fast4d]

different name on the title......watch it

power of attorney form?

or maybe that why notary is needed on title...

 

[RightCoastBias]

Anyone can sign for someone else. The problem isn't him selling it for his brother, it's if he stole it and is trying to sell it out of state. All of a sudden his last name is different and it's because they're half or step brothers.

Then he gets pinched and you're out the cash and have to return the bike.

How much of a deal can it be with all the possible headaches, shipping and the like?

 

[Loopey]

Yes it is supposed to be notarized by the seller, you do not need to be a part of that.

Some states care, some don't give a poop. Probably will depend on the mood of the person at the DMV.

I'm back in NC, so know the process or lack thereof. The whole notary thing is stupid. It stops approximately no one from illegal activity. How many titles have I had notarized as a buyer after the fact, I'll never tell. :rolleyes

Depending where the bike is, may be able to dig up more info.

 

[geoff2k]

Thanks for all the replies folks!

I just spoke with the seller, and the brother (who had only been mentioned up to this point as being the owner-of-record of the bike) met the seller at the bank this morning to have the title notarized, and will be the one to issue the bill of sale. The person I've been thinking of as the seller is just the go between, and their name will not be reflected on any of the paperwork that gets submitted to the DMV.

The nice lady who called me back from the DMV was pretty firm in saying that the names DID need to match, but she wasn't sure if the title needed to be notarized and left it at "better have it done to be sure".

How much of a deal can it be with all the possible headaches, shipping and the like?

Even with the shipping this is at least a good-to-me deal, I'll crow about it when/if it goes through. :thumbup

 

[thedub]

but she wasn't sure if the title needed to be notarized and left it at "better have it done to be sure.

Fuckin DMV. They are the source. If they don't know then who the hell does?!

 

[augustiron]

Even with the shipping this is at least a good-to-me deal,

Red flag #2

 

[Loopey]

Bikes here, especially this time of year, are cheap.

09 R6 in good shape, 15k miles, advertise under $4000.

 

[horsepower]

I bought a 250 Kawi KLX from South Carolina here on Barf last summer. It had only 2500 miles. The title wasnt notarized and it had SC plates. I just took it to the DMV and they took the plates, verified the VIN and registered it. No hassles at all.
It was also a 50 state bike.

There was no 7500 Mile required limit and no questions asked at the Davis branch.
Not sure if DMV CA would know or care if the title from NC was notarized or not.
I have often found that DMVs in podunk areas are far less savvy about the rules from other states and seem willing to take the reg fees versus deal with more paperwork..
Once it becomes a CA bike, that all changes.

 

[moto-rama]

I'm purchasing a new-to-me 50-state bike (I had him take a picture of the sticker) from a seller in North Carolina. With regards to the title:

Q1. The NC title has a space on the back for notarization information. Do I *need* to have the title notarized by the seller to be able to register the bike to me in California?

Q2. The seller is selling the bike for his brother, I assume the name on the front of the title absolutely needs to match the name of the seller on the back of the title, correct? (Which means if the answer to Q1 is yes, his brother is the one that needs to have it notarized...)

Thanks for any advice, commentary or non sequitur anecdotes!

Sounds fishy. Save your money.

 

[bcv_west]

I lived in NC for 20 years. Here's my take.

I'm purchasing a new-to-me 50-state bike (I had him take a picture of the sticker) from a seller in North Carolina. With regards to the title:

Q1. The NC title has a space on the back for notarization information. Do I *need* to have the title notarized by the seller to be able to register the bike to me in California? For an out of state title, the CA DMV should go by the rules for that state, and NC requires a notary. So yes. NC has also made it harder to get it notarized 'open title', where the seller is notarized but the buyer is left blank. Hopefully the seller has a friend or a bank who will notarize open title, since you can't be there to fill in your info.

Q2. The seller is selling the bike for his brother, I assume the name on the front of the title absolutely needs to match the name of the seller on the back of the title, correct? (Which means if the answer to Q1 is yes, his brother is the one that needs to have it notarized...) Yes, name on front needs to exactly match the full name on back. NC DMV has become anal about that, and some title offices will reject it if it says 'Robert K Smith' on the front and 'Robert Smith' on the back.

EDIT: Where's the bike? If in Raleigh/Durham area and you want someone local to look it over for you, PM me. May be able to help with other areas as well.

 

[auntiebling]

Fuckin DMV. They are the source. If they don't know then who the hell does?!

agree, but at least they're up front about it on the phone.

DMV experience is like paying for sex. you can't really tell what's going to happen untill you're actually doing it.

I bought a 250 Kawi KLX from South Carolina here on Barf last summer. It had only 2500 miles. The title wasnt notarized and it had SC plates. I just took it to the DMV and they took the plates, verified the VIN and registered it. No hassles at all.
It was also a 50 state bike.

There was no 7500 Mile required limit and no questions asked at the Davis branch.
Not sure if DMV CA would know or care if the title from NC was notarized or not.
I have often found that DMVs in podunk areas are far less savvy about the rules from other states and seem willing to take the reg fees versus deal with more paperwork..
Once it becomes a CA bike, that all changes.

50 state bike means 7500 mile rule is irrelevant.

 

[thedub]

DMV experience is like paying for sex. you can't really tell what's going to happen untill you're actually doing it.

:laughing But at least you can be sure you're gonna get fucked.