Registering bike from out of state
- Thread starter taoster
- Start date
sckego
doesn't like crashing
If it is a 50-state bike (has a label that says it meets California emissions regs), then you'll be fine.
If it does not mention California, but only says meets Federal regs (aka a 49-state bike), then it needs to have 7,500 miles on it.
If it's a 49-state with less than 7,500 miles, have the guy who moved here title it here first, then he can sell it to you. You're allowed to bring non-compliant bikes into state when you move. However, he's the one who has to title it here.
and if it's 49 state with under 7500 miles and you try to register it DMV will blackball it from being registered here for effectively Ever.
sckego
doesn't like crashing
I'm still convinced that is a ghost story, as I've still never found any first-hand accounts of someone taking a 49-state bike which they purchased with over 7,500 miles to the DMV, and getting denied because it was "blacklisted" when some previous owner tried to title it with not enough miles.
may be, but it's easily avoidable and fickle and lame so something DMV would totally do
boney
Miles > Posts
This. I'll add that if it doesn't have emissions stickers at all, don't buy it. It may be extremely difficult to register here.
motomania2007
TC/MSF/CMSP/ Instructor
It is not a ghost story. I had a client that had this issue. He bought a used bike with like 2500 miles on it Utah or Arizona or something like that. I worked with him for quite a while with the DMV to try to rectify to no avail. He did not come to me until after he had received the "remove the bike from the State or destroy it" letter.
Ultimately, he registered it with his relative in Las Vegas and rode it in California until he totaled it riding like an ass-hat only a few months later.
boney
Miles > Posts
How many miles?
6140 miles.
motomania2007
TC/MSF/CMSP/ Instructor
You definitely do not want to try and register that motorcycle yourself. It will end up getting blacklisted. The prior owner can register it because he moved here with it and he's allowed to do that. But you are not.
motomania2007
TC/MSF/CMSP/ Instructor
You definitely do not want to try and register that motorcycle yourself. It will end up getting blacklisted. The prior owner can register it because he moved here with it and he's allowed to do that. But you are not.
sckego
doesn't like crashing
tgrrdr
Не мои об
I don't know anyone who has ever done this and do not condone doing anything that DMV might consider illegal but rumor has it that you can just ride the bike until it has over 7,500 miles on the odometer and then take it to DMV and register it with no issues. Just make sure you pay the fees and do the paperwork within the 10 days (or whatever) that DMV requires. And, make sure the odometer disclosure shows over 7,500 miles when you bought the bike from the seller - if it shows 6,140 miles I'm pretty sure you'll be screwed.
Thanks everyone. I appreciate all the input. I contacted the previous owner and he agreed to help me out when the DMVs open back up. I just have to make the drive from San Jose to Dublin then to the only DMV around which is in Pleasanton. Do I have the option for the DMV to mail the new title to my address or would it have to go to the address of the “registered owner”? If that’s the case I would need to make yet another trip just to pick up the title when it comes in. Boy this is a lot more trouble than I ever imagined.
Whammy
Veteran of Road Racing
This^^^ I have heard of this being done.
Doesn't seem like your robbing a bank, just making sure the mileage is what it needs to be @ 7500.
A lot of times the OP doesn't give us all the details, and they have already taken possession of the bike.
They don't know the rules, and they make that tragic mistake in going to the DMV with everything out of place. Then the bike gets banned!
Make sure your paperwork reflects the correct dates and mileage before your attempt to go in.
Whammy bought a 49 state bike with US emissions only 7500 miles on it.
Paperwork was filled in correctly, as others have said you have 10 days to get it reg from the date of sale.
The DMV will want to see the Vin and engine number, that's easy unless the bike has a salvage title and the frame was swapped out.
There is a place to reg the bike in San Jose at a DMV services place
https://www.californiacartags.com/
Conar auto registration on McKee Rd
The specialize in such things.
You take the bike(correct mileage) show them the VIN & Engine number, pay the man the fees, they dont charge much plus the dmv fees and he'llg get it registered and put in for the CA title.
Its legit and given these times of covid probably your best bet in getting this done faster than sacramento.:thumbup
senpai71
Professional troublemaker
I had a similar issue - just rode the bike for a thousand miles and then registered it. Not legal, very iffy, but I was younger and stupider...
FWIW, as far as registering it goes, once you do get the 7500 miles, the bike will likely still need to be inspected (to confirm VIN, Engine No. and mileage). If getting an appt at the DMV is still troublesome, check out https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/bp_locator/reg_svc, and see if there's a DMV Business Partner near you. They will charge you a fee, on top of the usual DMV fees, but it's an option.
I had to do it because I had no plates or registration on my bike and I can't get a DMV appt soon enough and didn't want to get pulled over by the CHP. Went to Golden Gate Jeep in San Rafael at 8am earlier this week, and was out of there with plates and stickers in 20 mins.
FWIW, as far as registering it goes, once you do get the 7500 miles, the bike will likely still need to be inspected (to confirm VIN, Engine No. and mileage). If getting an appt at the DMV is still troublesome, check out https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/bp_locator/reg_svc, and see if there's a DMV Business Partner near you. They will charge you a fee, on top of the usual DMV fees, but it's an option.
I had to do it because I had no plates or registration on my bike and I can't get a DMV appt soon enough and didn't want to get pulled over by the CHP. Went to Golden Gate Jeep in San Rafael at 8am earlier this week, and was out of there with plates and stickers in 20 mins.
senpai71
Professional troublemaker
Final thought - as others have said, if you don't register it within 10 days of bringing it into California, you'll get charged a bunch of penalties, on top of the exorbitant 'regular' DMV fees. When they went into lockdown mode, the DMV said they would give an extra 60 days, but I still got charged the penalties, so I'm gonna try to get them to refund me. Wish me luck!
motomania2007
TC/MSF/CMSP/ Instructor
About 10 years ago, I brought a bike in from out of State. South Carolina registered bike with about 6800 miles on it.
The a couple days after I bought the bike, I made a DMV appointment. First appointment was 3 weeks out.
I showed up with the bike at about 8k miles and paid no penalties. I asked and they said it was their delay in appointments, so no penalties.
RVFRick
Well-known member
Your example is plausible: bought bike in Ohio @ 6,140 mikes, rode it back to California bringing odometer over 7.5k. CHP or DMV inspects when you go to register. Pretty sure requirement is 7,500 miles when inspected not when sold.
EDIT
California considers any vehicle with less than 7,500 miles on the odometer at the time of purchase or trade by a California resident or business, to be a new vehicle. This is true whether or not the vehicle has been registered in another state." https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/de...t_facts/ffvr29
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