Out-of-State Bike

[CruJones33]

I understand the bike has to have 7500 miles on it before you can register it in California. The bike is in Arizona with 5500 miles now. Short of riding it home, I guess I would just need to rack up 2K miles quickly.

My concern is riding around with AZ plates for 2K miles. Has anyone had any experience with this situation?

[Junkie]

It needs to have 7500 miles on it when you buy it, not when it's registered.

[beaker]

It needs to have 7500 miles on it when you buy it, not when it's registered.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/brochures/fast_facts/ffvr29.htm

California law considers any vehicle with less than 7,500 miles on the odometer when acquired by a California resident or business to be a new vehicle. This holds true whether or not the vehicle has been registered in another state. If you acquire a new vehicle from another state, you may not subsequently drive it to accumulate over 7,500 miles to circumvent the law. DMV cannot accept an application to register the vehicle, and you cannot register or operate the vehicle in California.

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If you try to register a 49 state bike before 7500, it will be blacklisted and you would have to sell it out of state.

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http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/brochures/howto/htvr9.htm#feesdue

A nonresident vehicle was last registered outside the state of California. Anyone who brings a vehicle into California, or purchases a nonresident vehicle while in California, should be aware of the registration requirements.

Fees must be paid within 20 days of entry or residency to avoid penalties.

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If you are pulled over and the LEO cites you for having an out of state plate when you have established residency, you could be liable penalties up to the equivalent of a couple years of registration fees.

[CruJones33]

:mad that sucks! I guess I'll pass.

[ScottRNelson]

Please be aware that if the vehicle was built to meet the California emission requirements, then there is no 7500 mile requirement. For example, you could buy a Ducati from out of state (except the 2001 M600) and register it here no problem, since they were all 50-state models. You just need to show the person that inspects the bike the silver sticker indicating that it meets California emission requirements.

[Ironbutt]

Well that sucks.. I was going to offer to fly to AZ on my dime and ride you bike back.. :X

[afm199]

O dear, my old R6 was illegally ridden 2000 miles to get to 7500. Darn. I did not mean it. :)

[CruJones33]

Yeah The deal was.. The guy lived in L.A. and had a vacation house in Arizona. He keeps all his vehicles/toys registered in AZ. It was a sweet deal but too much risk involved.

[megustadubs]

OK, so what if I got a bike from VA with a replaced odometer? It's a '99 with an odometer reading of 900 miles. Can I just estimate the actual mileage? I don't really see the DMV as an establishment built on taking your word for it.

[afm199]

If the title has the actual mileage you are ok. You can not estimate. Yes they will not take your word.

[beaker]

OK, so what if I got a bike from VA with a replaced odometer? It's a '99 with an odometer reading of 900 miles. Can I just estimate the actual mileage? I don't really see the DMV as an establishment built on taking your word for it.

Psst. I'll tell you a secret.

If you find someone with the same odometer cluster with 7500 miles to trade with briefly, it will go a long way.

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However, there are a few forms that may cover your butt.

DMV Form 343 (Application for Title) or 262 (Vehicle Transfer) has instructions for noting the odometer isn't accurate for the mileage of the vehicle.

DMV Form 256 (Statement of Facts) also lets you make your case too.

In either case, you're probably taking your chances on if the DMV clerk is having a good day.

[SirFonners]

couldnt you just have the person write 7500+ miles on the odometer, on the title??

[spddrcr]

you could but as afm stated they dont always trust you and will sometimes ask to see the odometer, ive never been asked but it happens. best bet is to go to a really busy dmv where they wont take the time to check.

if it were me i dont think this would be a deal breaker on a bike if the deal was good. you could always pay the guy and then have him ride it for 2000 miles, which could be done in a weekend:thumbup

[SirFonners]

or just get him to write 7500 on the title and then ride it out...i mean that way it will be 100% i imagine

[bb sue]

The minimum is 7500, so if you show up at DMV with a title with 7500 on it...

You think that clerk ain't gonna might look at cha like...

:wtf Just maybe???

Shit. Have your friend put some miles on it. Swap clusters. Do whatever.

But yeah, that's like investing chunks of $9999.99 to get around the IRS and ATF 10,000 dollar transaction notifications. Sure, you're within the letter of the law, but you're gonna have to do a vehilce inspection anyway when you bring it into CA. And they look.

Do what you want. Jus' sayin...

bb

[megustadubs]

You guys rock. Thanks for the tips! Do you know if the fact that it was a gift changes anything? Would anyone reccommend me not saying it's a gift & come up with a selling price?

[ScottRNelson]

If it's a gift from a relative you don't have to pay any sales tax. From anybody else, they might just determine the value and set the tax based on that, which is not always reasonable.