Out of State motorcycle - no license plate

[movadosan]

I was thinking about purchasing a motorcycle, but the owner said he doesn't have a license plate as it was last registered in Massachusetts. He said he turned the license plate in to avoid getting charged by the DMV.

I was planning to purchase this bike and ride it home, but it doesn't sound legal if there are no license plates and it's not registered in CA. Will there be back registration fees when I try and get it registered at the DMV and can I legally ride the motorcycle back home without a license plate?

 

[Abacinator]

Not enough details. Is the title in the owner's name? When was it registered last? Is the bike currently in California? Smells fishy to me.

 

[movadosan]

The title is in the owner's name (according to him). The bike is currently located in LA, California. I was going to fly to LA to do the transaction and ride it back up to the Bay Area, but I just found out he doesn't have plates. He claims there are no back registration fees.

 

[davidji]

The title is in the owner's name (according to him). The bike is currently located in LA, California. I was going to fly to LA to do the transaction and ride it back up to the Bay Area, but I just found out he doesn't have plates. He claims there are no back registration fees.

Why didn't he transfer the title to CA? It's simpler for an owner who moves here to do that stuff than for a local buyer.

Maybe you could go to the DMV with him and make sure you can transfer the title and register it here, do all that stuff there, then ride it home.

If it had a CA title, valid registration, and no plate I wouldn't worry about riding it home. But an out of state bike is a whole different thing. Does it have valid MA registration? That may be enough to ride it home. If you trust that you'll be able to get a CA title.

 

[auntiebling]

DMV processes vary by state. Some, and i believe MA is one of them, have the plate assigned to a person rather than the vehicle+person so it is plausible that the plate was surrendered back to the state vehicle department to avoid accruing fees.

as long as you have all the paperwork correctly completed and get back home in a reasonable time period (so that "i just bought this thing, and i'm bringing it home" would make sense to a LEO) you'll likely be fine. there are plenty of cars and bikes out there with screwed up stickers, damaged plates, missing hardware... odds are in your favor. it's up to you if you want to gamble.

however, before you go through with this is the bike register-able in CA? the easiest way to answer this "yes" is if the odometer has 7500 or more miles on it.

 

[bikewanker]

I believe Nevada requires your plate when your done with.

 

[mototireguy]

The title is in the owner's name (according to him).

He could take a phone pic of the title and DL to prove he actually has a title, it's in his name and email it to you.

With that info you can do some online research to look for any red flags.

Lost title, the dog ate it, low price, long stories, name on title not matching the name of person selling, usually sign of something fishy.

 

[Abacinator]

I'd pass

 

[SlidingBike]

He could take a phone pic of the title and DL to prove he actually has a title, it's in his name and email it to you.

With that info you can do some online research to look for any red flags.

Lost title, the dog ate it, low price, long stories, name on title not matching the name of person selling, usually sign of something fishy.

I had a similar but lighter situation before.

My case is, the bike was previously registered with CA, so, State transfer is not my issue.
But the seller (in Tracy) listed the bike for sale. He bought the vehicle from another seller a year back, paid $$ but never cared to register it/insurance etc never done. He has lost those sale deed etc .. Even he didnt remember that he is not the registered owner of it on DMV documents. But he said that he misplaced the title, he can transfer it(yes, you can transfer a vehicle without the title in hand, in CA). I drove to Tracy, found that he WAS not the title owner of the vehicle. But I didnt lose the hope( I got a great deal). Even the seller was also worried that he is stuck with the vehicle without the ability to sell it. I am able to figure out the original seller(he is almost dead with some health issues, in the Hospital), I am able to work with him, sign a new (back dated) sale deed and release, got the DMV register it on my name. I have to pay all the back dated registration, late penalties etc(racked to $350) and got it. But note that this vehicle was originally purchased in CA and have been having the CA plates till I buy it. So, there must be a lot needs to be managed to make it legal(as you had the issue of non-state vehicle part to handle).

 

[Moto Beck]

is the bike 50-state or carb compliant? May be another issue with registering if it's not or if you're unsure and the bike has less than 7,500 miles on the clock

 

[zelig]

He could take a phone pic of the title and DL to prove he actually has a title, it's in his name and email it to you.

I wish I'd thought to do this on my last "clean title" transaction. Seeing the wrong names in all the wrong places was a huge red flag that he never titled it in his name, and a couple of other prospective buyers had tried signing it before realizing it.

 

[movadosan]

The bike has about 17,000 miles, so registering in CA should not an issue. He claims it was registered last year. Unfortunately, I fly down to LA this Saturday and he's going to be out of town, but was willing to leave the keys, title, and bill of sale w/ a friend who can facilitate this transaction, so I can't go to the DMV w/ him that same day.

I'll ask for his drivers license and title to make sure it's matching before continuing w/ the sale.

I'm not a risk taker and would rather void this sale if there's a chance a LEO can pull me over and prevent me from riding home due to no plates.

 

[mototireguy]

I fly down to LA this Saturday and he's going to be out of town, but was willing to leave the keys, title, and bill of sale w/ a friend who can facilitate this transaction, so I can't go to the DMV w/ him that same day.

Sniff test fail.

 

[MysterYvil]

The bike has about 17,000 miles, so registering in CA should not an issue. He claims it was registered last year. Unfortunately, I fly down to LA this Saturday and he's going to be out of town, but was willing to leave the keys, title, and bill of sale w/ a friend who can facilitate this transaction, so I can't go to the DMV w/ him that same day.

I'll ask for his drivers license and title to make sure it's matching before continuing w/ the sale.

I'm not a risk taker and would rather void this sale if there's a chance a LEO can pull me over and prevent me from riding home due to no plates.

Sniff test fail.

I'm with mototireguy on this. To many red flags for me.

 

[Junkie]

At a minimum have him send you a picture of the title and his DL

 

[movadosan]

Taken from mass.gov:
Once you cancel your registration, your car/truck cannot be driven on any public way in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. When your registration is canceled, the RMV will provide you with a registration cancellation receipt.

Once your registration is canceled, you must recycle or destroy your license plates. Plates can be cut in half and discarded; or you can recycle destroyed plates if your town accepts them at the local recycle center.

So it makes sense that he doesn't have plates.

We'll see about the other items, he said he'll send me the title, DL, and VIN. Still not sure about riding back without plates though, maybe I can give the local CHP office a call to see if they have a quick answer on that.

 

[mrzuzzo]

Would be a slow day if a LEO pulls you over for no plates..

You have 3 months to put plates on it, IIRC.

I once bought a bike locally and it had custom plates that the owner kept. Never had a single problem because of riding without a plate for a month.

 

[Strigoi]

Sounds like a headache. I'd pass on it.

 

[Junkie]

Would be a slow day if a LEO pulls you over for no plates..

You have 3 months to put plates on it, IIRC.

I once bought a bike locally and it had custom plates that the owner kept. Never had a single problem because of riding without a plate for a month.

You need to transfer title within 10 days of purchase. I believe they give you the plate then (given that you have to go to DMV in person because out of state), I guess you might have 90 days after that but I'm not sure.

 

[SlidingBike]

Taken from mass.gov:
Once you cancel your registration, your car/truck cannot be driven on any public way in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. When your registration is canceled, the RMV will provide you with a registration cancellation receipt.

Once your registration is canceled, you must recycle or destroy your license plates. Plates can be cut in half and discarded; or you can recycle destroyed plates if your town accepts them at the local recycle center.

So it makes sense that he doesn't have plates.

We'll see about the other items, he said he'll send me the title, DL, and VIN. Still not sure about riding back without plates though, maybe I can give the local CHP office a call to see if they have a quick answer on that.

in CA, there is a planned no operation options there... where your registration is not canceled while you should not operate the vehicle during the planned no operation time. You can reinstate the operation of the vehicle by paying the operational registration cost to DMV(in other words, you dont need to burn your bike in the flames with its plates for PNO state)