Registering a out of state dirtbike

[dukeryder]

I have registered two different dirt bikes that had previously never been registered. It can be done, but it is a pain!


Bill Of Sale: If you can, download the "Bill of Sale" form from the California DMV and have the seller fill that out.

"Application for Title or Registration": This is the main form and will need the approval of the DMV inspector, who will be looking at your bike.


Personally, I have sworn to myself that I am never going to buy another bike that doesn't come with a clear title. Even an out of state title would be OK.


Rod

Do you or anyone else for that matter know about bringing a bike in from out of state that WAS registered but doesn't have a title and is it the same process?

I have a KX-250 that is Registered to me in Massachusetts but it's not titled. I have a Bill of Sale that I got when I bought the bike in Alabama (no titling of OHVs there). I'm really only interested in getting it CA registered 'cause I'm thinking about selling the bike and buying a 450 trail bike.

 

[elemetal]

In order for DMV to give you a title they need to determine if the bike is stolen and how th bike fits into the emissions program. An MSO, old title etc will justify the papers you have to the VIN on the bike/engine. Once that is acertained they place the vehicle in its correct emissions area (plate, red or green sticker). DMV can do the inspection (they call it VIN verification) or CHP can do it; they will make you take the bike out of the truck/trailer to do it. During this process they also look for the Fedral Emissions lable that states whether it is legal for street and complies to all the Fedral rules or whether it is off road only. Once this determination is made they will issue a title accordingly and on that title it will say "mc" (legal for road use) or "off road only" (obvious). Depending on how the VIN stacks up in their computer you will get a red or green sticker; pre-02 all get green stickers, post-02 it depends on the mfg and how the built the bike (CRF vs CRX? or DRZ-s vs DRZ-e). If you have a weird mfg your bike may not be in the system and you can get a little leeway here.

I've done 3 street bikes and 3 dirt bikes, all out of state; some with MSO and bill of sale, some with an out-of-state title; they do them all the same. Stay away from CHP if you can, they do a good job but as has been said it's more of a PITA to deal with them, DMV can and will do the inpection but they need a little hand holding and you may have to go back. Make sure the VIN and emisisons label is easy to see and you can direct them to it (as well as the engine #) and it'll be fine. Prices here are lower than they used to be but after browsing some of the CL ads in Phoenix I'd still say the prices there are lower.

I have a KX-250 that is Registered to me in Massachusetts but it's not titled. I have a Bill of Sale that I got when I bought the bike in Alabama (no titling of OHVs there). I'm really only interested in getting it CA registered 'cause I'm thinking about selling the bike and buying a 450 trail bike.

Worst case is you have to post a bond for the value of the bike to get a title; this is if they can't validate your paperwork and the VIN comes back as not stolen. The bond covers their ass if someone comes back after the fact and states that bike IS stolen and has paperwork on it....

Good luck, I just saw a '91 KTM 500 on CL (in San Jose) for $900....I've got 2 550's from the same era (used to have 3), great bikes.

 

[dukeryder]

Well I finally got my bikes Registered. It was a l o n g frigging process. The lady did not believe me that Massachusetts didn't title dirt bikes so I had to call Boston and have them fax over a letter, after I did that; I walked out with a Green Sticker for my KX (A little Ridiculous it cost me $177 though) oh yeah and the lady said "That was fast" commenting on how quickly I was able to get that in her hands, I think she thought it was going to takes weeks. I wanted to her it was because not every state's DMV is as F'ed up as this state.

I got a little bit of a problem from the girl doing the VIN inspection on my Street bike though cause it didn't have an EPA sticker just the Canadian Emissions sticker but luckily it got pushed through and I got my Tag.

The process is absurd if you ask me. It's not hard to see why this state's government is in an economic crisis. I dealt with 7 different DMV employees today! I've lived and owned cars or bikes in 4 different states and this state's process is by far the most difficult.