Norton build - Title needed

I have been restoring a Norton 750 commando for about five years and am about finished. It is coming out so good
I am now wondering how I will get a title for this machine. It has been pieced together with parts purchased all
over the map. Anyone have a title for sale or know how to obtain one here in Arizona. Year 69-73. Yea, I know.
It sure is an after thought.
Dick
619-840-8211
Ahwatukee Arizona 85044

Most states will issue you a title for a "special Construction" ; you will need receipts for all parts you use for the build. You will have to take the completed bike to the Highway Patrol for a number check so verify the history of the Serial Numbered parts before you get it checked, they will impound the bike if the numbers are from a stolen bike. A Special Construction in some states will involve having a special number assigned by the state with a state issued data plate installed. I have done them and it is not a big deal if you have receipts for everything that have sellers name and address on them and you verify the history to insure none of the parts are from stolen machines

Or, if your frame has a plate with a VIN stamped on it, you can have it checked against a stolen list, and if nothing comes up, you can apply for a new title.

I live in PA and the state won't title a vehicle that doesn't already have one.
However, Vermont WILL title a vehicle for you.
You have to have specific things on the application, like a verification of the VIN among others.
Sounds like you need a reconstructed or similar title. I suggest you call the VT DMV and ask them how to proceed.
Sine you have a bitsa (or whatever you want to call it) you may not be able to meet specific criteria for a regular title.

As in above posts, I recommend trying the "Vermont title" route.

I used to live in Ohio, and titleing a bike there,with out a current title ... was impossible. :evil: ( they think everyone is a crook, and DMV a real pain to deal with.) However, there was a workaround. I titled three bike by using "Alabama title service." I would give the bike to my brother in Texas, he would send in the "Alabama title" service paperwork. Then he would take that paperwork to a Texas DMV inspection site. Then he would get a clear Texas title. Then I would get the bike back from him, and THEN get a clear Ohio title. A HUGE PITA !!! (Ohio would NOT accept Alabama title service paperwork, but Texas did, back then anyway.)

I have also bought frames with titles on fleabay, and then transferred all the parts over to the titled frame. PITA too. :cry: Not as bad with a Norton though, as you just need to transfer over the frame plate. (Frames that have a VIN stamped on the frame itself are the difficult ones.)

I have titled six bikes now, using the above methods ... and all are PITA, to varying degrees. The price on an untitled machine would have to be VERY low, for me to go through the process again.

It is a hassle, but can be done.

Arizona will have specific laws regarding home-built / salvage bikes.

STEP1: LOOK INTO YOUR LOCAL LAWS FIRST.

A friendly visit to the local authorities, and a request to speak to a specialist/manager may provide you a short-cut around some bureaucracy if the person is at all sympathetic to motorcyclists.

I agree with GP - check your state's laws.

The best thing would be to title to the engine case - the plate on the frame is available as a reproduction, and transmission serials aren't critical to a title.

I have a friend who titled his 1966 Triton as a 1966 Triton here in Florida. He fixed a brass plate to the frame with the following on it:

Triton
20
1
1
6
x
x
x

And placed it over the original Atlas serial stamped on the flange

Ricochetrider said:

I live in PA and the state won't title a vehicle that doesn't already have one.
However, Vermont WILL title a vehicle for you.
You have to have specific things on the application, like a verification of the VIN among others.
Sounds like you need a reconstructed or similar title. I suggest you call the VT DMV and ask them how to proceed.
Sine you have a bitsa (or whatever you want to call it) you may not be able to meet specific criteria for a regular title.

Click to expand...

I have used Vermont twice, they do not issue you a title, but rather a registration and a plate, even in ultra liberal Massachusetts the documentation is sufficient to allow registration and results in a title here. Vermont has its forms on-line, you will need a local LEO to inspect the VIN and get a letter from his/her department stating that they are members on active duty with that department, the rest is just money..

I did this after looking into the local laws first, which is a good idea, as stated above. In Massachusetts no one want to take responsibility for your registration/title they just want your money.

Anyway. I have also done registrations in Tennessee where I have friends. You sell them the motorcycle on a notarized bill-of-sale and supply an etching of the VIN, they go the local DMV pay registration fees and sales taxes and two weeks later they get a TN title, with plate and registration certificate which they sign over to you and in my case Massachusetts is happy now to take my money and issue me a Mass title and registration.

I can also use New Hampshire selling the bike to one of my friends there, but their DMV wants to see the motorcycle which can be an issue if it is still in pieces. Rhode Island is also a possibility, same process. Massachusetts is the only New England State that requires a title on ALL motor vehicles, the other, more enlightened states do not require a title for registration for any vehicle, except trucks, that are over 25 years old.

Massachusetts has a program for tilting home built/kit built vehicles, but you get a VIN (17 digits) and a registration that makes the vehicle model year the same as the year you title it which means that you pay maximum fees. I looked into this when I was in the final stages of finishing a '72 Combat; assuming I could show that I paid sales tax on all the parts I purchased (to Massachusetts) the motorcycle would have been titled as 2012 Norton Commando; can you imagine the questions that would pop up when I went to sell this bike?

Don't move here...

Bill.

One day I'm on my way to a friend's house when a cop pulls me over.

"your registration is out of date" he says

"No way" I answer and dig into my wallet. Somethings not right. I look at the license plate and sure enough the tag is 2 years overdue.

"Hey I pay my registration every year" I plead as he calls the tow truck and impounds my tricked out Atlas. The tow truck driver hoists it up in the sling, smiling as if he can't wait to rip around a corner and whip it into the the 1st available light pole.

After calling the DMV I find out that for some unknown reason they deleted all records of my bike - title and all. I never got the renewal notice in the mail. No one remembers to pay their registration until it comes in the mail and mine never did. It was their fault and I got screwed.

It cost me hundreds of dollars to get my bike out of impound. Then I had to create a new title. I got a temp reg and took a Haynes manual to the police station to show what year it was by the serial number and it was surprisingly easy to get a new title by "creating a new motorcycle" - probably because I had the old pink slip and the bike was so old and there were no turn signal, muffler, clean air requirements etc. It turns out that it is much easier in CA to create a new bike "out of parts" than it is to register a bike that has been parked and unregistered for years.

Be prepared. Anything can happen.

jseng1 said:

One day I'm on my way to a friend's house when a cop pulls me over.

"your registration is out of date" he says

"No way" I answer and dig into my wallet. Somethings not right. I look at the license plate and sure enough the tag is 2 years overdue.

"Hey I pay my registration every year" I plead as he calls the tow truck and impounds my tricked out Atlas. The tow truck driver hoists it up in the sling, smiling as if he can't wait to rip around a corner and whip it into the the 1st available light pole.

After calling the DMV I find out that for some unknown reason they deleted all records of my bike - title and all. I never got the renewal notice in the mail. No one remembers to pay their registration until it comes in the mail and mine never did. It was their fault and I got screwed.

It cost me hundreds of dollars to get my bike out of impound. Then I had to create a new title. I got a temp reg and took a Haynes manual to the police station to show what year it was by the serial number and it was surprisingly easy to get a new title by "creating a new motorcycle" - probably because I had the old pink slip and the bike was so old and there were no turn signal, muffler, clean air requirements etc. It turns out that it is much easier in CA to create a new bike "out of parts" than it is to register a bike that has been parked and unregistered for years.

Be prepared. Anything can happen.

Click to expand...

Wow. Now that had to TOTALLY suck ... and I thought Ohio State Highway "storm" Troopers were the worst. Sorry jseng1, that is bad.

Inquire at your DOV if Arizona issues provisory "Ownership in Doubt" titles. I had the same problem registering my TR3A in Washington state after a complete rebuild; no title and a hand-scribbled bill of sale from Pennsylvania. You'll need a running machine with a stamped ID number of some kind on the bike, and pay the registration fee, i.e., sales tax on its value. At that point you can be issued tags and get insurance. The "Ownership in Doubt" title will be in your possession for 3 years, after which a normal title is issued. This was a very quick and efficient process for me; the unencumbered title appeared in my mailbox, as promised, three years later.

In Michigan you can apply for an ‘Assembled Vehicle’ title. Not difficult to do, you just need proof that you bought the major parts. State of Michigan website lists what’s needed and how to do it. You’re not a crook, you just built a vehicle from parts.

Thank you all so much. I appreciate your replies.

Dick
Ahwatukee AZ

In Texas, I've done at least a half-dozen "home built" (from parts) titles. The paperwork is specific, but the title appears as a plain, new, "blue" (clear) title.

It takes what is called a title hearing, several forms, some photos, a serial number tracing, and a local police inspection of the serial number to do a national registry scan/comparo. It helps that I know the head of the department personally, and she sits me right down with her chief inspector every time.