Q:VIN checking for US Commando?

Ladies and Gents,

is there a way of checking whether a VIN of a Commando imported from the US is clean? Or is it safe enough to assume that if the bike has been exported as a complete vehicle and therefore the title comes with it that US or EU customs have checked this by then?

If it's only a frame without a title is there a way of checking whether the "donor bike" was stolen?

If possible I'd like to clarify these things before I send some k$ across the big pond....;-)

Best regards,


Tim

I think I can check Texas records by asking the local County Tax Assessor where I apply for titles for my bikes. I'm not sure whether I'd have to have a completely filled out title application though, and whether I'd be required to have the VIN # inspection form filled out (typical with title application here, involves a local inspector VISUALLY verifying the VIN)

If it's only a frame (with ID tag) and without a title, it's virtually impossible to track it down...the only way to be positive in that case would to start a search in all 50 states.

If you have a complete bike with a title, you shouldn't have any trouble. If you are being cautious, you could ask the seller for the title number and what state it was issued in. A call to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in the issuing state should be able to tell you if there is "history" with that bike.

Thanks a lot Gents, very helpful answers - that was more or less what I expected, I just wanted to make sure.

Best regards,


Tim

Tintin said:

Thanks a lot Gents, very helpful answers - that was more or less what I expected, I just wanted to make sure.

Best regards,


Tim

Click to expand...

Don't you need substantial documentation before registering the bike there in (I assume) Germany?

swooshdave said:

Don't you need substantial documentation before registering the bike there in (I assume) Germany?

Click to expand...

When I registered my Atlas some years ago I needed the title, a contract with the seller to prove my claim, a document from customs that tax was paid and one from the German federal automotive bureau (or whatever that's called in English) that it's not registered as stolen in Germany. It was not exactly a big surprise that the latter did actually clear given the bike is from California.

However - besides the fact that I simply wouldn't like to buy a bike that some fellow Nortoneer might miss - appearently it is possible for the authorities to check VIN for vehicles from a lot of countries. In Germany (and I assume in most other countries) you cannot legally become the owner of stolen goods so if I buy a bike from the US and it turns out to be stolen I'll lose both the money and the bike. But from what I've read here and elsewhere on the net it's already impossible to export a stolen vehicle out of the US as customs will check the title anyway.


Tim