USA licensing rules.

Status
Not open for further replies.
Joined
Oct 10, 2018
Messages
153
Country flag
Guys.(Preferably a USA one!) Can someone confirm this,(or not) I imported my 1970 Roadster about 6 years ago.Finally getting it rebuilt.It was laid up for years.Today I found out why.Sleeve gear had stripped its thread, and sprocket fell into my hand.
Anyway, the licence plate, stating California, is dated 1972.
Would this have been last time it was licensed and used?
 

Attachments

  • USA licensing rules.
    sprocket 001.jpg
    147.5 KB · Views: 251
In Michigan - if a car/motorcycle is over 25 years old it is considered an antique.
That allows you to attach and use a plate from the same year as the title date.
Sometimes that date is different from the build date.
Hope this makes sense ----
 
If it was imported in 2012 then it was pre NOVA, you still need to meet NOVA so before you try and register you need to apply for NOVA.
 
I purchased a 1971 BMW R75 /5 from my godfather, in New York state, who got it as a present from one of his California daughters; it sat in his garage for almost 25 years. I was able to track the last registered owner (1977) and sent him a filled out Cal, DMV form for Title replacement along with the fee and postage; all he had to do was sign the form and mail it off. Turns out that California couldn't find any of the original documents; they had upgraded their database S/W, and computer system(s) several times since the machine had last been registered---dead end. I did have the original title that was so old that the Massachusetts DMV wouldn't recognize it.

Long story short. I mentioned my frustration to a local dealer in used motorcycles. He "purchased" the BMW from me then sold it back to me with a MA DVM form I had never seen, which got me a title and registration.

I could have "sold" it to my neighbor, who has a legal address in NH, he could have registered it then "sold" it back to me. Very few states in the USA issue a title (for vehicles over 25 years old, except trucks) and just want a bill-of-sale from the seller.

You can get a registration from Vermont, the form is on their website, just cost you a fee and their sales tax. You can also use a Title Company, but they will just do the Vermont registration and charge you and additional $300.
 
Guys.(Preferably a USA one!) Can someone confirm this,(or not) I imported my 1970 Roadster about 6 years ago.Finally getting it rebuilt.It was laid up for years.Today I found out why.Sleeve gear had stripped its thread, and sprocket fell into my hand.
Anyway, the licence plate, stating California, is dated 1972.
Would this have been last time it was licensed and used?
Probably. It's possible a previous owner may have stuck an old license plate on the bike for some reason.
 
I've used Vermont over a dozen times.

You can also get personalized plates for an additional $45

USA licensing rules.
 
Hi RoadScholar and Grandpaul,
I just visited the VT DMV website. It appears to me that they require in person VIN verification and a copy of a previous title.
Am I missing something?
I want to title and register two bikes; a '67 G15 and a '71 Commando.

Ed
 
Hi RoadScholar and Grandpaul,
I just visited the VT DMV website. It appears to me that they require in person VIN verification and a copy of a previous title.
Am I missing something?
I want to title and register two bikes; a '67 G15 and a '71 Commando.

Ed

The inspection is done by a local (to you) police officer or DMV official, I suggest a LEO, if you have a choice. The LEO inspects the bikes VIN and signs off on the VT form, the sign-off box isn't a secret. VT will also ask for a letter from the LEO's department stating that he/she is a member of their force, on their letterhead; if you are a member in good standing in the community in which you reside they should be happy to cooperate; in the two cases where I made this request, in person, I offered to pay the overtime rate for their efforts to emphasize the urgency of the request, but have not been taken up on my offer. I have lived in the same community for just about 40 years and make a point of actively supporting the local police, it helps me with my license to carry and in such matter as we are discussing.

You should have a notarized bill-of-sale, and/or a title from the seller to submit with the rest of the documentation, if not keep reading.

Before I purchase any used vehicle from a private party I call my local PD and have them run the VIN through the national stolen vehicle database both engine and frame, if different (takes about 2 minutes), which is what VT will do as part of their process, you can use the frame number or the engine number for a tile, but do check both, even the Massachusetts DMV doesn't care, which is saying a lot.

If you do not have a document(s) that shows you purchased the vehicle then you pretty much look like a thief in the eyes of the law because you will then have no recourse in the event ownership is contested, the buck will stop with you and the prosecution will start with you. If you are 100% satisfied that the vehicle is not and has not been stolen then consider having a friend generate a notarized bill-of-sale to speed the process; I'm not high on this method because you ask a lot of your friend, but if you go this way be sure to thank your friend in a very tangible way.

One last bit. The VT form talks about having insurance; unless they changed the process you can ignore that part.

"Welcome to the machine"

And: Best wishes
 
Thanks RoadScholar. That should work for the '71 Commando. I bought that in pieces from Phil at Fair Spares: Frame, lower end with matching #'s and have a bill of sale from him.

The G15, however, is a frame from one source and a lower end from another. Numbers don't match, obviously. Any advice fo
 
Thanks RoadScholar. That should work for the '71 Commando. I bought that in pieces from Phil at Fair Spares: Frame, lower end with matching #'s and have a bill of sale from him.

The G15, however, is a frame from one source and a lower end from another. Numbers don't match, obviously. Any advice fo

Most states have a process for registering/titling a vehicle made from parts. The bureaucratic body that grants the birth of such a bitsa may look for a history of serial numbered parts and for proof of sales tax payment. In MA the process starts with an inspection by a State Police officer, he/she will check numbers against the national stolen vehicle database. If the police inspection goes well they may select either the frame of engine number for placement on the title, they may also issue a VIN which means (In MA) that the vehicle in question becomes a 2018 model. Next, you present the parts list and pay the sales tax on any part that you purchased out of the state, This quickly becomes a negotiation; Gee, I had a bunch of old parts laying around...So after some back and forth you pay something and get your paperwork stamped. So now you have a clear VIN and a paid up sales tax. Off the insurance company and elect what ever coverage meets your level of risk, the off the DMV where you will pay plate, registration and title fees.

BS on top of BS. That is why I have a friend in TN where, when all else fails, will "buy" the bike from me, pay their sales tax, title it, pay the plate fee (no insurance required in TN), then sell it back to me with current registration and title ( costs me about $300). I still like Vermont, but when someone else does all the leg work it is easy to get lazy. I start this process once the motorcycle gets into my shop so it is completely MA compliant (like 12 pound trigger pulls on MA compliant new firearms).

There are a multitude of ways to skin the cat. I suggest that you approach each step with a smile and a humble, but winning attitude.

Riding your masterpiece after that is quite anticlimactic...Still fun though
 
In my state, Maine, you can use a vintage plate on a vintage vehicle, if you can find one. So it would be hard to tell, at least here, if that was the last time it was registered. 72 was pre-computer too so looking it up might be a project....
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top