Another title and registration question in California...

Hello everyone. I recently bought a 1982 XJ750 Seca in really rough shape for 200$. Apparently the guy I purchased it from doesn't have a title so I'm having difficulty getting this thing legal. I called the DMV with the VIN # of the bike before I bought to make sure I wasn't going to have any issues title and registering it. They said it was last titled and registered in CA in 2009 and then left the state. I was told that all I needed was a signed bill of sale and everything would be fine.

Of course, now that I bought the bike, the story is different. Now the DMV will require either the out of state title or the lean sale paperwork. Neither of which I have or can get. I called the seller back and he spills the bag of worms on me. He says the bike was salvaged and junked once. It was sold from one guy to the next as parts. The last guy that had dropped it off to him (the mechanic that I bought it from) for a carb rebuild. He did the work and they guy never came back for it and won't receive phone calls or texts. So, I really don't know what to do here.

Is there anything I can currently do? I called the mechanic I purchased it from tonight and he said he will try to find out how to get a mechanics lein but the process will be most likely to difficult for him to figure out and complete.

I currently have a signed bill of sale (from the individial I bought it from, who also has a virago carb rebuilding business) and that's it.

Am I screwed? Anyone else know what I can do?


Also, I'm more angry at the DMV than this guy. They should have never told me that the bill of sale was all I needed. I hate it when requirements change around 100% from what your told they are... :x

 

Find a lawyer that is willing to type a letter to sent the seller. Alternatively file a claim yourself. The seller did not disclose the actual legal status of the bike, which is fraud. If you spook him a little he just might refund your money: otherwise you have a parts bike.

If it really is in good enough condition to put back on the road you can get it titled in Vermont pretty easily, and then get it re-titled in CA.

 

Well, the ebay ad said "no paperwork" but I called him and asked for the vin and he said he would sign a bill of sale if I wanted him to. So he did tell me there was no paperwork. I just really hate the DMV right now since they told me before I purchased this that all I needed was a bill of sale!

Seriously about vermont? Wouldn't I have to be there with the bike or something?

The bike does run now after a bit of work but needs more work. I was gonna go a frame up build on it after I got the DMV taken care of to...

 

http://www.ehow.com/facts_7619567_buy-m ... title.html

Wondering, if I contact the Police and it's not reported stolen anywhere if that will help? If it is stolen I wouldn't want to have it anyway. I'm feeling that it really is abandoned. Anyone advise against doing this? I don't want to get in trouble myself.

Edit: Oops, didn't read closely enough. This will do nothing for the DMV anyway... (wonder if they could tell me who the correct registered owner is, then I could do a real title transfer if they are cool with it. Otherwise they can come get it...)

But seriously, why isn't the DMV allowed to tell me who it's registered to?

 

Contacted the local police station tonight. It's not reported stolen at least. They did tell me that the registered owner is not the guy that sold it to me. Of course. How are you supposed to get the title transferred into your name if you don't know who's name it's in in the first place?! This whole system sucks.

I wonder how many vehicles are junked because of this same exact situation?

... lots I'd imagine.

 

It never ceases to amaze me how stupid government can be. I used to work a gov job and I kid you not they would tell us to 'go slow' because they didn't want us to get hurt-We were being paid by the hour!!

Different states have various policies. It has become easier in some and harder in others, unfortunately you are in the hardest one. This may help:

Even though you aren't trying for a lien sale, although that is one way to get it transferred in CA, this form should get you the info your looking for. If you haven't had any luck at the DMV you've been going to, try another and use 'honey' to ply your way forward. They are bored with their jobs and if you brighten their day sometimes it helps.

I know in my state (Arkansas) and maybe one near you, you can simply walk in with a BOS and insurance and the Title is yours-but anything valued over $3000 here is another story-your bike would pass here.

 

Kinda going through the same thing here in WI with the 550 I just picked up. I'm going to try getting it re-titled with hobbyist plates, another member did so and advised that they are a little more lieaniant and forgiving and willing to work it out moreso than just trying for regular tags.

 

I'm actually from WI, still pay WI state taxes to! I'm just stationed out here. My little bro is gonna see what the Appleton DMV says but I'd still like to hear how you fare on your ordeal.

 

If none of this works out it looks like I'll need a frame with a good title. Will a 1980 XJ750 seca frame work? Is 99$ plus 99$ shipped with clean title a decent price? Never bought a frame before so I don't really know what the going rate is...

All the 1981-1983 xj750 seca frames I see have no title either.

 

9 times out of 10 if you go to the DMV and explain, and tell them there is no possible way to get the past paperwork. They will ask you to fill out a statement of facts I beleive form REG256 and request for duplicate title form REG227. Once that is signed by you you pay the fees they "should issue" a new title and registration to you.

Also because the bike is older than "85" they may waive the title bond.

The title bond is a deposit left with the DMV for 10% (depending on the agent) of the value of the vehicle. In this case what you bought it for. The bond is kept with the dmv for 5 years then it is refunded to you if nobody makes claim on the vehicle.

I used to work in finance for business aquisitions and have to deal with the dmv regulary.

 

A titled frame probably won't help your problem. Because the bike has no title, you will probably have to take the bike in for a VIN verification. They check both the frame and engine numbers. I have also been told that if the bike doesn't look like the original model, you will get a special construction title and that can cause problems with getting insurance. Cali is a pain for getting old bikes registered. I have a 550 Seca that I will have to completely rebuild to stock, I only got the titled motor and frame, before I can get it registered. It has been out of the DMV system for close to 20 years. I plan on hardtailing it. That little special construction title is what keeps me from just hardtailing it first.

 

I scheduled an appointment at the DMV this Friday. I'm taking your advice and just honestly going down there and explaining it to them in person and we'll see what happens. I'll let y'all know

 

And this makes yet another reason to not live in Cali.

 

Well, I thought that if I could get a bike frame with a clean title, I could just transfer ownership to myself in the normal way. I don't believe you have to get anything inspected as long as the title isn't salvage or junked... At least not in WI. But if you do have to get a vin verification, shouldn't they use the frame number?! If they require the engine vin to match the frame that's rediculous! What if someone had to replace their engine?

 

I went to a DMV office in North Carolina today to get a bike title under my name (no issues with that one) after talking to them for a bit I told them that I was looking at buying two bikes from different states without titles and ask what my options were to get them titled in NC.

They asked me where they were from and here were the answers:

bike from Ohio: Get a bond from insurance and once I post that they will give me a title.

Bike from Maine: Because Maine is a "no title state" all I need is a bill of sale, Maine registration, and a notarized statement from the previous owner stating how he/she got the bike. Once I have that, I could title the bike here.

Like the last examples things are very different from State to State.

Good luck.

 

YET another. Amen.

Titling a bike in Michigan is stupid-simple too.

 

A title bond might be your best bet. Here in Iowa its pretty easy. You put down a deposit of 10%, like TASxj says, but here its for 3 years, and if no claims are made on the bike,you get a clear title. I did it with a Honda, just filled out the paperwork, and an inspector looked at it. My Maxim 650 was tougher, the 9 digit VIN was an issue, but yours is an 82, so it should have the 17 digit one.

 

That's in Iowa though, Cali's a little different. And the vin is a 9 digit number...

 

Hopefully you dont have any troubles with the 9 digit vin. The DOT didnt wa nt to give me any plates, because their computers said it should be a 17 digit one. I had to have an inspector verify the vin, since there was a required switch to 17 digits in the early 80s.

 

Speak for yourselves. After I came off active duty with the Marines, I got the hell out of Michigan as quickly as I could and moved out here.

That should say something about Michigan...