Ok..I'm an Idiot - Title Issues....

Ok, heres the quick and dirty.... save the flaming as I know I am an idiot ;-P


I live in upstate NY...

Bought a bike last fall - with intent on fixing it up (was not running) its a '81 XJ750 Seca.. paid 200$ for it - figured it would be a good project bike and would get me back on the road.... The guy i bought it from DID have the title, however it was for the previous owner (the back was filled out from previous owner), however the guy i bought it from never transferred the title (or filled out his information on the back of the title)..

So I am finally getting around to fixing this beast (you've probably seen a few of my posts recently - been stripping down the carbs).... and I finally got off my duff and went to the DMV to see what I can do..... They said I have to contact previous owner (guy on the title) and get him to give me a bill of sale (I cannot find him, not at address on title, no phone number, no forwarding information)... OR contact the guy I bought it from and have him do a title transfer and then get the new title from him and transfer to me.. Ok - but I can't find him either.. and whats the odds he will still have the bill of sale........

So... now what??? am I just looking at a parts bike that I will sell off on ebay?

Has anyone ever used one of those title reclaiming services?? or specifically ITS-TITLES, as it seemed to be the cheapest (85$ for this bike)...

Any thoughts, ideas, derogatory comments? ;-)

josh

 

Very simple fix.

Call-up one of your closest friends.
Get a Bill of Sale form from a Stationery Store.
Have your friend fill it out and sign it with the Sellers Name.

Sign the form and then put a slash / and write "Agent"

Makes it all hunkie-dory!

http://www.agreementsetc.com/bill-of-sa ... FQodkHdttA

 

I, I mean a friend of mine, had a similar situation. Bought a 750 Max from a young guy that had gotten it from a Mexican guy in West Texas but never had the title transfered. I mention he was Mexican because his name was Jose Gonzales or something like that. Ever try to locate a specific guy named Jose Gonzales in Texas? So I, I mean this friend of mine, had my wife, I mean his wife, practice Jose's signiture until it was perfect, at which time I, I mean this friend of mine, went to the DMV and successfully got a title. Just a thought.

 

I had to do the same thing. I lost the bill of sale and had to produce one.


I produced one.

 

rick: whats the 'agent' for?

 

thats funny,

 

"Agent" allows you to sign a document for another.

Look it up in a Business Law Book. There are many different classifications for what an Agent is able to do.

 

I had to do the same thing for mine...

 

I was in the same situation recently after acquiring my XJ550 Maxim, but I didn't even have the title. The DMV (Secretary of State in Michigan) was kind enough to tell me whose name was on the title. But the guy was not listed in the phone book, nor did he still live at the address on the title. Plus, the story from the PO was that he bought it from a guy that was terminally ill 8O So, as a shot in the dark, I ended up calling someone with the same last name in the same area, hoping the title might be part of his estate. It turned out to be his brother's family, and they gave me _his_number_ (the terminally ill guy must have been yet another owner of the bike who never had the title transferred.) Fortunately the guy was really cooperative and met me at the DMV and signed over the title. So, keep looking and you may get lucky and get in touch with the guy.

 

Hey,Josh. Give me a 6 pack of Labatt Blue,and I'll be your "agent".

Where are you in upstate NY? I am near Syracuse.

Best of luck to you!

 

Josh,
I live near Schenectady and titled/registared my bike there.
My title was the same as yours.
Purchased, filled out and signed by a guy in NH.
The guy I bought it from in Colonie, NY never titled it or filled out the back in his name.
I filled out the back with my name and info, like I bought the bike from the NH guy.
You don't need a bill of sale on a vehicle this old, unless you claim it cost you nothing or was a gift.
Just put down the sale price on the form for the new title.
They will not question the price unlees the blue book value is higher then the price you put down.
ie. a 30 year old mint Corvette doesn't sell for $20 bucks.

You should have no problems.
This way you're not forging anything either.
If you find the guy you bought it from he probably wouldn't title it, as it would cost him $50 dollars and is probably why he didn't do it to begin with.
Good luck, when she's running PM me we'll ride.

 

TheHound: Good advice. I called the DMV and actually got someone who knew what they were talking about - she said the only reason the truly 'need' a receipt is to figure out the tax owed on it. She said if I had the title, and the previous owner filled it out and I filled it out, the local DMV could either just take my word on the price, or Blue Book it and charge me tax on what its 'worth'.....

She said that if the local DMV person gives me trouble to ask for a supervisor ;-P

So, I am armed with pictures of the bike, the title, print outs of the kelly blue book values and the DMV search i did to verify that there were no liens against the bike... I also have a friend who is a police office who did a search (just to make 100% sure) that the bike isn't stolen - and all is clean! Going to go down Thursday and see what I can do ;-)

Thanks for all the advice all! Will keep you posted!

 

Oh, and to answer the question - I am in the Utica/Rome area of Upstate, NY ;-)

Once I have the bike titled, i'll add myself to the map ;-)

 

All of a sudden there seems to be a few of us in the area. When everyones bike is up and running (seems to be a common thing i'm hearing) we will difinately have to get together for a ride around one of the fingerlakes.

 

Sounds like a plan! 8)

 

Sounds familiar. I, I mean a friend of mine, did the exact same thing.

 

I had to do the same for a boat I bought a few years back.

 

Woot! Its done, will get title in 45days!

Now time to get it running ;-P

Thanks all for advice and help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Sure

 

I know of two xj owners in the area surrounding Utica, I"m one and just a bit below Waterville (south of Utica). I know of one over near the Turning Stone, and I know of a few XJ bikes around that the owners couldn't care less about this site or any other. They just want to ride and that's it. I can't even talk them out of the bikes. heehee

Where in the Utica area are you? I have some of the middle of the day free tomorrow and will probably be out riding somewhere. If you want, give me a call and see if we can meet up. here's my cell (Moderator delete)** If I can't answer right away, leave a message and I'll return the call.

dave

** Cell phone number deleted by Moderator Rick Massey -- Use the Private Message function. There are a great number of reasons to keep that information private.