Kawi2strokes.com Forum

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Always remember, there will be greater and lesser people than yourself . . . you can learn from either!

Just finished sending the Michigan SOS an inquiry about the process. I'll post their reply here.

Terry

I have successfully titled several bikes in California by telling the DMV that they were my dad's bike and all the paperwork was lost. They send me off with a VIN verification form for the local California Highway Patrol to sign off on. I take the bike and paperwork to the local CHP office they run the VIN to confirm its not in their database as stolen and then sign off on the form. Take that back and file with DMV and a few weeks later the new title is mailed.... I think this is how many other states do it as well- Michigan for sure.

tim


*Note- I have not lived in MI since 1985 so I guess my info is not current!

Thats how easy it was when I lived in CA 11 years ago but did not know if it was the same deal. My only issue was the Daily City and Redwood City DMV was an all-day wait in line gig for even the simplest thing - hated that.

Getting a title in colorado very difficult too, surity bonds, inspections, lots of paper work, appraisals - not easy. The Good part is our DMV is very cultured. We have automated announcements of your number to an actual cubicle desk with people at it, you sit in a chair and it's neat! While waiting you have chairs and flat-panel TV's all around with news and such to keep you occupied. People are very nice and there's not agnst.

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This is true. Where I grew up the hills were so steep and long, when your ball rolled down the hill you just said "screw it"...

Ok, Here's my question to the the Michigan Secretary of State and their reply. I acted as if I had not yet purchased the bike.

I am considering purchasing a motorcyle from another state that no longer has a title. I would aquire a bill of sale for this vehicle, but what exactly is required for me to obtain a Michigan title for it?

Thank you!

Thank you for using the Department of State's web site.

A title is required for any out-of-state titled vehicle. A bill of sale would not be acceptable for vehicle transfer.

If you have other questions, feel free to contact us at 888 SOSMICH (888-767-6424).

Sincerely,

E Brethauer, Dept Technician
Department of State Information Center

So there you have it. Lot's of info there...right? Pathetic. I will have my VIN checked for stolen as my next door neighbor is a local chief of police. If that checks out OK, I'll call them and TRY to squeeze more info from them. We'll see.

Terry

In some states it makes a difference if the age of the vehicle is over xxx years... don't know about MI.
A 2010 model without a title is (or should be) different than a 1970 model without a title.

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Answers are here: http://kawatriple.com/

Ok Barry I am going to reveal one of my most guarded secrets about the DMV.... this worked for me when I was living in San Francisco and was doing what you described - waiting literally all day at the DMV..... Ok here's the secret: Arrive at the DMV at about 4:40PM. They close at 5PM and once you wait the 20 minutes they close the doors and no one else can come in. Then (before they can go home) all the people in line have to be served. Suddenly, every window is staffed and each transaction takes a lot less time...... Once I discovered this mechanism it never took more than an hour to get in and out!

What would the Michigan DMV do with a lost paperwork problem? Older vehicles don't stay in the system if they are not registered for so many years- they fall out. So a vintage bike that was never registered in MI (because its from out of state) would show nothing on the VIN search. I would try the "they were my Dad's (or brother's) bikes and he passed away- all the paperwork is lost. How do you move forward? Surely they are not saying you would have to discard your bike??? Gotta be a way...

Tim

I can assure you that I have this from the horses mouth (as in I have the actual "internal memo" sent out) they are stating quite simply that if you say that you bought it from out of State (as in car, bike, watercraft, snowmobile Etc) then the onus is upon YOU to get the person that you got it from to get a title from his own State . . . No title No go Even if the vehicle came from Michigan then it HAS to already be on their database, and even then you have to take the seller to the secretary of State with you, and jump through a LOT of hoops! I would show the relevent paragraphs but I don't have a photo editing suite on this lappy and can't show the whole memo for fear of incriminating the person that gave it to me . . . Bloody Hell . . . this is getting like Watergate

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Always remember, there will be greater and lesser people than yourself . . . you can learn from either!

I live in Indiana it is simple. Make sure you know a state the bike was never titled in.
Request a title search from that same state usually cost five bucks. Hopefully title search comes back clear never title in that state. Make up fake bill of sale from that state( you can uasually request a state issued bill of sale) or if you happen to know someome who lives there even better,if not pick a name out of obit's or phone book
Go to sheriff office and request out of state police check(another 5 bucks). Officers comes to my house checks vin for theft and after that go to DMV and indiana issues title . (25 bucks) plus tax I have never paid over two hundred bucks on bill of sale for old kawasaki!!!
I've done it half dozen times EZ
hope this helps
gregz

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1973 Z1
1974 H2 750
1976 kz 1075cc ATP turbo