Kawi2strokes.com Forum

Pete, yes the procedure I wrote about is for obtaining a title for a vehicle in NC when you have no title or other proof of ownership. I assume if you move to NC from a state that doesn't issue titles, but have all the legal documents that show ownership, NC will issue a title without the bond procedure.

What seems unusual to me is that if my motorcycle is over 35 years old, it's exempt from emissions inspection and yearly safety inspections, but it has to be inspected before getting a title. The inspection is to verify that it is what you're claiming it is, and that it's "road worthy". The entire inspection when I got my H2 done was to have me start it to show it runs, and to check the serial numbers. From what I was told, an official of the state pulled some illegal tricks to title some vehicles as antiques when they weren't what he claimed they were.

When I started it for the cop who inspected it, the first thing he said was "It sounds like my outboard motor".

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If it surges, that's normal, upshift.

My current conversation with our Secretary Of State:


My question concerns obtaining a title for a motorcycle I came across in my deceased uncle's barn. It has no title and nobody in the family has any knowledge that he ever titled the bike. The bike had been sitting in his barn for over 15 years before I discovered it. I am now in the process of restoring it and I would like to get it titled and licensed. Please explain how I can proceed to obtain a title for it.

Terry Leemaster


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

Your aunt would have to apply for a lost title with your uncle's death certificate and the VIN number at any SOS office.

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

Sincerely,
T Whaley

Department of State Information Center




Thank you for your prompt reply.

Both my aunt & uncle are long since deceased and there are no records of my uncle ever having the bike registered. There is no paper trail related to it whatsoever. I am in the process of having the VIN checked as far as being stolen.

If it's clean, certainly there must be some other way for me to get this bike titled & licensed.

T. Leemaster

You MAY be lucky and maybe some people don't know the new regs yet (fingers crossed for you) but here is the actual new legislation, this was sent out to all branch offices - maybe I am intrperating it wrong ? Your thoughts are appreciated
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Now what intrigues me is the line "there must be a record found on the system" - Presumably a computer system ? Which in 1976 was in it's infancy - I know in the U.K. it was almost into the 1980's before computer records began . . . Maybe they still have the old system - hundreds of old binders . . . maybe someone will go down the cellar and search through them for that elusive "record on the system" :think:

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

New york state purges it's files every 7 years. With the non-titled(reg. card only) bikes 72 and older I found ways around it. 73 and newer I haven't tried. I would go the Vermont route if you really want the bike before that gets changed. They can't deny a VT reg. card with your name on it. Period...you are showing ownership. If I moved to MI with 3 bikes and a 2010 4 wheeler with just reg. cards and they denied me...I would leave.

RB, in what you posted, It looks to me like there are two different options described. One is "Self Certification" which needs a previous MI title, and one is a bond title, similar to what I described for NC, for when there is no record at all of ownership.

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If it surges, that's normal, upshift.

RB - you aren't misinterpreting things. But....what you are missing is that going the VT route you get legal ownership papers from the state of VT for the bike. MI HAS GOT to accept them when you go to title the bike. Otherwise nobody would be able to move into the state from VT. This works because VT allows out of state residents to register vehicles there. Is it an extra step - yes. Is it an extra cost - yes. Does it get you around the lack of ownership paperwork in MI - yes, well it should.

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They always run best right before they stop for good...and it was just running great...

The latest response from Michigan SOS and perhaps SOME sign of possibility:

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

If you cannot locate the previous owner, it will be necessary to get:

A Court Order. A court order awarding ownership of a vehicle can be used if the order includes the year, make, and vehicle identification number (VIN) of the vehicle; or


A Surety Bond. Without a court order, you must obtain a surety bond. A surety bond is like an insurance policy, and is purchased by the applicant from an insurance company or bonding agency. It must be for twice the fair market value of the vehicle ("fair market value" can be established by a dealer appraisal or a recognized vehicle appraisal guide). The bond is posted for three years and is returned if no claims are filed during the three-year period, or


As a last resort when a Michigan vehicle title has been lost, destroyed, or stolen and the purchaser is unable to contact the previous owner for a duplicate title, you can self-certify ownership at a Secretary of State branch office if the vehicle is six or more years old and valued at $2,500 or less. The self-certification procedure cannot be used for vehicles titled in another state.

You will need to submit:

A completed TR-205 Certification of Ownership (available on-line at all Secretary of State offices) stating you are the rightful owner of the vehicle and including the vehicle description, the true value of the vehicle, and a complete explanation of how, when, where, and from whom the vehicle was acquired; and


Either of the following:

A vehicle value appraisal completed by a licensed Michigan dealer, or


A page printed from an on-line appraisal service such as Kelly Blue Book, N.A.D.A. Guides, Edmunds, etc. (http://www.kbb.com, http://www.nadaguides.com, http://www.edmunds.com).

On-line appraisal sites may provide multiple vehicle values (wholesale value, trade-in value, and retail value). Any of these values showing a value of $2,500 or less may be accepted.





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

Sincerely,
T Whaley

That sounds reasonable!( Not that I'm involved!)

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"One day, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it's worth watching." : anon.