Race motorcycle - title transfer (DMV saying I need t pay fees)

[nvetro]

Sooo I have a question, I am trying to transfer the title for a race bike I purchased. The race bike has a salvage certificate and I have a bill of sale, etc...Since its a race bike and used to be a road bike the previous owner let the registration expire (as would I) since its not touching the streets. I went to the DMV today to transfer the title, and inquire about NON Operation registration (I don't care to much about the registration part)....they then told me I cannot do a title transfer because I have to pay the back registration fee(s) from 2010 to now....all I want to do is a title transfer...I don't care to register it...does this sound right to you all?

I dont understand by a title transfer is linked to registration fees...I understand the registration fees will carry over to the vin even with the title in my name...but I don't want to pay them because its useless...the bike wasn't on the road at all after the expiration time.

Should I inquire with the DMV about a title transfer only and not say anything about registration??

I'm confused....if there is no way to transfer the bike without paying the false registration fees then I think i'll keep the title with the previous owners name and my reassignment name on the back, if I sell the bike again there is a section for second reassignment, what are your thoughts on that?

 

[RightCoastBias]

They want their money. They're going to get it.

 

[Roadstergal]

Yep, if the previous owner allowed back fees to accumulate, you have to pay them to transfer the title and register the bike - even if you register as non-op.

Note that a salvage certificate isn't a salvage title - you would need to jump through all the inspection hoops to get it titled.

If you will never street it, file the certificate and bill of sale, and when it comes time to sell it, sell it with a bill of sale. I've done that with a trackbike in the past.

 

[auntiebling]

Should I inquire with the DMV about a title transfer only and not say anything about registration??

ask for a Title Only Vehicle Transfer. i did it once and iirc still had to pay the back fees. my reason was for a vehicle that wouldn't smog that i just wanted rid of in the long run. wanted the clear title, even if reg wasn't current, so i could get rid of it with a clear conscience.

If you will never street it, file the certificate and bill of sale, and when it comes time to sell it, sell it with a bill of sale. I've done that with a trackbike in the past.

that's what i'd do. maybe some day it'll "fall out of the system," fees will go down, and you'll have clear paperwork if you waned to put it back on the street

 

[Dmitriy]

If you will never street it, file the certificate and bill of sale, and when it comes time to sell it, sell it with a bill of sale. I've done that with a trackbike in the past.

I recall an AFM bike with 7 of those and each owner would pass on the thickening stack of paperwork on to the next one.

 

[nvetro]

Thanks guys! I think I'll just keep the salvage certificate w/ the reassignments on the back showing it was sold to me Eventually it will fall off with the DMV and I'll just do a transfer title at that time, 10000 years down the road haha.

Anyone have any idea how many years until an unregistered bike falls out of the system?

 

[OldBlade]

Thanks guys! I think I'll just keep the salvage certificate w/ the reassignments on the back showing it was sold to me Eventually it will fall off with the DMV and I'll just do a transfer title at that time, 10000 years down the road haha.

Anyone have any idea how many years until an unregistered bike falls out of the system?

I think it's after five podium finishes

 

[That Guy]

I think it's after five podium finishes

 

[ThumperX]

The thing that so many folks don't understand is that once a bike is registered unless the owner elects to "non-op" it the fees accumulate

ANYBODY that is taking a street bike off the road should non-op the thing immediately.
With respect to the salvage title process the title only still involves fees.

 

[CAmudgeon]

Yep you are pretty much hosed at this point.

It would have cost $18 or something to nonop the bike forever. The fees are just going to keep racking up. The 'dropping out the system' after 5, 7, ? years is possible, but are you really keeping the bike that long? The fees are going to be a PITA to whoever you sell it to next, possibly lowering the desirability of the bike.

I would just pay what is owed now, register it as non-op, and chalk it down to experience.

And as for not registering it, not that it is likely they will do anything, but you are legally obliged to register it in 10 days I guess.

Also, the seller should submit a ROL within 5 days, in which case it will be in your name anyway in the DMV system. Since the seller never submitted a Non-op status to the DMV maybe he'll be too clueless to submit the ROL too though...