titling Help

[Indy1K]

Hi Folks,
My son and I picked up a very tired and neglected 82. We have worked on it for almost 2 months now and want get it on the road. Problem is we bought it from a guy on a bill of sale with the intent that if we couldnt get it running, we would part it out for you guys to use. Well, this guy bought it from an estate sale, title lost. I ran the numbers through the police and it is not stolen, yet doing a vin title history, it doesnt come up at all. More than 5 years out of registration? Two questions, how do I get it re-titled and is there someone in a state that can do the buy it, title it, sell it back to me. I did this with my 65 GTO.
Second, is it unusual for the vin to be 18 characters? mine starts with JYA11H00... is this correct? Just making sure since it doesnt come up on add123 or autotitles
Thanks,
Kevin
PS, I posted pics too.

[Raj1988]

who would have thunk kawasaki green would make a V look so good...

[Re-Vision]

Sure hope you haven't lost the left side cover, the bike does look good.    BDC

[fret not]

Nice color for a Vision!

Somewhere deep in the hallowed halls of DMV there is a list of regulations that can be followed to get legal title to your Vision.  This is not something new for the DMV, so it shouldn't be difficult to find the information, but you have to ask.  What sate are you in?

[Rikugun]

Some state's motor vehicles departments have lost title procedures so I'm guessing you've allready tried that route?   

how do I get it retitled and is there someone in a state that can do the buy it, title it, sell it back to me.

This very service is provided by companies.  My understanding is the cost is reasonable. They apparently "purchase" the vehicle from you, do VIN searches for liens etc. Additionally there is a waiting period to see if it shows up as stolen. They then procure a title and "resell" it back to you with paper that allows you to title it in your state. All done through the mail.

My brother availled himself to this service with a car but his recollection is they will do trucks, bikes, etc. When I called him he was a bit vague on the particulars but thought he might have filed some info on it. If so, he'll call me later with details but claims he found the place via a brief Google search like "car title companies".  Maybe substitute "motorcycle" and try it?

[CasaJones]

I am in the middle of this process in Texas.  I was able to find a lot of information on the DMV website and printed out the forms...   

Had to get a bonded title ($100), state safety inspection, fill out the paperwork from the DMV and then pay the taxes for the registration.  Still waiting on the bond from the agent then off to pay the taxes on it.

If it is similar where you are be sure that the name is the same on all paperwork (bond, and dmv paperwork).  They didn't like that I used my middle initial on the bond and my full name on the state paperwork.  That was a big setback.

Not sure what the procedure is in your state but I would guess it is similar.

Good Luck.

[Rikugun]

They didn't like that I used my middle initial on the bond and my full name on the state paperwork.  That was a big setback

Welcome to the post 9-11 world.  Within the last several years here in NJ, the DMV has been updating drivers licenses in an effort to make them more "secure" and harder to fake.  Since a license is often used as primary ID, they don't want them getting into the hands of terrorists I suppose.

You are required to bring 5 pieces of ID with restrictive conditions for each i.e only original birth certificates, not even a copy from the state will do and no non-photo drivers license are accepted. Yes, you can not use your current drivers license to prove who you are to get a new drivers license which will become your primary ID.

I never use my middle initial but it is on some documents and I thought they were gonna' call in the SWAT team before it was all over.

[akvision]

Go and talk to DMV in your state and they will have varying requirements, but they can provide a path to get a lost title replaced or re-instated .. if it has always been in state it will be easier.. if it is lost from another state you may have to apply in the last state registered then transfer the bike..

The process is not fun, but do-able.  Just ask the questions.. they work for us,, right?

akvision

[gmac]

I would follow CasaJones lead and get a bonded title. There are a lot of scams out there offering you a clear title in another state.

I would find the smallest town close to you that has a DMV office and talk to them (or maybe find 2).

We have had a MN dealers licence for years, and I can tell you most people at the state DMV have no idea what the laws are (same way you get different answers every time you go there). We got a lot of things fixed by the local DMV rep. that the state told us would be a problem (nothing illegal or shady, we would NEVER do business that way) because she was smart enough to fill in what needed to be and send it on it's way.

[Indy1K]

Ok Gang,
For everyone's benefit, here is what happened.
I don't knwo if this will work for every state, but my guess is most. In Indiana, after 7 years of inavtivity on registration or titling, the vehicle drops from the database. This is supposedly true in many states. I had the police do a vin check, not stolen!, yeah. I did a vin check online at add123.com and alltitles.com. The bike identified by the vin but no national records, so no charge. I went to BMV and they asked me to get a notarized Bill of Sale from the seller and an affidavid of mileage, which I did. I went back and got it titled and plated yesterday for $63.00. This was a lot cheaper than the $375.00 the online re-titling services wanted.
Like most of you said, check with your local DMV first, it maybe cheaper and faster.

Cheers,
Kevin
PS: Got both side covers and battery cover now.

[akvision]

good for you and congratulations..
ride safe.

[Indy1K]

By the way, thanks for the compliments on the color.
It is 2010 Camaro nasty sick green. (synergy green)
My 17 year old son did all the body and paint. Gotta hand it to him, after sandblasting, the tank looked lik swiss cheese below the waterline.
We cut it out an welded in new steel, Metal to metal bondo and Por 15 tank sealer kit inside. OK so far.

[CasaJones]

Glad to know it is all legal now. 

Enjoy the rides

[Mike Jacobs]

By the way, thanks for the compliments on the color.
It is 2010 Camaro nasty sick green. (synergy green)

Hm.   I thought that looked too metallic and too dark to be the Kawa lime green.   I agree, nice color choice.   I suppose British Racing Green with a tan leather saddle would have been over the top....

My 17 year old son did all the body and paint.

Rattle can job, or do you have professional equipment?   Looks very good regardless.

Gotta hand it to him, after sandblasting, the tank looked lik swiss cheese below the waterline.
We cut it out an welded in new steel, Metal to metal bondo and Por 15 tank sealer kit inside. OK so far.

Somebody oughta bop upside the head the Yamaha stylist (I hesitate to call him an engineer) who designed our Visions' tanks to have those handy little pointy ends built into the front end of that swoopy arc at the bottom of the tank which highlights the splay of lovely finless V-twin cylinders below it.   The gas (if any) in those pointy ends will never, ever defy gravity to meet your petcock unless you're climbing a very steep hill, and so they are good for nothing except collecting water and rusting thru.   Mine did.   Not quite as bad as yours, though; I didn't have to weld in new steel, just patched the holes in the lower right front corner (some of them 1/4" wide by an inch or so long, after scrubbing out all the rust) with JBWeld.

[Indy1K]

Thanks for the compliments. We have professional equipment.
unfortunately, even with all the repair work and the por-15, it is blistering the paint again in that lower left side.
I am going to have to start all over again with the D*&%& tank. I have way more money into this bike than it is worth and I am ready to part it out!!!!