Looking at a motorcycle for sale with no title

[jgradyc]

I was browsing through Craigslist and found a 1989 Honda motorcycle for sale with no title. It's a road bike so I'd need a title to get a tag. Is it hard to get a title? Is there a lot of effort involved? How much does it cost? 

[Ugly]

It could be stolen, I've bought many a motorcycle and having a title Is a biggy for me. Of course they could've just lost it but you could find out the hard way. If that's the case, it's a complete financial loss and now you are in possession of stolen equipment.

[TripleDigitRide]

Be careful.

 

I'd want to know why the seller doesn't have the title. I'd want to know if the seller was the last person to register the bike. Does he have the registration or other legal paperwork to prove he once had it registered in his name? 

 

If the bike was once registered to him, he can get a duplicate pretty easily, and I think it's only $11. 

 

There are companies like Bennett's Auto Title Services who will go through the hassle of obtaining hard to get titles. If you explain the situation to them, they will let you know if they can get the title or not.

99% of the time, unless you are using the bike for parts or racing, it's not worth the hassle. You only know what the current "owner" tells you, and I tend to be a bit leery of such transactions.

[bersaguy]

Man I have heard so many horror stories about vehicle sales on Craig's list, All I can tell you is run very fast in opposite direction............jmho

Edited May 23, 2014 by bersaguy

[peejman]

I was browsing through Craigslist and found a 1989 Honda motorcycle for sale with no title. It's a road bike so I'd need a title to get a tag. Is it hard to get a title? Is there a lot of effort involved? How much does it cost? 

 

 

It's a pain.  Title searches, contact info for the previous owner, affidavits, ....   Unless you just really, REALLY want that bike... I'd pass. 

[tnguy]

Might be worth a roll of the dice if cheap enough but as others have said, VIN searches and retitling are cheap enough.

 

If it's the one I just found, I wouldn't risk that much for  no title.

Edited May 23, 2014 by tnguy

[jgradyc]

Okay, thanks. I was mostly interested in how much hassle it would be. I occasionally see an old dual sport with no title that could be rewired with lights to be street legal. I was just wondering if it would be a super hassle to get a title. It sounds like it is.

[Fourtyfive]

You can apply for a lost title , check for stolen first.

[RED333]

I would not buy a car, truck or motorcycle with out a tile, never.

Have the owner apply for a lost tile, then but it.

[Dane]

Don't do it. I've been down this road and was not able to get a title for the bike I had. Fortunately for me someone else bought my problem and I didn't loose anything. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[frankmako]

I would not buy a car, truck or motorcycle with out a tile, never.

Have the owner apply for a lost tile, then but it.

 

plus one.  have the owner get a title.  if he can not or don't want too, walk away for the deal.  

[Murgatroy]

No title pretty much equates to stolen in my experience. Either someone stopped paying the bank and stole it, or saw it on the corner and stole it.

 

Not worth the hassle. If it was, the current owner would have the title and not be selling it so cheap.

[teecro]

I was browsing through Craigslist and found a 1989 Honda motorcycle for sale with no title. It's a road bike so I'd need a title to get a tag. Is it hard to get a title? Is there a lot of effort involved? How much does it cost? 

 

For as much as I love motorcycles it is a 25 year old HONDA there is very little chance it is even worth the hassle of a questionable CL buy....

[HvBikeWlTravel]

For as much as I love motorcycles it is a 25 year old HONDA there is very little chance it is even worth the hassle of a questionable CL buy....

EXACTLY  what I was thinking. There are WAY TO MANY other Bikes out there unless this was a one-off custom limited production guilded in Gold special no other one on the planet version.

Edited May 24, 2014 by HvBikeWlTravel

[10-Ring]

I've bought and sold many motorcycles over the years.  No title is a usually a deal breaker for me, but...  There is a loophole, The State of Tennessee will issue you a title if the fair market value of your vehicle is less than $3,000.  Haven't tried it yet but know a couple of people who have successfully.  Sounds like just what you need!  Does go without saying though, proceed with extreme caution when a title is missing.  Here is the form  https://www.tn.gov/revenue/forms/titlereg/f1310401Fill-in.pdf

Edited May 25, 2014 by 10-Ring

[Sam1]

The only time I would buy a bike with no title is if it was a track bike, it's not a big issue if that's what you are buying it for.  However, if the VIN was altered or missing, that's a no-go no matter what.

 

If this was a $50k collectors bike that was really old, then it may be worth looking into further, but those don't get sold on craigslist.