Need help getting a title for a scooter

[CaptTrev]

I was wondering if any of you guys knew of a sure fire way of getting a motor vehicle title (for a scooter)

basically i intercepted a 1996 80cc Honda scooter from being thrown in the dumpster.

i put a few $ in to it (new plug, new battery, new brake shoes etc) and a LOT of time/labor

anyway, i got it running really well and now i want to register it. It was previously a police scooter in a private town. But i guess it broke down (looks like the + wire on the start relay got green and they decided the thing was junk, so they let it sit outside for a few years until someone decided to toss it)

anyway, i contacted them, both by phone and in person, and no one can find the title, so i found the paperwork on the DMV website for my state (NY), that would allow the owner of the vehicle to apply for a new title. So i gave them the paperwork, with a $10 check (DMV title replacement fee) and asked them to sign a few things and mail it in. They refused. They said the scooter was supposed to be thrown out and disposed of. I told them i realize that, but i fixed it up and got it going. They didnt care. They are VERY unwilling to help.

Any ideas on what to try/do?

I've found a few websites that advertise that tey can get you a title for anything, and usually within 10 days. But looking at the fee's, its a bit pricy. It was going to be about $200.

I was also wondering what would happen if i tried to register this thing with a new title, what would come up in the computer as far as previous ownership, and woul dit become a big deal with the town that threw it out. Its a real PITA!

I'll try anything! Give me some ideas!!

thanks!!!!

CaptTrev

 

[Dawg Cherokee]

Unfortunately, in most states (probably all) a motor vehicle is not like an old blender. Even if you took it out of the garbage, it still belongs to the registered owner until they transfer the title in some way. Check the abandoned vehicle laws for your state and see if there is something in there to help. Perhaps you can contact the city again and offer to buy it from them. Until you get this straightened out, be real careful about riding it. The last thing you want is to get charged with possession of a city vehicle.

Good luck.

 

[KY Chris]

I was gonna get a title for a Vespa I had and was directed to Nevada. Apparently they have lax titling laws there. You can buy a title through the mail and then transfer it to your state or something. Try Googling Nevada and titles, or something.

 

[Eagle]

I'm facing almost the same problem with an MJ I bought from a junkyard. The title has already been turned into the DMV as showing the vehicle has been salvaged, so even though there is no evidence that it was wrecked, I can't get the title replaced.

Someone here sent me the web link for that "title replacement" service. You'll have the same problem I'll have. What they do is give you a bill-of-sale from another state together with a letter stating that that state did not issue a title. So when you take that to the State of NY and their computer shows a NY title for a vehicle you've got an Alabama bill-of-sale for ... I think you're going to have a problem.

I don't know what I'm going to do. The MJ is too nice to use for parts, so I may get the Alabama letter and then register the truck in another state.

 

[CaptTrev]

i was talking to a buddy who suggested this:

buy/get the title from another (junked) honda scooter (prolly doesnt even have to be same year, make or model even, even a different cc. prolly)

but as long as its a honda scooter it could work...

get the title from a junked scooter and register "THAT" scooters title. get the lic. plate and throw it on the REAL scooter.

IF you get pulled over, a cop would check the registration: and on the registration, it would probably say honda scooter, and the VIN #, however, i would imagine that a cop isnt going to flip the bike over to check the VIN on the thing.

the only (well, one of the) things is insurance.....if i DID manage to get into an accident with the scooter and the insurance company actually looked deeper into the scooter thery would see the VIN#s dont match=big trouble probably


ARGH

well, maybe the registering it in another state would do the trick. . .how strict is CT with titles/registrations etc? NJ?

again...what a PITA...

keep the ideas coming guys, please!!!

CaptTrev

 

[KY Chris]

Another thing, I know that 50cc and under don't require licensing in KY, I know some states like IL do, however. Regardless, I had a 50cc Spree when I was young that only came with a Certificate of Origination, no title, etc. You sure that 80 had or needs a title?

 

[Moto]

Should be pretty easy to do, you live in NY, which is very close to Vermont, so you can do like all of us who have registered Dirt only dirtbikes for the road. I was able to register my Husky in MA even though it had never been issued a title and had never been registered. Just go though the Vermont DMV, In Vermont there is no title, or prior registration required to register a bike under 300cc's just make your self up a bill of sale. I believe that you are even now able to register bikes and scooters through the mail for $30. Vermont has some funky laws regarding this, they may say you need to be a resident, but thier residency laws can apply to out of state residents, I think the only requirement is that you visit thier state X amount a times a week or year so you can just say that you do if they ask. So you do all that and then go back to NY and tranfer the title and registration. It shoudl work, but I am not sure about the Registry Laws in NY, I hear they are kinda difficult when it comes to this sort of stuff but you shouold Check out the Vermont DMV Website for info.

http://www.aot.state.vt.us/dmv/REGISTRATION/titles/TITLESVehicles.htm

http://www.aot.state.vt.us/dmv/REGISTRATION/Motorcycles/MOTORCYCLES.htm

 

[Matthew Currie]

Should be pretty easy to do, you live in NY, which is very close to Vermont, so you can do like all of us who have registered Dirt only dirtbikes for the road. I was able to register my Husky in MA even though it had never been issued a title and had never been registered. Just go though the Vermont DMV, In Vermont there is no title, or prior registration required to register a bike under 300cc's just make your self up a bill of sale. I believe that you are even now able to register bikes and scooters through the mail for $30. Vermont has some funky laws regarding this, they may say you need to be a resident, but thier residency laws can apply to out of state residents, I think the only requirement is that you visit thier state X amount a times a week or year so you can just say that you do if they ask. So you do all that and then go back to NY and tranfer the title and registration. It shoudl work, but I am not sure about the Registry Laws in NY, I hear they are kinda difficult when it comes to this sort of stuff but you shouold Check out the Vermont DMV Website for info.

http://www.aot.state.vt.us/dmv/REGISTRATION/titles/TITLESVehicles.htm

http://www.aot.state.vt.us/dmv/REGISTRATION/Motorcycles/MOTORCYCLES.htm

I've mentioned this before, but will remind all that Vermont also does not require (or even issue) title for vehicles over 15 years old.

In some states, it might be possible to retitle something like that Honda if you apply for a new title as a "composite" or homemade vehicle. There are some provisions at least in some places for vehicles that are assembled out of parts of several others. You might be able to say this is the case even if it is "assembled" out of parts of only one. I had this issue years ago with an old Ducati motorcycle whose VIN (very italian, this....) was on a sticker that fell off. I never got around to doing this, but I was told I might be able to start the whole process fresh and have a new VIN issued. You might have to generate bills of sale for the parts though. It might be worthwhile to visit some place like a motorcycle shop that specializes in choppers and custom bikes and see if they have any hints on how to do this all legally.