So, the cb550 I picked up doesn't have a title... and it has old California plates... and I may or may not have all the signatures going back to the last listed owner years ago in California... there seems to be a real messy process to jump through a list of hoops to get things legally sorted...
So... I asked all the California boys on the board...and the general consensus was "Don't buy a non-titled bike." Of course this doesn't help me much.
This leads me to ask you all.... any help, advice, words of wisdom???
I'll PM you the contact info for a licensing expert I used to deal with down in Califruit. I get lonely in my unemployment, so I gave him a ring to chat, and he said that if it's been registered within the last six or eight years in California, that's a handy thing. Any more than that, and it can get purged from the Cal DMV database.
If you were a California resident, they have a kind of title hardship program where you can send certified letters to the last known owner, then go to the DMV and tell them that you've tried your damnedest to get the title, and they'll issue you one. I've never heard of Oregon being so liberal with lost out-of-state titles, but it may be worth asking if they'll do something similar.
Applying for a duplicate title in California is always an available option if you can indeed reach the last registered owner--however, they'll send the duplicate to that person when it's made, so there's an additional postage stamp in that sequence of events.
Anyway, Kevin's got a nice bag of tricks. If you know when it was last registered, give him a jingle.
There was something similar when I lived in NY. If you lost the title you could apply for a title search. Basically if it didn't come up as stolen it was yours and they'd issue a new title. Did this once on a car that I bought. No big deal really.
Go to the DMV, be real polite, and ask nicely. I'm guessing Oregon will pawn you off to Cali since it looks like that's where it was last registered but you can probably still do the same thing over the phone if needed.
Also, the Lake Oswego DMV next to New Seasons was a pretty friendly place last time I went. I had to register my bike here in OR after buying it in Cali and riding it up. No big fuss and they were really nice.
Scott
I just noticed that I spelled Oregon as Oreogn... lol... made me hungry .... Oreos... mmmm...
or
go find a CB550 with a title
and
swap frames
much less labor intensive
Quote from: Mother on March 15, 2010, 06:46:10 PM
or
go find a CB550 with a title
and
swap frames
much less labor intensive
[laugh] [laugh] [laugh]
The funny part is... that's probably true!
Get this... I found the old owner on facebook... so I sent him a message... he is willing to fill out the duplicate title form and send it to me.... and to have it notarized before sending it.... fingers crossed... I am hopeful that this works out. [thumbsup]
Wow, nice guy! And you actually used the internet and Facebook for something useful. How often does that happen?
Scott
Holy crap! Facebook was actually used to... *gasp* ... conduct business?!?
Today, March the 16th, Two-thousand and Ten, a day which will live in infamy...
[cheeky]
Don't mark it down yet. I did find the owner and he does seem initially helpful... but it aint over till I have the title in my hand. Time to wait and see. :P
Soooooooo... I sent him the PDF he needs to fill out... and the location of the closest PostNet post office... who does two dollar notary stamps... and have not received a response... even offered him $100 to complete it... argh.
Ummmm.... so how did you get the bike if you never met the old owner? Or did it go through several owners none of whom ever bothered to register it?
Scott
Quote from: scott_araujo on March 18, 2010, 09:54:52 AM
Ummmm.... so how did you get the bike if you never met the old owner? Or did it go through several owners none of whom ever bothered to register it?
Scott
The later...looks like three people had it in between and none of them registered it... I actually sent this form to Cali DMV to get the name of the current registered owner. Then rather than fill out another form to find his address, I just looked him up on facebook. Trying to save time and energy. ;D
If none of that works there is a process where you hold an "Auction" at a California address and if nobody buys it, it's yours. I did that with my GMC truck. There was of course no auction just a 20 day period where it had to sit around.
My experience with a similar problem in Oregon went a bit like this, EXCEPT:
I was told by DMV (when they gave me the contact info of the last registered owner) to send the LRO the filled out but unsigned form, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a letter stating my request that he complete and return the form, all in one envelope, certified mail, return receipt, restricted delivery. I should also be sure to make a copy of everything before I sent it to him.
http://www.usps.com/send/waystosendmail/extraservices/certifiedmailservice.htm (http://www.usps.com/send/waystosendmail/extraservices/certifiedmailservice.htm)
This would give me evidence that the request was actually delivered to the last registered owner, and that all he had to do was sign, put it in an envelope, and drop it in the mail.
There was no mention of a notary being required at any time.
DMV stated that, if the LRO didn't respond after (um, I think it was 60 or 90 days), that I should bring the proof of delivery back to DMV, and they'd do (something magical) to transfer the title to me anyhow, based solely upon the evidence of effort on my part.
As it turned out, the LRO sent the document back within the time limit, so I never had to exercise this "proof of sending" route. But the DMV did seem ready to act on just that proof, should I have required it.
My suggestion: send him a CM/RR/RD letter with a pre-filled form and the signature block highlighted, and see if he responds to that. If not, take that to the DMV and see what they'll do.
IANAL.
Was it an out of state one or just a lost Oregon one? I call the Oregon DMV and they said they would do nothing without a cali title first.
Quote from: ryandalling on March 31, 2010, 12:54:42 PM
Was it an out of state one or just a lost Oregon one? I call the Oregon DMV and they said they would do nothing without a cali title first.
Ah, good point of clarification.
My LRO was an Oregon resident. Not sure why that would matter specifically, but the "they'd do (something magical) to transfer the title" step isn't something that I well understood, so it could well be different for out of state titles.
Sorry; worth a try.
the big issue they have is a worry about title washing or stolen property... so they throw their hands up and force me to follow Californias lost title process first. Then when I get it... I can transfer it to an Oregon one.
Hey Ryan, was just thinking about this...
You might want to get the previous owner and any other concrete information you have from CA DMV in writing now. If you are forced to deal with OR DMV without the aid of the previous owner it might help. May as well gather your ammo now.
Are you looking to regi the bike for the street or are you going to race it and just want the title?
Scott
Actually it is a pretty cool street bike right now... done as a cafe racer.... pretty cool ... The previous owner I found on FB and he says he will do it all... but he goes like months inbetween responding to things and then when he does... he says "I will take care of it tomorrow..." but then like month later nothing... anyhow...
Yeah, then as already mentioned, send it all to him with tracking and a pre-paid return envelope so all he has to do is 'sign here'. A small gift card tucked in there might not hurt.
Scott
try this:
http://www.its-titles.com/lost_vehicle_title.html (http://www.its-titles.com/lost_vehicle_title.html)
May end up trying that... my issue is cost... bike isn't worth a boat load... some of those places charge an arm and a leg.
Progress?
I mailed the dude a letter... when he doesn't respond in 30 days... then I can go to the Cali DMV again.
And . . . ?
Waiting on the Cali DMV again. We will see how it goes.
many years ago I was given a 1959 Triumph 650. It was in a guys front yard gracefully rotting away. Anyway it was all there with all of the sheetmetal( bathtubs, correct tank etc. )A real find in actually good shape other then the motor being seized. So I go to DMV get the name address of the LRO and knock on his door and say I have got this bike that I was given........Can you sign here please?
He asked me to return his stolen motorcycle before he called the police.
I said sure, it was given to me as some folks had just bought a house it was in the front yard under a pile of brush........
It had been stolen in the 1980's.......Glad the owner got it back.
Another nightmare about titles in Oregon.........
I imported a Harley when I moved here from UK. I shipped my bike to Oregon. The British title was taken by DVLC over there and they issued me a Genuine Certificate of Export of a Motor Vehicle.I go to DMV and they ask for a tile. I say there is not one there is this document. They say we dont care what that is ............and so begins 6 months of headaches. I tried on several occasions to get this sorted and each time the people at DMV said the same thing. Finally after riding a Harley in Portland for 6 months with a British plate on it I get popped by der Polizei for a multitude of offences.......no helmet,speeding no turn signals,no mirrors,no front brake, seat held on by bungee,no Oregon plate, no registration, no mufflers, no speedometer,no tags,no license,no insurance..........the book they threw at me was heavy.
Anyway within a month I had it all corrected other than the tile and plate/tags.I even took my test on my shovelhead! So The judge sends me to State Police for a Vin Inspection. They do their thing and I explain what has gone on. The trooper takes pity on me and says he will help. We go to DMV on 83rd and Powell. I again get the run around. The trooper then asks for the manager, and all of the keys to all of the state vehicles on the property. She asks why, .He says courtesy vehicle inspection. They amazingly all fail his test and he asks to use her phone to order a fleet of tow trucks....... she is fuming. "We use those cars for business al day" she says........."Well why are you doing this" she asks...She gets told "Its easy. You mess with this girl by not giving her a title we will mess with you. She has all the correct legal paperwork as defined under Oregon yada yada yada and yet you still refuse to help". In 10 minutes I had a title and tags.
Thanks Senior Trooper Roy Steel Oregon State Police!
Chalk up one for the LEOs. Kinda fun to watch one government agency taunt another.
Scott
Quote from: badgalbetty on October 16, 2010, 08:41:26 AM
..."Well why are you doing this" she asks...She gets told "Its easy. You mess with this girl by not giving her a title we will mess with you. She has all the correct legal paperwork as defined under Oregon yada yada yada and yet you still refuse to help". In 10 minutes I had a title and tags.
Thanks Senior Trooper Roy Steel Oregon State Police!
[clap] [clap] [clap]
That. Is. Awesome.