WHY does every body want frame's with title's????

[big specht]

It isn't hard to get a title for a bike in ohio! Is that much of a pain in other states ?? I was just woundering cause I see every body asking for titles when they are selling frames.

[3 Wheel Drive]

I'm pretty sure in most states, if you do not have the title in your name... Legally you do not own it.
I could be wrong, both of my Z's are titled and registered in the state of WA.

[hoosierlogger]

I'm pretty sure in most states, if you do not have the title in your name... Legally you do not own it.

I hope not, because if that's true in Indiana I only own 1 of the 7 trikes in my shed. And technically I dont even own it, the guy's uncle that I bought it from still does.


I think it is more of a comfort thing for most folks. We can register ATV's with the Department of Natural Resources and ride them on secondary roads. If you have a title, there is a little assurance that it is not stolen and is legit. The 200X I still have has a title. I got rid of the other one for a reason, it didn't have a title. I would have hated to try and register it and it turn up stolen. Then I would have to give it up to the cops after I dumped a bunch of money in it to get it running again.

[dougspcs]

In Michigan possession is ownership..a title means nothing!!

They didn't issue ATVs a title at the time 3 wheelers were being sold..this started in 1994ish??

Anyway, if you want title for a machine all you have to do is go to the Secretary of State office with a bill of sale from the person you purchased it..super easy!!

You don't even have to reside in Michigan to hold a title.

Now Ontario..that is a different matter. Lots of rules, but sneaky ways around those also!!

[hoosierlogger]

Now Ontario..that is a different matter. Lots of rules, but sneaky ways around those also!!

What do you have to do, go to Michigan to go riding and stop by the secretary of states office instead?

[Jon Boy]

well, probibly for legality reasons. here in IL you have pretty much have to have a title. you can get by with a bill of sale, but as far as the DMV, State Police and such you must have a title to show proper legal ownership (went through this when my 125 got stolen).

[dougspcs]

What do you have to do, go to Michigan to go riding and stop by the secretary of states office instead?

No if they were sold in Canada then they are all registered..problem is over the years everyone sold them and didn't bother transferring.

I got my 350x last year that had been thru 4 owners since the registered owner..

Since I wanted an ownership I had to track him down and get him to sign the bill of sale..he hadn't owned it in near 20 years.

The trikes I buy in Michigan are a breeze to title compared to most of them I get in Ontario! Once I have a Michigan title it's easy to transfer to an Ontario ownership.

[Jon Boy]

They didn't issue ATVs a title at the time 3 wheelers were being sold..this started in 1994ish??

Anyway, if you want title for a machine all you have to do is go to the Secretary of State office with a bill of sale from the person you purchased it..super easy!!

you sure about this? i've seen early 80's atc's with titles and i thought if it motorized, over 50cc and has a Vin# it has a title issued with it. i very well could be wrong on this though too.

[Dirtcrasher]

I like one so I can prove it's never been stolen.

Many of us have countless hours and thousands into used trikes that could be stolen and could be confiscated......

[dougspcs]

you sure about this? i've seen early 80's atc's with titles and i thought if it motorized, over 50cc and has a Vin# it has a title issued with it. i very well could be wrong on this though too.

Not sure about the exact year that they started to title them somewhere around 1994 as I meantioned..I'm sure someone from Michigan might be able to straighten my dates up on that. But I'm sure that they weren't titled pre-1987 at the time they were selling 3 wheelers..

Buyers were issued a Bill of Sale by the dealer they bought from and since they weren't legally required to go get it titled by the state, most didn't. You don't have to prove ownership to ride in the state parks, just have a trail permit.

The majority of ATC/ATVs from that time in Michigan are to this day untitled.

Of about 10-12 trikes I've bought in Michigan over the last couple years only 2-3 had title paperwork..the rest I had to apply for myself. I've done it many times..just a couple weeks ago I did this for the trike I sold to Rosco, another Ontario 3WW member.

[RapidRick]

Is that much of a pain in other states ??

Living in California a title is the document of ownership.

If you don't have a title you'd probably better have a bill-of-sale.

IF you don't have a title and want one then:

You start the paperwork at DMV, Then
You make an appointment with the CHP to Verify the VIN. IF there is no VIN (ie., custom frames) then you have to have paperwork for all of the parts/components.
IF, any parts are questionable in the officers' mind the entire vehicle is impounded immediately until the question is resolved.
IF, any of the parts are stolen, the vehicle is impounded, vehicle is destroyed, you don't get back any legitimately owned parts.
Once the VIN or New VIN is verified/attached back to DMV
DMV reviews the paperwork and takes your money.

BTW if the trike doesn't run don't bother taking it to the CHP. They insist on a running vehicle.

Now, someone will probably tell you that there are exceptions to this because they know someone some place. However, this is the process I've gone through 2x in the last 2 years.

That's why I won't buy a frame with out a title, or a trike/bike without the numbers matching up with the paperwork.

[hublake]

In Michigan possession is ownership..a title means nothing!!

They didn't issue ATVs a title at the time 3 wheelers were being sold..this started in 1994ish??

Anyway, if you want title for a machine all you have to do is go to the Secretary of State office with a bill of sale from the person you purchased it..super easy!!

You don't even have to reside in Michigan to hold a title.

Now Ontario..that is a different matter. Lots of rules, but sneaky ways around those also!!

I don't know if the first statement is true or not. I always check with the sec. of state office before I buy one. I take the Vin number to the sec. of states office and they will run it and see if it has ever been stolen. It it comes back that it was stolen sometime I would not buy it. This process takes a couple of days. I like to have titles for the ones I have. Getting a title after the sec. of states office tells me it has not been stolen sometimes in it life is not a problem, all you need is a bill of sale with the Vin and what you paid for it.

[dougspcs]

I don't know if the first statement is true or not. I always check with the sec. of state office before I buy one. I take the Vin number to the sec. of states office and they will run it and see if it has ever been stolen. It it comes back that it was stolen sometime I would not buy it. This process takes a couple of days. I like to have titles for the ones I have. Getting a title after the sec. of states office tells me it has not been stolen sometimes in it life is not a problem, all you need is a bill of sale with the Vin and what you paid for it.

Going to the Secretary's office will only find a stolen titled trike..if it was never titled it will not be on the system to flag as stolen. You may have bought a stolen trike and never known the difference!! So may I!!

Without title the person who lost it had nothing to report when it was taken..this is the big hole in that system in Michigan's early ATV years.

Since corrected by mandatory registration.

Believe me, I've had this converation with Canadian Customs officers many times..but this is the system as it was set up at the time. They can't restrict me from bringing a trike into Canada as long as I have the Bill of Sale from the seller showing previous owners name..just without it being titled there is no double check to be sure. I have to buy in good faith..

So far I've been lucky! Hope it continues..

[ebaccm26]

Not sure about the exact year that they started to title them somewhere around 1994 as I meantioned..I'm sure someone from Michigan might be able to straighten my dates up on that. But I'm sure that they weren't titled pre-1987 at the time they were selling 3 wheelers..

Buyers were issued a Bill of Sale by the dealer they bought from and since they weren't legally required to go get it titled by the state, most didn't. You don't have to prove ownership to ride in the state parks, just have a trail permit.

The majority of ATC/ATVs from that time in Michigan are to this day untitled.

Of about 10-12 trikes I've bought in Michigan over the last couple years only 2-3 had title paperwork..the rest I had to apply for myself. I've done it many times..just a couple weeks ago I did this for the trike I sold to Rosco, another Ontario 3WW member.

I don't recall the year but you are correct about them not being titled until the mid to late 90's. I am not sure about the exact date but I know that I have the title to my 200x in my name and the title I had been given from the previous owner was issued in 1997.

The only reason I went about getting the bike registered to me was because I ride the back roads alot, which isn't exactly legal although I have never had a problem as of yet. We have been stopped before but after pointing out our ORV stickers and being respectful they have always let us be on our way. Anyways though if I were to ever have an encounter with an unfriendly police officer the last thing I would want is for the bike to not me in my name when he runs it and then having him arrest me under the assumption that it is stolen, thus why I went through the process of getting the title in my name.

It is pretty simple though, if you have the title and they sign it over to you and you take it to the Secretary of State you are done. Most people I know though do not even bother with getting it in their name as there is really no reason to as of now in Michigan. Last I knew though they were working on making it harder to get a title here, not sure on the specifics.

[hublake]

That is right that when ATCs were first sold they were not titled in Michigan If I would have had one that was stolen and I reported it to the police and gave them the VIN number, it would be in the files. Just because they were orginally sold without a title does not mean they will not show up as stolen if reported as such.