I recently picked up 3 trikes without titles in Arizona. I figured I'd try to figure out how to get titles for them, and did a search on here and many other places: see Arizona titles and bonds for the original thread. Since I can't yet post in that section, I figured I'd post my experience getting the titles. I contacted member badass350x per his offer in the linked thread and he explained how to do it. I just walked out of the title agency this afternoon with titles, plates, and OHV tags for 2 of the 3 trikes, which ran about $65 for each trike. I would've gotten all 3 trikes done except for a mistake I made on one of the forms. This information is pertinent only to AZ. I have no idea if it'll work in other states. Here's the process:
1) Initial detective work:
This involves identifying whether or not a title has ever been issued for the trike. It's unclear to me EXACTLY when titles started being issued with OHV sales, but it seems to be no earlier than 1986, and no later than 1994 (irrelevent for trikes). If no title has been issued, and assuming the VIN has not been reported as stolen (AZ theft site), then you are eligible to follow the "easy" process for getting a title described in the following paragraphs. If a title has already been issued for that VIN and you are unable to locate and/or convince the current title holder to sign off, THAT is when you MUST go the bonded title route, involving affidavits and certified letters to existing title holder. So how do you find out if a title has been issued on the vehicle? Call up a title agency that deals with vehicle titling (or the MVD if you prefer - I find private agency's to be more helpful). Give them the VIN and ask them (nicely) to see if a title has already been issued for the vehicle. Assuming they don't blow you off, they will immediately assume you want to know the NAME of the title holder, which they are unauthorized to disclose (until you start the bonded title process with them). Reassure them you are NOT asking for the NAME of the title holder, but simply whether or not a title has been issued for the VIN. If they refuse, call somewhere else. They are not violating any privacy policies by disclosing the fact that a title has been ISSUED for the VIN. The place I called didn't even charge a fee for this service, although from their tone, it doesn't sound like a particularly common request.
2) The forms:
You need 2 notarized Arizona MVD bill of sale forms for each trike that establishes vehicle ownership history (form 48-2004). (Third party link - the link to the form on the DMV site appears to be broken). Basically, they need 2 notarized bill of sale forms that show an ownership history of 2 years or more. So perhaps transfer ownership (via these bill of sale forms) from your wife to a buddy from 2 years ago, then a buddy to yourself for example. It's OK if you waited 2 years or longer get the forms notarized. If you make a mistake on a BOS form, get a new form - don't cross it out and make a correction or the form will be rejected. That's where I went wrong on 1 of the trikes.
3) Get the title(s)
Armed with the knowledge that no title has ever been issued for the VIN, you can confidently take your 2 BOS forms (per trike) down to the MVD and instruct them to issue you a title. Expect resistance if you go to the MVD office. It appears that few MVD agents are aware that this is a legitimate means of obtaining a title for these vehicles. I will be attempting to do this (going to MVD office which is much closer to me) for the 3rd trike, now that I know it works. I used All Vehicle Title in Tucson, AZ to get the other 2 titles. The title you receive has a line item for "Previous Title Number". On my titles, rather than a number, it had "BILL OF SALE" instead.
That's it. No vehicle inspection required, no affidavits, no certified letters, no waiting period. If a title has never been issued for the VIN in question, and you are able to show an ownership history of 2 years or more via the appropriate, notarized forms, then you can walk out with title, plate, and tags.
Hopefully this helps somebody else avoid the bonded title route unncecessarily. Thanks to member badass350x for giving me the necessary info!!
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Originally Posted by Mecsey33
