Atv Title help....

[kyle.rj133]

I actually posted this on a ATV forum, but figured this couldnt hurt.
please move if im in the wrong place.

I made a mistake buying my first quad. Okay so story goes. Ive been looking for a 89 lt500 for a decent price, one pops up on a local classified (Utah...ksl) so I go take a look at it. Good shape runs great, starts great ect. I make an offer he excepts. He goes onto telling me that he has a bill of sale from the previous owner and that he never got registered it to him. He claims he got the vin checked by local PD and it wasnt stolen ect. I got fishy and grabbed the vin and told him I wanted to get it checked out myself. Called the local dmv and they say the have zero records of it being in Utah. They wouldnt give me any other info. I called my local PD and they verified that it was indeed not stolen. I called the guy back and purchased the bike knowing it wasnt stolen. I wanted to figure out more, so I bought one of the vin checks online. I found out that is actually '90 not a '89 there is no lien and against it and again not stolen. It shows that the last title records is a current title in Arizona 04/11/2003.

What do I do now? who knows how many owners this has gone through since then, the guy I purchased it from only owned it a year. His bill of sale is useless to me. I cant get any info on the Ownership of title without the owners permission.

Please can anybody help? I need this to be figured out ASAP. Willing to pay the money(not for another bike lol). Im just totally lost in my first and last purchase of a quad without a title.

 

[gonefishin]

I had to get a bonded title one time on a vehicle since the title wasn't filled out right and not in the right name. I am sure that you can get in touch with a title company and get a title for it.

 

[dyeager535]

I've had to file for a "lost" title in WA, but I suspect how that is done is going to vary by the state.

I had a friend who bought a car that had to jump through a few hoops to try and get a title, but it was manageable...basically certified letter to last titled owner as I recall, to just clear up that it wasn't still his. However in that case, he was lied to by the seller who said he was the titled owner, and should never have bought it without seeing proof of that.

People get way too wrapped up in the title...as long as the last titled owner is who you buy it from, there will be no issue, other than having to request a title from the State. I doubt in concept that is different in whatever State you are in. AFAIK, here at least, you can't register the vehicle if you aren't the owner. So if you see registration that matches the drivers license of the seller, all good.

In any case, sounds to me like you just need to call the DMV, and ask them how you file for a lost title. You know it's not stolen, so it's just a matter of straightening out the paperwork. Having to deal with this hassle should have been factored into your purchase price though.

 

[Deuling]

Are you trying to sell it soon?




Honestly is it that big of a deal on a 25 year old quad? I don't have one for my 88, and I don't plan on ever needing it. Unless it was some super valuable wanted quad.....

 

[dyeager535]

Well the way vehicle disposal has gotten anymore, if you ever even wanted to just scrap it you have to have a title. Even cutting them up into small pieces (up here) doesn't work. If they can tell it was part of a vehicle at one point, they have to ask for a title. Not sure what you are supposed to do when restoring sheetmetal on a vehicle, but I digress.

Additionally, for vehicles here, you only have so much time to change the registration after sale...waiting can make things more difficult (or you get fined, etc).

But agreed, if you possess it, have a bill of sale, know it's not stolen, and don't need to sell it, really isn't any harm not having a title.

 

[tennbowtie]

Why do you need a title? Copy a bill of sale and have the guy sign it. I have a 89 250r that's what I done. I've had 10/12 atvs and been all over different parks riding with out a problem they never ask for a title.

 

[454Sub]

Yep, I have 3 titles to my one 87/88/89 Honda 250R that I'm currently selling. But titles to 4wheelers are worthless, as most of the time the engine cases dont match the frame, the cylinder doesn't match the engine cases, and ect.

I wouldnt worry about it, just sell it with a new bill of sales if you ever do and be done with it.


BTW, check the head gasket on that thing, they are notorious on the older years, 89 included, for blowing it. They are a wicked ride though, I always liked them.

 

[kyle.rj133]

Isnt an atv like a car where you need the title to get it registered? My worry is that If go to the sand dunes and they see me with no stickers they will impound my quad. A bunch of my friends go to the sand dunes for Easter weekend thats why i bought the bike.

 

[tennbowtie]

Take a bill of sale to the county clerk office ask for a certificate of owner ship, it's like a registration, then you can apply for the park sticker. That's what I had to do to ride on public land in Iowa.