Buying an out of state bike

[Gilberth]

What are the steps and things to be aware of when buying and shipping an out of state bike?  Any shipping companies that are good or others to stay away from? Did you set up an escrow account for the money transfer?

[Kent in Upstate NY]

I have used Haul Bikes fof shipping. Can be pricy but totally professional. https://haulbikes.com/

[Tom]

I'd check your state regulations on titling/registration for out of state bikes first.  Then check the state that you're buying from.  Some states the license plate stays with the vehicle or the owner.  If it stays with the owner.  Are you doing a fly-n-ride or having it shipped?  Are you buying from a dealer or private owner?  Loads of other considerations that you'd have to think about but that should get you started.  Easier to pay now with Zelle but do you know the bike?  Caveat Emptor.

[Perazzimx14]

What are the steps and things to be aware of when buying and shipping an out of state bike?  Any shipping companies that are good or others to stay away from? Did you set up an escrow account for the money transfer?

Make sure you talk with eh shipping company give them you location and have them pull it up on Google Earth to verify if they can or cannot pick up at your location. If not, you'll have to pick a location that suites.

Haul Bikes is good by me.

[cappisj1]

I second checking with your home state about their rules on out of state bikes. I had a moment at the Illinois DMV. I bought a Norge out of Atlanta. The Illinois DMV asked for the zip code I bought it in. I didn’t know but there are zip codes that Illinois will not title a bike do to hurricanes and flooding. My situation turned out ok but I was freaking out for a bit. 

[bad Chad]

What state are you going to license the bike in?

[kingoffleece]

NY to AZ I used Haul Bikes.  Twice.  Perfect both times.

[Gilberth]

I'll be shipping into CA. Good suggestions. I'll check with our DMV here and also Haul Bikes

[Tom]

Give them the exact year, brand and model of bike.  Your reg./title fees will be dependent on year and MSRP of the bike.  Good luck!

[Dr. Enzo Toma]

Do your due diligence to make sure the bike is real, being sold, and the paperwork is in order. That's most important, as there are tons of scams and some can be quite convincing for out of state buyers. Best to see the bike in person or at least have someone you know go see the bike. Check the VIN or engine or frame number (depending on age) against the title or registration. Some states don't issue titles for antiques so you may need a current registration and/or bill of sale to get a title in a state that does issue titles. If you're in California and buying from out of state, it's likely to require a VIN inspection and for someone to sign off on the emissions label on the bike saying it's CA compliant on a modern bike. Cash payment in person is also best. Once you wire transfer money to someone, it's gone, there's no getting it back and no fraud coverage.

Get a bill of sale from the SELLER's state, city, or county. You can usually look up the form online. Writing up your own bill of sale doesn't count for squat even with signatures on it.

I've used Haul Bikes, Moto Shippers, and bids on uShip without issue. One thing I'd note about uShip though is that one bike I sold was picked up by a uShip contract that the buyer arranged, and the guy did not know how to load a bike. Blew out the rear monoshock ratcheting the bike down. So if you use uShip, read the reviews and go with someone who has a history of successful motorcycle transport. I'd recommend Haul Bikes the most. ECU Worldwide (technically a company they contracted it out to, Saturn Freight) damaged a bike of mine in transport and I was SOL. Your vehicle insurance policy likely does not cover professional (you paying someone else to do it) transport of the bike, so ask the shipper about insurance during transport. As said before, figure out a pick up location. Some transporters are full tractor trailers and won't enter neighborhoods, might need to meet them at the empty side of a parking lot to get it loaded.

IL DMV doesn't block registering from disaster areas, that just triggers further scrutiny into damage status or if the vehicle has a salvage title.

[Dirk_S]

Shipping is easy—I still have a few days of PTO remaining, so just pay for the expenses, and I’ll do a fly and ride delivery ;)

[pehayes]

I'll be shipping into CA. Good suggestions. I'll check with our DMV here and also Haul Bikes

Careful, very strict here!  Not much sympathy from the officials.  What year and model are you considering?  I imported a 2006 Breva 1100 from Oregon to California.  Big trouble.  Inspector required original noise and pollution stickers.  That year Guzzi put them on the plastic bottom of the seat pan.  They quickly overheated from engine heat and peeled off.  I had to buy a second seat from a wrecker which still had original stickers in place.  Took some time.

PS: I would bypass all the DMV and CHP people and just pay a bit more to a licensed vehicle title provider.  Saved me lots of headache.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[Perazzimx14]

Give them the exact year, brand and model of bike.  Your reg./title fees will be dependent on year and MSRP of the bike.  Good luck!

Doesn't CA also have mileage restrictions as in the bike has to have a certain number of miles on the odometer before it can be brought in. Also emission stickers and emissions devices must be in place??

[Stretch]

I've used HaulBikes successfully a couple of times.

Haven't used Dirk_S yet, though......

California sounds like a nightmare to import vehicles.

                                        -Stretch

[bronzestar1]

Doesn't CA also have mileage restrictions as in the bike has to have a certain number of miles on the odometer before it can be brought in. Also emission stickers and emissions devices must be in place??

^THIS!  Back in the mid-90's, I lived in CA at the time, and went searching for a 1995 Sport 1100.  They weren't sold in CA, but I found a new one in OK that had 1 mile on the odometer.  Deal was made, shipping was set up, then everything came to a full stop when I was told by CA DMV that since this bike was coming from out of state, it had to have a minimum number of miles on it in order for it to be registered and titled in CA.  I forget how many miles, lets say for the sake of argument it was 2500 miles.  I called the dealer, said it looked like the deal was off because of what the CA DMV told me.  There was a slight pause on the dealer's end, then he said something about doing some odometer maintenance, and how many miles should it read by the time he's done.  Light bulb went off in my head, and I told him don't make it too obvious, so it read 2801 when it was delivered.  Took it to the DMV, they came out side to verify the VIN and odometer reading, and all was good.   

[Perazzimx14]

I have bought lots of motocylces out of state and it all depends on the states involved if they are a Notary or Non-Notary state on how you have to handle the title.

In a Notary state the seller must fill out the seller/buyer information in front of a Notary that whitness the seller signing the tilte. The Notary then seals and signs the title.

In a Non-Notary state the seller simply signs th etitle and hands it to the buyer.

This assumes there are no leins on the title and the seller owns the bike free and clear.

Some states require a BOS and other only require a declaration of cost. Pennsylvania is the latter. When I go to do the title transfer I will be asked how much did I pay and sales tax is paid against the amount I have declared. I can provide a BOS but that will act as my declaration. As aside note if the declared price seems too low against "book value" you will be asked to provide a reason why. If a vehicle is over 15 years old or older they cannot ask why th edeclared price is what it is. If PennDot determines you vehicle is worth more than you declare they can issue a bill for the additional tax at a later date. 

[Moparnut72]

I don't know if it applys to motorcycles but cars and trucks need to have 6,000 miles on the odo. We buy most of our vehicles in Nevada which results I extra steps to get the vehicle registered. The first thing is to take it to DMV to get the VIN and Emission stickers verified. Then send that inspection form back to the dealer who then sends the MSO and the sales tax they collected to the DMV. Then you can pickup your registration and plate from the DMV after you pay the additional fees for registration, license fees. The dealer I have bought bikes from in Reno charges such high doc fees that I make them do the whole thing other than the VIN inspection which has to be visually done by Cal DMV. Hope this helps. I don't know how other states handle it but this is the way Nevada does it.
kk

[Oca Grassa]

Last time I had to deal with an out of state plated motorcycle it was a complete disaster.

DMV in Sacramento black flagged the bike’s VIN so it could not ever be registered in California.

IIRC, local DMV said the bike was considered new because it did not have 7500 miles on it. It was a 6 year old bike, how can CA consider that new? Basically I couldn’t plead my case at all.

I wound up trailering the bike to Reno and selling it there at a 50% loss. Some DMV rules have changed since then, so definitely check with DMV and get a thorough answer.

IIRC all bikes manufactured after 2004 or 2005 are CA emissions compliant. Certain bikes are tracked by engine# and the mileage doesn’t even show up on the title. All 3 of my Ducatis just have Xs or stars where the mileage goes on the title. Don’t if that applies to Guzzis as well….my Norge has actual mileage at time of sale shown on the title.