How to buy out of state

[Hope 4 V7]

Those of you that have bought from a distance…any real issues involved? I really am desiring a red Sport, but I dunno. Where I live, the nearest dealer is about 4 hours away, but when I called them, the phone was answered as an Indian dealer. Uh, oh!!

Anyway, I’m trying to figure out how to get a bike here in Idaho.

Anywho, any advice for long distance purchase? Thanks!

Jim

[jrt]

Are you interested in used, private seller, or only in new from a dealer?  Dealers typically are set up for out of state buyers.  I'm sorry, but I am not familiar with NW dealers very well.  There are some outstanding folks in the midwest, though. 

Guzzi's are rare enough that if you buy from a known person (who has a Guzzi-internet history), you are very likely going to get exactly what is offered, and often better.  In 40 years, I haven't had a deal go bad from fellow Guzzisti.  Can't say it never happens, but it is rare...

[PeteS]

I guess it depends on the dealer but I have bought two bikes (Guzzis) and a truck out of state. All transactions were pretty painless and actually less hassle than dealing locally. I am in the northeast though.

Pete

[sdcr]

I guess it depends on the dealer but I have bought two bikes (Guzzis) and a truck out of state. All transactions were pretty painless and actually less hassle than dealing locally. I am in the northeast though.

Pete

Pete,
Can you share which Guzzi dealers?
John

[PeteS]

Pete,
Can you share which Guzzi dealers?
John

Hamlin and Seacoast. Both involved trades plus availability, which influenced where I went. I would recommend both of them. Just wished I was closer. I also considered Kissell.

Pete

[Kev m]

What problems are you expecting.

Out of state dealers are either set up to process all paperwork (taxes and registration etc) for your state remotely or on new bikes they provide you with the MCO (manufacturers certificate of origin) and you handle taxes and registration on your own with your state.

Just don't let them charge your taxes for their state, not that I think most would.

If you're riding it away you might have to pay for a temporary tag from their state.

That's about it, easy peasy.

[bronzestar1]

I'd start with your State's DMV and see if they have any specific rules about registering and titling an out-of-state vehicle, and go from there.  As has been mentioned already, you should be responsible for paying your state's taxes and fees, so those should not be on the sales order from the out-of-state dealer / seller. 

I lived in CA way back when, and got the itch to buy a new '95 Sport 1100.  They weren't sold in CA for some reason, but I found a dealer in OK that had two in stock.  I worked a deal, to include shipping, and thought everything was set.  That was until I read what the CA DMV rules were at the time about registering an out-of-state vehicle.  From what I remember, I couldn't bring the vehicle into CA if it had less than 5K miles on it.  I called the OK dealer back and told him looks like the deal is off.  There was a slight pause on his end, then he says, "I think the odometer needs to be calibrated.  It's reading 2 miles right now, how many miles should it read when we're done?"  The light bulb went off, and I told him to not make it that obvious, so "calibrate" it to 5202 miles. 

The bike was delivered, took it to the CA DMV with the paperwork, someone came out to verify the VIN and mileage, and all was right as rain... 

[Kev m]

I'd start with your State's DMV and see if they have any specific rules about registering and titling an out-of-state vehicle, and go from there. 

You're of course right, but I don't think I've ever heard of another state other than CA who has any rules that would complicate it. Like they are the only state that would exclude a model sold elsewhere in the US right?

[TN Mark]

I bought my Eldorado from a private seller about 8 hours away. I went to his house to examine everything. He was a great guy and we even went out to dinner.

I decided to make the purchase and I rented a U-Haul motorcycle trailer. A friend, who has a pickup truck and I drove up one day. We loaded the bike on the trailer the next day and drove home.

No muss, no fuss, just a great trip.

No issue whatsoever with the MO registration coming into TN. I’d highly recommend the U-Haul motorcycle trailer. It trailers wonderfully and is obviously purpose built for the task. Plus it was under $40 for the trailer rental.

[Vagrant]

I bought a new V85 two years ago from Cradre. Smoothest purchase ever.

[Moparnut72]

If the vehicle doesn't have an emissions certification for California it can't be registered if it has under 5,000 miles. Most vehicles sold in the US are now California certified. A lot of other states now use California standards so manufacturers now build their vehicles to meet Cal standards so the don't have to deal with differing requirements. Buying a vehicle in Nevada and bringing it into Cali requires it to be smogged first in Cali. Then a temp permit is issued and the paperwork is sent back to Nevada who then sends the sale tax collected to Cali. Only then will a registration and title be issued.
kk

[Dr. Enzo Toma]

I bought my V7 850 new in Colorado but registered it in Illinois. The dealer had the MCO mailed to me. They needed me to pay the taxes in CO upon purchase, but I kept all the paperwork and IL knocked that much tax off at the time of registration. So be sure to keep all paperwork!

The only state I know to be a bother with buying a new vehicle out of state for is California, with the bother being that the CA emissions label gets checked if the vehicle wasn't previously registered in CA.

[Perazzimx14]

Buying out of state is especially easy as long as the seller has a clean/clear title in their name and in hand. Its the only way I'l buy any bike. If the bank holds the title or the title is not in the sellers name I move on.

It all depends if you are buying a bike with a title from a notary state or non-notary state how the title is handled at the time of sale. If its a notary state title the title will need to be signed  buy the seller in front of a notary then the notary seals and signs the title. This will release the title to the seller. If its a non-notary state title the seller sings the title and hands it to the buyer. After the seller get the signed title when they get to their home state they go to a title transfer business and//or the DMV and complete the title transfer and registration.

In PA there are more steps with an out of state title. If the bike has never been registered in PA you have a VIN verification completed.

FWIW no BOS is needed or required in PA. I still typically get one for my records.

[Moparnut72]

I forgot to add in addition to emissions inspection VIN inspection also.
kk

[Bulldog9]

Those of you that have bought from a distance…any real issues involved? I really am desiring a red Sport, but I dunno. Where I live, the nearest dealer is about 4 hours away, but when I called them, the phone was answered as an Indian dealer. Uh, oh!!

Anyway, I’m trying to figure out how to get a bike here in Idaho.

Anywho, any advice for long distance purchase? Thanks!

Jim

It depends on the state, but I've been doing this for 25+ years, and will be doing it in a couple weeks (buying in CONN, Registering and Plating in VA) without a problem.  Generally, you take the bill of sale, signed title to your DMV, apply for a title and register in your state. You will likely have to pay sales tax and of course whatever fees for title, plate and registration.

Check to see if the seller needs to have their signature notarized. Some states require that.

[draco_1967]

Those of you that have bought from a distance…any real issues involved? I really am desiring a red Sport, but I dunno. Where I live, the nearest dealer is about 4 hours away, but when I called them, the phone was answered as an Indian dealer. Uh, oh!!

Anyway, I’m trying to figure out how to get a bike here in Idaho.

Anywho, any advice for long distance purchase? Thanks!

Jim

I stopped at that dealer in Pocatello last summer. The guy I talked to was really nice, and if that is the same 2023 red one that was there last year, it's a killer deal (ask for a new battery though!). No fees other than TTL. They have a Piaggio show room and an Indian show room.

I ended up buying my white Mandello from a Triumph dealer in AZ. It was mostly painless. The biggest annoyance was AZ's digital title system. It took way too long for the dealer to get the title to my bank (~8 weeks).

Would you ship the bike, or fly and ride?

[Alfetta]

Those of you that have bought from a distance…any real issues involved? I really am desiring a red Sport, but I dunno. Where I live, the nearest dealer is about 4 hours away, but when I called them, the phone was answered as an Indian dealer. Uh, oh!!

Anyway, I’m trying to figure out how to get a bike here in Idaho.

Anywho, any advice for long distance purchase? Thanks!

Jim

Not sure about ID, but here in the MO, you have to take the vehicle to the Highway patrol, and they perform something called an "MODO" i think. They check serial numbers for any theft report, validate actual / claimed milage, and they also inform you of any state infractions that need to be remedied (such as too dark window tint, tires wider than fenders, etc...

They do not ask you to correct any infraction, just inform you of the presence...

[Hope 4 V7]

Hi, everyone!

I just wanted to take a minute to thank you all for your replies. Helped with me making informed decisions.

FYI, I am purchasing from a dealer, so I won’t be able to ride it home, plus I’ll have my wife with me, so riding is not an option (break-in, and all that entails).  The wife loves road trips, so that works out anyway. The only drawback is that I’m limited to 55mph per U-Haul’s rules, but I’ll manage. This is a great community, so thanks again one and all.

Warm regards,

Jim

[PeteS]

55 MPH??? Both their vans and trailers will easily handle any speed limit in the US while carrying a Guzzi. Pretty sure others can confirm this as well.

Pete

[Hope 4 V7]

Hey, Pete.

I think U-Haul has a limit on their motorcycle trailers. I’m not sure of the covered trailers or van’s. From what I read, the covered trailers are not supposed to be used for motorcycles, which begs the question: How am I supposed to keep a brand new bike from getting goobered up from traveling over 450 miles in an open trailer? (rhetorical question).

Thanks for the reply.

Jim

[PeteS]

I used one of U Hauls open motorcycle trailers to bring my 2025 V85 home. We took most all interstates with a stated speed limit of 65 mph but where traffic typically runs up to 80 mph. No problem keeping up with traffic for about 350 miles. Trip to the dealer I was trailering a 900 lb Goldwing is the same trailer.





Go fast, take chances.

Pete