Re: Obtaining my title?
I was checking out this board, and don't mean to interrupt,but I had a similiar thing happen to me. I'm in Ohio and all atvs and off-road bikes must now be titled like a car. What this means is that if you didn't get the title signed over to you, you don't own it. If the bike had a lien on it, the bank owns it until it is paid off. The original owner can stop paying for it now and the bank will come to reposess it. When they can't find it ('cause you have it) they will report it stolen. This causes a problem because the reciept that anybody signed is worthless unless you want to take them to court. The bank would still own the bike. If you want to find the ownership history of the bike, go to your local Clerks of Courts for your county, usually in the county courthouse. They can run a check and show all the previous owners for any vehicle. I've had one done as far back as 10 years. It will show the owners address and the bank holding the lien. Your best bet would be to contact the bank and find out if the owner is still paying for the bike and try to work out a deal with the bank and owner to put the lien on the other bike and release your title(which you need to register and get a sticker.) Remember, what this guy did was illegal, and the bank will do what they can to straighten it out. How well do you know the original owner? Do you trust him? Why would he pay several years for something he doesn't have anymore. Also, it will be a crime for you to ever sell this bike without a title, it falls under the same laws as a car. If you happen to buy a bike or quad that was made before titles were mandatory, you can get a signed, notarized reciept with the vin on it, take it to the BMV with the bike, they will inspect it for $2.00 and you can take that to the Clerk of Courts who will issue you a title. I recently did this on a 1982 CR480 and a 1986 CR500. Beware, this will only work on something thats never been titled. And if the bike had ever been stolen, even years ago, the police will be at your door to take it back. I once had to explain to the Kentucky State Police about a mustang that I had got from a friend without a title. It had been stolen 3 years earlier. Hopes this helps.
my back hurts...