New bike and can't ride it!

Checkswrecks · Jul 19, 2008

This is a little ditty for all to learn from...

I tripped across a really good deal on a local 2007 for sale to replace the 2004 that I've been commuting on. Deal reached, the owner brings the bike to my garage, we go to the bank with a cashier's check form my bank and sign the title and bill of sale in front of the notary.

Here comes the rub. The bank is HSBC, which financed the bike when he bought it new, and NOW is when the manager says it'll be 20-30 days before the title is released!!! The seller and manager are making phone calls to HSBC and the seller had a customer service rep hang up on him when he asked to speak (very politely) to a manager. Guess what bank I'll never deal with!!!

But SON OF A BEEOOTCH !!!

Well, the garage never looked better, there is lots of time to switch parts and farkelize, and I still have the '04 to ride, but talk about FRUSTRATION!!!

Arrgghh

Rant off!

Bob

twodogs · Jul 19, 2008

So, why can't you ride your new bike?

kurt · Jul 19, 2008

Insure it and ride it. The paperwork can catch up later.

Radical · Jul 19, 2008

As long as the paper work is done the bike is legally yours. You do not have to wait until the actual title is in hand. If that were the case my wife just drove her new car for about a month illegally. Ride it.

ponyfool · Jul 19, 2008

A bill of sale works for 30 days in most states. Insure it and ride it!

JRO · Jul 19, 2008

Your quandary is normal. A bank/financeer has 30 days to process a lein/lein release, and provide you with title. You are not expected to keep the vehicle sitting in your garage, until this arrives.

Call your insurance company. They will 'bind' it, over the phone (all you need is the vin#).

Climb on bike...

Raise kickstand...

Insert key. Turn...

Engage clutch...

Depress starter button...

Ride.

If uncertain, call local police, highway patrol, or tag agent.

Wild72 · Jul 19, 2008

Congratulations on the new ride Bob,

Like others have said, it's legally yours, so get it insured, then get out there and put some miles on it. (Farkling is for when the snow's on the ground!)

krashdragon · Jul 19, 2008

What the other guys said.

When I bough my 02 Jeep new , it took over a month to get the loan.

Temp registration and insurance card. No biggie.

I put over 1000 miles on it before I got any other paprerwork.

After all, if you finance a vehicle you don't get the title until it's paid for.

So what's your problem?

Mary

jekirby · Jul 19, 2008

Happens with autos sold privately but originially financed by seller-with a balance. It is yours now. Like others have already said, the title will come. The only snag is if you financed it, but your bank will understand--they do this all the time.

Holiday Inn Express...........

fhaze · Jul 19, 2008

Gunny to all of the above.

Di you think you are the only one to buy a bike that had a lien on it?

Register, Insure, and Ride

Bounce · Jul 20, 2008

Rode my 2003 for 2 weeks without even a tag (from D&H to DFW and then work and back only) i just kept a copy of the BOS and insurance[1] with me. I tagged it and then continued to ride it for about a month before the state mailed me the title.

[1] notice that i had insurance on it before leaving to D&H based solely on the VIN.

Checkswrecks · Jul 20, 2008

Here in Maryland and after talking to the MD State Patrol...

(The Admins should be happy to know how much I deleted that could have been construed as political.)

Under 13-401, 13-405, and 13-703, we can not drive on a Bill of Sale (BOS) with no plate, use a paper tag, or swap metal plates and carry the Title & BOS, as in so many other States. I knew those parts and know that really bad results have come to people I personally know who got caught doing so. Plus, I'm an officer (Fed) and daily cross between Md, VA, and DC, so I'm pretty aware of how often my tags are probably run. (answer: a LOT)

Being party to party without going thru a dealer, the choices are limited to 3.

1. Use the plates for 10 days from the seller with his written permission. He's already out of the picture.

2. Leave it parked until the paperwork comes back from clearing the lien. According to HSBC, that's 20-30 days.

3. Register the vehicle without title and here's the part I learned since Friday. This means spending hours at the MVA twice, the first time for registration and a plate (Md no longer uses actual temp tags or paper plates) that is based on the BOS and signed title. They'll give me a metal plate with a sticker that runs out in a month. Then spending 2-3 hours a second time, plus getting there and home in the 90+ heat and taking off work twice, to pay a second registration fee and the road taxes to get the 2-year sticker for the plate.

Bob

ponyfool · Jul 20, 2008

Well then Maryland is bass-ackwards! In Oregon, a bill of sale and insurance on your OLD vehicle gives you 30 days to ride/drive. After 30 days, it has to be registered to you with current insurance. Virginia was the same way (18 years ago, not sure if it's still that way now).

03HiYoSilver · Jul 20, 2008

Bob,

Sorry to hear about this frustrating situation.... they don't make it easy in MD do they?

At least you have a Legal/Drivable steed until the 30 days go by...beats nothing or a ticket for non-sense. HSBC or Banks in general, have little manpower in the backlines and they are Overwhelmed with their Foreclosures to boot. Be Patient... I know it ain't easy.

Congratulations on your new Bike!

El Toro · Jul 20, 2008

Checkswrecks said:
3. Register the vehicle without title and here's the part I learned since Friday. This means spending hours at the MVA twice, the first time for registration and a plate (Md no longer uses actual temp tags or paper plates) that is based on the BOS and signed title. They'll give me a metal plate with a sticker that runs out in a month. Then spending 2-3 hours a second time, plus getting there and home in the 90+ heat and taking off work twice, to pay a second registration fee and the road taxes to get the 2-year sticker for the plate.

This is the option that I would have chosen in order to keep riding....but here in TN we don't have to go back a second time. They send the title through the mail, and then when its time to register again, we can register by mail.

Sad to hear of the inconveniences, but my brother in law lives in Baltimore, and he's got a lot of sad anecdotes too. Sigh....I guess we're pretty lucky because we don't seem to have a DMV. The paperwork is handled through your county clerk's office, and it usually takes just a few minutes.

jekirby · Jul 20, 2008

ponyfool said:
Well then Maryland is bass-ackwards! In Oregon, a bill of sale and insurance on your OLD vehicle gives you 30 days to ride/drive. After 30 days, it has to be registered to you with current insurance. Virginia was the same way (18 years ago, not sure if it's still that way now).

Yeah, still the same. I can't believe MD makes it so hard--that was not to say I didn't believe you CW.

FJRBluesman · Jul 20, 2008

Checkwrecks - In The Peoples Republic of Kalifonia we have what's called, "Power of Attorney". The bank (and maybe the registered owner) sign it all over to you and you take it to the State Motor Vehicle Department and they processes it. Not sure if MD has the same, but auto dealers do it all the time. They never wait weeks or days for title. It's done, transferred, BAM!

Every time I buy or sell a bike, I sign or get the signature for power of attorney. That way if anything goofy comes up I (or the buyer) can sign for the previous owner. Full and legal. Makes it easier for all parties involved.

Good luck.

Checkswrecks · Jul 22, 2008

Checkswrecks said:
Here in Maryland and after talking to the MD State Patrol......

Being party to party without going thru a dealer, the choices are limited to 3.

1. Use the plates for 10 days from the seller with his written permission. He's already out of the picture.

2. Leave it parked until the paperwork comes back from clearing the lien. According to HSBC, that's 20-30 days.

3. Register the vehicle without title and here's the part I learned since Friday. This means spending hours at the MVA twice, the first time for registration and a plate (Md no longer uses actual temp tags or paper plates) that is based on the BOS and signed title. They'll give me a metal plate with a sticker that runs out in a month. Then spending 2-3 hours a second time, plus getting there and home in the 90+ heat and taking off work twice, to pay a second registration fee and the road taxes to get the 2-year sticker for the plate.

According to MVA today, the State Patrol Trooper was wrong and the second option is the only one that exists. The bike may not be on any public roadway until the release is obtained and the bike can only then be re-registered with either temporary or permanent license plates. I got to the level of the MVA supervisor and she was emphatic. Without a signed lien release by the bank of the former owner, the People's Republic of Maryland will take no action. Period.

Again, Maryland is not like a lot of other States where a Bill of Sale is all you really need to operate or even register for at least the initial 10-30 days. If buying a bike privately from a seller with a lien, make sure you know whether your State is so frigging insecure before signing the papers!

FJRintheVille · Jul 22, 2008

Sounds like the only option is to light a fire under the lien holder!!

New bike and can't ride it!

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