How to ride a "new to me" bike home legally

[rgross98]

Hello,

Looking for some information about buying a used bike. I am in the market to buy a used bike from a private party. I plan on either taking a bus or train or some one give me a ride to an out of state seller. I would like to be able to give the person a check and ride my new bike home.

I know I have read of people who fly out and ride home.....How can I legally have insurance, license plate/registration...... in order to ride home and not get my bike impounded or ticketed if I get pulled over on the way home???

Any information would be helpful.

Thanks

Robert [email protected]

 

[Fencer]

Really should not be an issue, unless you get pulled over by someone with a real attitude. Just keep in mind that they are likely to scrutenize your story, as that is what they are paid to do. If you get a ticket and you get the new paperwork in place by the court date, it should be dropped no prob.

You would need the bill of sale (on you) to prove it was "just" bought. I think most states give you at least a 10 day period from time of sale to get registered.

Do a handwritten tag that says "temp Tag" so a leo in passing will see that the plates are not just "off" and if he pulls you over it will make more sense that you just bought it.

As far as insurance coverage, most companies give you a few days grace to get things organized and contact them, and give you the same coverage that you carry on existing autos till you define you peramiters on the new ride.

The easiest thing to do would be to call you agent ahead of time and give him the VIN over the phone to get the ball rolling as a CYA.

 

[madmike2]

You would need the bill of sale (on you) to prove it was "just" bought. I think most states give you at least a 10 day period from time of sale to get registered.

Yep! It might help if you have a "notarized" bill of sale, just to keep everyone happy.

As far as insurance coverage, most companies give you a few days grace to get things organized and contact them, and give you the same coverage that you carry on existing autos till you define you peramiters on the new ride.
The easiest thing to do would be to call you agent ahead of time and give him the VIN over the phone to get the ball rolling as a CYA.

IF you already have motorcycle insurance. Call your agent and cover all your bases. My auto insurance company doesn't automatically cover motorcycles (If I were to buy another car, my auto insurance would cover it). Now that I have motorcycle insurance, a used bike would be covered.

 

[squeezer]

It's been over a decade since I did this, from Illinois to Pennsylvania, but this was it:

1. Got VIN from seller, called insurance, told them when I would buy it. I think they faxed me something to carry on the bike.

2. Got bill of sale. Carried it in my pocket. Didn't bother to have it notarized.

3. Went to the state license plate place. Explained what I was doing. They sold me a temporary registration. Illinois wasn't ready to deal with bikes, and the only temporary registration display thing they had was the paper license plate you stick in the back window of a car. I stuck that in my pocket too.

4. Went to the PA DOV and registered it here when I got home.

No LEO's stopped me for lacking a license plate. A few nice folks pointed it out at stoplights and in parking lots.

 

[rgross98]

Thank you for all the responses....

I will try to check my local dmv to see if there is any possibility of getting a temporary plate/registration......

I will definitely keep the bill of sale in my pocket, and will call my insurance company with a vin in order to get a temp card.....

Thanks everyone for the help.....if any one has better ideas, please post....Robert

 

[drew231506]

Hey Robert,

This is how I bought my FJR, I flew to Atlanta and purchased it from a private seller and rode home. All you have to do is go to the DMV and get a Trip Pass or Trip Form...something like that from them. Then you tape it to the bike where it can be seen, or carry it with you. Call the insurance co and get coverage before you go, theyll let you know how it works. Then ride home legally.

Hope this helps.

 

[ponyfool]

I'm sure states will vary, but if I remember correctly, Oregon is as follows:

If you have insurance on a motorcycle, you can buy a new motorcycle and it is automatically covered by insurance for 30 days with the same coverage as your existing motorcycle. Same is true for vehicles.

If it is currently registered by the previous owner, you have 30 days to register your new motorcycle.

The problem comes when the existing motorcycle is not registered. Then, the only legal way to ride it is to register it before doing so. The exception of course is a brand new vehicle, ie: new purchase.

 

[Stewart]

I'd put together a dated bill of sale, purchase agreement of some sort along with the signed and dated title. Copies of all the paperwork essentially. Call all of the states ahead of time to get the laws and explain what you are doing. Most likely there is no problem with transporting directly from the purchase location directly to your residence or licensing facility in your state of residence. YMMV

Regards and God Bless,

Stewart

 

[Curious in CT]

I went to my insurance agent with the VIN# and got an insurance card a few days before I even purchased the bike so that part should be easy. After completing the transaction, go to Dept. of Motor Vehicles in the state where you bought the bike and get a temporary registation, they're usually good for anywhere from 3-20 days. It's all pretty straightfoward.

Each state is a little different but they all have some sort of procedure for doing this. I would call the DMV in the state your buying in and see how they do it.

 

[zzzzip]

Motorcycle riders are rebels, so...

put a tag from one of your bikes, or a friend's bike on the new bike. Ride the back roads where it is unlikely the law patrols, and have a nice ride home-- just don't break any of the MV laws.

If you should get stopped, lie like hell... better a clever lie than a boring truth. Most cops appreciate an imagination, and often reward such planning.

Tell your kids about it in a few years. Only a woose rides a motorcycle and abides by all the laws all of the time.

So tell me punk... do you feel lucky?

B)

 

[Bounce]

VIN to insurance company and get coverage started

Bill of Sale in your pocket

Ride.

 

[Wolfhound]

I used the fax at dealership to get my ins. card since I was out of state & didn't have the VIN. . . .

I bought in CA & no paper plated ride back to AZ in July 117 deg heat !

 

[JoshHefnerX]

In AZ you can go online to the MVD website and print off a legal 10-day permit. I'd be suprised if most states don't have something similar.

Josh

 

[painman]

Motorcycle riders are rebels, so...
put a tag from one of your bikes, or a friend's bike on the new bike. Ride the back roads where it is unlikely the law patrols, and have a nice ride home-- just don't break any of the MV laws.

If you should get stopped, lie like hell... better a clever lie than a boring truth. Most cops appreciate an imagination, and often reward such planning.

Tell your kids about it in a few years. Only a woose rides a motorcycle and abides by all the laws all of the time.

So tell me punk... do you feel lucky?

B)

If my pastor wouldn't do this neither would I.....better to just tell the truth and go ahead and do the right thing IMO. If your illegal and get in an accident your libal in many ways and could loose the bike. And wasn't it Clint Eastwood who also said, "a legend in their own mind". And in answer to the question, all you have to do is tell your insurance agent your going to buy a bike and when you do give them a call or leave a message that you've made the purchase, giving the VIN and lic. number. Also call ahead of time to the seller to make sure the bike is currently registered and road worthy before buying and just take care of the registration process in your area when you get home, all legal like. PM. <>< :lol:

 

[Ed_Grant]

When I bought my 02 DL1000 last year from a guy in SC we exchanged cash for the bike and the bikes title duly signed. I was stopped near Albany, Texas for going a little too fast and after the officer ran the plate and questioned my ownership I showed him the signed SC title. He gave me a warning ticket for 5 over and wished me a safe ride. Dairyland Ins. covers me for up to 30 days after the purchase of a bike automatically.

 

[zzzzip]

Motorcycle riders are rebels, so...
put a tag from one of your bikes, or a friend's bike on the new bike. Ride the back roads where it is unlikely the law patrols, and have a nice ride home-- just don't break any of the MV laws.

If you should get stopped, lie like hell... better a clever lie than a boring truth. Most cops appreciate an imagination, and often reward such planning.

Tell your kids about it in a few years. Only a woose rides a motorcycle and abides by all the laws all of the time.

So tell me punk... do you feel lucky?

B)

If my pastor wouldn't do this neither would I.....better to just tell the truth and go ahead and do the right thing IMO. If your illegal and get in an accident your libal in many ways and could loose the bike. And wasn't it Clint Eastwood who also said, "a legend in their own mind". And in answer to the question, all you have to do is tell your insurance agent your going to buy a bike and when you do give them a call or leave a message that you've made the purchase, giving the VIN and lic. number. Also call ahead of time to the seller to make sure the bike is currently registered and road worthy before buying and just take care of the registration process in your area when you get home, all legal like. PM. <>< :lol:

You wouldn't believe some of the things I have caught pastors doing.

B)

 

[painman]

You wouldn't believe some of the things I have caught pastors doing.

Time to change churches? :lol: PM. <><