Anyone From MA Ever Try Getting a Title...

.......for an untitled out of state vehicle -- car or motorcycle? If so, how many hoops did they make you jump through backwards?

I've got an old on-off bike I bought in New Hamster & they don't require titles for anything over 15 yrs. old. I'm wondering how the hell this is going to work since I bought the bike 10 yrs. ago, & just decided to start rebuilding it & make it street legal again.....& I have no memory of who the person was ...... or even the town I bought it from. That was many many beers ago! I do have the old NH plate that expired in '96.

I'm wondering if I have a lost cause on my hands........

You may have to go through 'New Hampster' (NHDMV) and then back to the "Great Mass-hole". Ask nicely, only took me 2 1/2 years back in 2004. Just to sell the damned thing...... We don't write the laws, just comply with them.....Rough on the blood pressure if you take it personally. Why don't you just have a cold one and call it a day.

Memory is only the first thing to go.........Get a pad and paper; start making notes so we can follow your journey..........

I hear bribing city officials is quite popular these days.

Smitty, look around for mic's and hidden camera's too!!!!!!!

I'm starting to think that might be the way to go. It's an '84 Honda XL350R -- parts are selling like crazy on Ebay for big $$$. I've got so much time into it with the 1mm over bore, new valve seals, gaskets, new seat cover with custom stenciled "XL" on it, plus all the replacement & lubing of the cables, levers, folding footpegs, etc., rebuilt front forks, flushed brake fluid & disassembled & cleaned caliper, chain/sprockets, wheel bearings & dust seals, etc.etc! It would be sad to not be able to rip down the road on it ... legally! Some PALM GREASING may be in order......

If you try to register it Ma don't tell them you bought it 10 years ago there will be penalties. I friend just registerd an old Mustang that cost him over $500 in penalties.If you can get the previous owners name make a current bill of sale and try to apply for title only. You also can try a title service like International Title Service in Las Vegas I think . They can provide everything you need. Thats how lots of people register old cars with no titles

You could also register in maine where we have no titles that age and then later register in ma. Long way around, but wold avoid penalties.

Depends on the age and type of vehicle.

http://www.its-titles.com/

I've used them myself (and many friends), not the fastest but they get it done. 2 bikes, 2 cars, and a boat all worked out fine thru ITS.

Thanks for the info, everyone.

I think I'll try ITS ..... seems like the easiest way around this. Not sure how it will work in this state though...... This place has it's own quirky laws........almost like a different country here!
Years ago, you used to be able to register a bike in VT online, get all the stuff sent to you, then just register it in your state. Used to be able to get dirt-only machines street-legal nice & easy....until someone caught on.....

I have no way of knowing the previous owners name, unless I could somehow run the plate that I have. I don't think the cops can do that sort of thing with all the privacy issues......

We'll see what ITS can do...

I think I just found one of the MA quirks that may prevent this from working.......

In MA, you cannot get insurance for any motor vehicle without a title. When you go to the ins.co., they take the info on the title & fill out an RMV-1 form, which you bring to the RMV, pay your pile of fees, & they hand you a plate....& off you go -- all set.

ITS seems to require insurance FIRST...... Not sure how to get around that! Like I said, this is a quirky state!

Have a friendly person in NH register it then 'sell' it to you with paperwork?

I definitely have more of a chance of finding a "FRIENDLY" person in NH than MASS!

I bid on a frame with title, but the auction ended while I was at work!! Got sniped on that one!

Might be parting this one out.........we'll see!