State by State Registration Requirements

[kenart]

Unless this guy is hooked up, he wouldn't be able to produce a finished bike in 30 days. He overstated himself there. You were smart in not giving him all the money up front. Depending on what style bike and the type of components he is using, your down payment will only cover the purchase of the components (and probably not even that) so if he has bought the parts and they are sitting there, you are not out your dough. Go and ask to see the progress to this point. If he isn't willing to show that to you, you probably have a problem, but start there. Then you can decide whether to give him more time, or load up your shit and take it somewhere else.

[MikeV019]

Originally Posted by black_dawg321

Anyone do Jersey yet???

I second that question - I'm in NJ and the local DMV had no idea what I was talking about. They called Trenton (the state capital), and they said I'd have to bring the bike there (2 hours from my house) to get it inspected. But then a year later they said I'd have to make an appointment with a state inspector to come to my house and inspect it there. When I called the Trenton DMV, the woman was VERY nasty with me in a "how dare you build your own motorycle" tone of voice, and would have probably taken a shit on me if she could. I don't know if it was because she had no idea what the process is and she just didn't want to sound stupid on the phone so she got nasty with me, or if it's because they look down upon people building their own bikes.

If anyone in New Jersey has gone through the titling process with the 3 MSO's for a bike they built themselves, PLEASE post your experience on here. It would definitely help out the rest of us in New Jersey.

[JimmyChopIT]

Kinda sounds like what New york wanted me to do with a vehicle I bought that had a salvage certificate...Mean bitches up there in NY..she told me no state was going to title a new york salvage ccertificate...She said I had to take the vehicle ( which is in texas) back to new york and have there state inspectors look at it (i guess for proper repairs...stolen parts, rubbed off number etc etc..proper documentations by a authorized builder, rebuilder).

Boy was I sweating bricks...but with a few connections...wam bam...I got a clear texas title. Yeah New york bitch! Loop holes loop holes loop holes...

BUt I did a bit of research...and yes...new york bitch was right...that is way it should be done. And I think they want you to tow or trailer vehicle to their inspection site due to not wanting you to drive a unregistered vehicle to the DMV. Makes sense I guess...ONce you get an OK from the inspectors in pape form...your on your way to getting a title if you got all your documents in order...I think....

Hope this helps any...prob not....but you got to love connections and loop holes!

[cowboy]

May be a little off topic, but is anyone aware of a State where there is no tax due at the reg/title ?

[HammerDown]

"Turn Signals Not Required "...in Pa
Hmmm that's a new one to me

[JW23]

Anyone know the details on titling a custom bike in Kentucky? Are there any penalties and fees if you have your parts for a while and not pay taxes on them. I have had my engine for about a year I bought it from a local HD dealership.
I read in this post earlier in another state that if you didn't go to the DMV every so often to pay up on what MSO parts you have there may be fees, penalties and so on. Anyone know what the deal is here in KY?

[.coolhandluke.]

what about michigan? ANBODY FROM MICHIGAN?!?!LOL...I'V SEEN 2 POST ABOUT TITLING & REGISTRATION 4 MICHIGAN, BUT NOTHING IN DETAIL!! what's the inspection process like? my local shops aren't forecoming/information either WTF?!

[.coolhandluke.]

i can't believe that there's nobody from MICHIGAN that doesn't hav any input on our states process! yeah U can go 2 the DMV'S website & dwnload that list, but i wanna hear sum1's 1st hand xperience!! u'd think nobody owns a motorcycle in MICHIGAN!! WTF!?!?!

[MikeV019]

It's a conspiracy

[Cowhunter]

Originally Posted by cowboy

May be a little off topic, but is anyone aware of a State where there is no tax due at the reg/title ?

I know this is an old question, but.... it all depends where you buy your parts. If you buy all your shit in your home state (and there by pay the sales tax as you go), there won't be any sales tax due at registration time. You would just be left with the inspection and title fees.

Mike

[monkeyguted]

"i can't believe that there's nobody from MICHIGAN that doesn't hav any input on our states process! yeah U can go 2 the DMV'S website & dwnload that list, but i wanna hear sum1's 1st hand xperience!! u'd think nobody owns a motorcycle in MICHIGAN!! WTF!?!?!"

Easy, man. It'll take longer than 9 minutes to get a reply....

Here goes.
If you are starting out with all new parts, you need reciepts for everything. The frame, motor, and trans all need the original stamped MSOs. The bike has to have:
a front brake that works the stop lamp.
a rear brake that works the stop lamp.
a high low head lamp.
a mirror mounted on the left side of the bike.
a horn.
a permanatly mounted seat!
some type of exhaust.

After you get your bike together, go to the secertary of states office, be nice, and ask for a checklist for an "application for title." They will more than likely not know what you are talking about. Be nice! Tell them you need to get a title for a motorcycle or a trailer. Same form #TR-54 green form. Once you get the form the fun starts...

Go home, fill out the information, at the top. Everythig else get filled out by the officer doing the inspection.

Time to call the police department. Ask for an officer to stop by your house/ shop for a vehicle inspection. Most officers have never done this process, but in Michigan any officer can do it.

When the officer arrives have everything ready. I had my bike out and ready to fire. All of my paperwork was out and ready. Officer was pretty cool. More interested in how I could build a WCC than anything. After he fills out part one, unit B, and fills out his contact info at the bottom, shake his had and thank him.

Round two.. Secertary of state...

Get all of you reciepts, all of your MSOs, and photocopy them for your records. take all of your originals and a completed form TR-54 to your friendly Sec of State Office. BE NICE! No one there will know what you are doing. Now set down for this part..you are going to have to pay up...for TAXES. I know its crap, but they really don't know what it takes to build a bike, or how much it costs, but they are going to ask for something fair. They don't care if you already paid taxes on the parts when you bought them, cause now you are paying for a completed motorcycle. After you pay up and smile alot, you should walk out with out a lotta cash and a temp registration and a temp. plate. Pay extra to get your plate for 90 days, in case there is a mistake on their end.

In a couple of weeks you will get a call from a guy From the Sec of States Office, INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION. He will have you meet him with your bike or schedule a time to meet you at your home or shop. This guy will reinspect the bike, check all of your numbers, and if all goes well he will place a red and silver foil sticker on your machines neck. He will fill out some more paperwork and give you a form to take bake to the Sec. of State.

PART FOUR regestration time....

Sec of State....SMILE again.
You will now have a VIN # for your new chopper. now you have to register it. I think it was $25.00.

You will get your plate then and there!

Ah....now you need to insure it....

State Farm is what I have.
Good luck...

[.coolhandluke.]

ThankU Monkeyguted! LoL...frustration got the best of me! where abouts you at? i'm in Belleville/Ypsilanti....

[nitrohead70]

TENNESSEE:
It's been several years, but as far as I know, it's still the same.

1. MSOs for motor, frame and tranny. If your frame serial number is less than
17 digits, they will generate a VIN for you.
2. Produce all receipts of your build for tax purposes.
3. Show at least one color picture of the bike being built, and one picture of the
final product. Make sure your pictures show that you have at least one
mirror, a headlight, and a tail light.
4. Give them your motor displacement.
5. Pay your fees and tax
6. BINGO! You're done, and walking out with your plate and tags.
7. About 4 months after you register, an agent from the TBI will come out to verify
your serial numbers (MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE EASILY ACCESSIBLE! The
dude really read me the riot act because on my after-market trans, you can't
read the number without removing the starter), but he was cool. By the
way, this service comes with a $40 fee.
8. After everything is verified, he'll afix your VIN plate (nothing more than a foil
sticker), and give you your title.

[Hwywoman]

Here is info for Illinois:
1. Contact Secretary of State (Rockford, Ill office) for special construction vehicles and get the packet sent to you.
District Two Headquarters
4501 E. State Street
Rockford, IL 61108-2116
Phone: (815) 987-7560


2. Fill out your paperwork from them. You need a statement of construction. 4 photos of the bikes that show it's completed. All the mso's. Proof you paid tax at least on major components. Necessary fee- 65.00 for title and 38.00 for mcy plates.
3. Wait 6-8 weeks for a call that they either come to you to inspect or you take it to them.
4. Here are the requirements on the bike:
EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS
Specially Constructed Motorcycles requiring inspection in the State of Illinois must meet or exceed the requirements of Illinois law. Below are items
a Specially Constructed Motorcycle must display in operating condition:
Printed by authority of the State of Illinois. June 2006 —SOS DOP-172
Headlight— White light visible for a distance of at least 500 feet in the direction the motorcycle is traveling.
Electronic horn— Capable of emitting sound under normal conditions from a distance of not less than 200 feet.
Taillight— Red light visible at least 500 feet in reverse of the direction traveled.
Brakes— Two separate means of applying brakes to at least one wheel. Both the hand brake and the foot brake must activate the brake light.
Tires— Tread depth of no less than 1/32 of an inch with no wear indicators showing.
Mirrors— At least one mirror allowing a view for a distance of at least 200 feet to the rear of the motorcycle.
Muffler— Adequate muffler in constant operation to prevent any excessive or unusual noise.
License Plate Bracket— Lighted and mounted horizontally on rear.
Handlebars— No higher than the shoulders of the driver while seated in the normal driving position.
Unsafe Condition— It is unlawful for a person to operate any vehicle on any highway in such unsafe condition as to endanger any person or
property, or which does not contain those parts, or is not at all times equipped with such lamps and other equipment in proper condition and
adjustment as required in Chapter 12 of the Illinois Vehicle Code.
SECRETARY OF STATE

[Road Rage]

Okay, I just got back from the State Poorol and the DMV a couple of weeks ago, popped my pain killers and cracked a Guiness so if this rambles, fuck it.

This square state only recognizes 2 American manufacturers' VIN. The fuckin' factory, and somebody else I think American Ironfarse.

Ergo, it doesn't matter how many digits your frame has, you're gonna get a Statey with a tin plate, a drill, and a rivet gun attack your pride and joy and tag it like a cow on a fat guys farm.

Here's the nitty gritty:

Step 1: Make an appointment at the State Patrol for a vehicle inspection. Then, go to www.coloradostate.gov and print out the vehicle inspection form you take with you. It'll be a couple of weeks before they can see you. They're too busy setting us up and writing tickets for crap.

Step 2: You go there and watch the pig, I mean Trooper, Barney Fife will then take the VIN, the engine block number and the tranny number and run them to see if their stolen. He will try to argue the very points outlined in the form you brought with you showing the equipment requirements: The ability to move under it's own power, ONE mirror, headlight, tail and brake light activated by only ONE of the levers, horn, throttle with a spring return (Jesus). That's it, officer. NO SPEEDOMETER! "I'll have to check on that" will cost you another 45 minutes while he calls his gay buddies and opines about how wrong that is. I'm too stupid to ride in traffic and I need a needle to tell me how slow everyone else is going. Oh yeah, and pay him $20 for the privalege. I digress.

Step 3: Once you pass (yipee!), you go to the one place that makes huffing paint an understandable passtime, the DMV. There, they take the Statey's paperwork he signed, the pictures of your build (you took pictures, right?), receipts of the parts you bought (I'll write you any receipt, for a fee!) and a wopping $3. That's it...What, you thought you were getting a title? Dumbass! You just applied for a VIN number. On to step 4.

Step 4: Some ape in Denver pounds out a VIN plate out of some material implanted with a chip to locate you at all times...How many Guiness' are left? None? Fuck...After this modern day Blacksmith stamps out your scooter's new identity, he sends it to the Grand Pig Pen, Colorado State patrol Denver. There, presumably it sits on the desk of a person without a skinny ass until it decides to send it to my local pig pen. Another brainiac there will call me to ride up there (dirty) so he can drill my frame and rivet the tag!! WTF!

Step 5: Call the insurance company from a Kinkos and have them fax me insurance proof. Then I go back to Darwin's waiting room in the DMV with my shiny new number and paperwork and I get to apply for a title. They will give me my registration and license plate. I can't wait.

Time from Step 1 to step 5? 6 to 8 weeks!

I'm smack in the middle of it now and ridin' dirty. To be honest, the cops don't even care that I don't have a tag and no one said shit to me all the way to Vegas and back.

Happy motoring and fuck a fat chick.