Titled a bike bought w/o a title.....in Maryland!

OK, maybe it's just me and I'm the last person to figure out how to do this but Maryland is the "secret state". In other words, we all hear when New York raises their sales tax or income tax...we all know Delaware is a sales tax free state....well in Maryland, they chisel us for everything and we never hear that they have implemented this new tax of fee. They have even begun to split licenses such as fishing and crabbing so you need to buy multiples if you want to remain legal when a certain kind of fish decides to bite your hook.
Our MVA stands to reason, is the epitome of all this nickel and diming of the masses. One thing they are good at though is not titling a bike that doesn't have an obvious title history. It has been nearly impossible to title a bike that you can't produce a title for, even if it's old and out of date, you always needed that piece of paper. And don't bother to ask them to do a search, they can't even respond to a hand written letter, they sure as heck won't bother to do ANY research for you.
A couple of months ago, a friend in the Vintage world tells me about a solution to this. After all, I have bought non titled bikes (once I’ve run the vins @ the national registry to be sure they weren’t stolen) but their value was limited. Every couple of weeks I still run across a lot of old bikes w/o titles selling for a song. So after hearing him out…..I roll the dice and put it to the test. I went up to NJ and bought a non-titled H1 Kawasaki triple….for CHEAP!! It runs but needs painting and typically would go for 2500 with a title…maybe more maybe less. Fully restored or in very good shape, they are selling for 4-6 grand on fleabay. I paid less, a LOT less. So it comes home and gets parked in my garage while I embark on the rest of the solution.
Roughly 60 days or so later…………………….I received my beautiful brand new Maryland State title….in my name!! Total cost- 150…….forcing MD to issue me a title…..yup, you know it’s coming…….PRICELESS!!

I figure it will take them a few months to close what they will perceive to be a loophole, maybe they won’t…but I’m buying as many bikes as I can afford to, and can figure out how to store without resorting to trying to store them outside….weather absolutely kills a motorcycle.




jeff

 

Congrats on finding the loop hole. You're probably safe for awhile the General Assembly is out of session for the year.

 

I lived in MD most of my life from birth 1969 to 2001. It seems I left at the right time because everyone I know up there complains about how bad it has become. Glad you found a way to stick to the MVA and make them do their job for a change! It was kind of funny when I moved to Richmond I was amazed at how well run the DMV is here. And how you can do the bulk of the stuff on line.

 

It's easy and as legal as the day is long to title a non-titled bike (car, truck, boat, etc.) in Washington State. It just takes a while.

You present a bill of sale to the person behind the counter who collects an excise tax which is equal to your local sales tax. Plus, because it is a vehicle transaction you get to pay an EXTRA 1%.

You fill out an application for a new title and REGISTER the vehicle immediately. It is now perfectly legal for you to use the vehicle to your hearts content. You will re license the vehicle one more time just like any other vehicle. Two years from the date of application for a new title you pay for and receive the title in your name. Provided no one has contested your ownership of the vehicle.

It has been this way for a long time.

Pretty sweet deal huh?

 

That's the way it should be... I had to get mine titled in Utah then transfer the title to PA

 

I almost hate to admit it Doc, but EVERYONE that I dealt with was rocking and rolling (working hard) or course it could be that if you begin working there and actually work, they put you out "on the line" working with the public so the face we see is of hard working people. Now I can't speak for those 350 lb women I saw strolling the halls with their credentials dangling from their thick necks....not doing a darned thing. They must be assigned to the back of the house.

Here's the bad part of the MVA. If you go to the US Post office and wait in line only to find that you need to fill out a form...after you've filled out the form, you go to the FRONT of the line (they will tell you, you've already waited) At the MVA however, after you've filled out your form, you start over at the END of the line!!!! And don't forget, every line costs you money!! I put my CC up and wrote so many checks that by the time I left, I honestly did not know how much I had forked over!

jeff

 

In VA it is in and out. Most things can be done on line and in fact they charge you 5.00 more for going to the MVA to do something you can do on line. You usually get all your forms when you walk in the door. So when they call your number (kind of done deli style) you get what you need pay and roll out. Usually a long visit is 45 min.

 

So, Jeff, what you're saying is the trick was to buy an untitled in another state? Just trying to clearly understand.

 

Yeah so what's the secret now? After you bought the bike and brought it home to MD, what did you do that made them send you out a title?

I bought an '81 CB650 with a bad PA title and never got it figured out down here. NJ had me running in circles. Luckily I just sold it and wanted to make good on it by letting my buddy know how to title it somewhere for cheaper than a title agency would do it.

 

Guy's I'll be more then happy to tell you how to get a non titled bike, titled. I'm not going to post it here though, PM me and I'll copy and paste a "instructional" that I've got. 3 steps and you're golden!

jeff

 

Understood. PM'd ya.

 

Roger wilco.