Question re: Traveling on a bike with only the title in hand

[Slvrvalk1]

I may buy a bike in Indiana and ride it back to California, but it cannot be registered in California until I get back to the state.  Does anyone know if there are any problems riding the bike back as long as I have insurance and have the title with me?

Thanks for any help that you can provide.

Dave

[Art708]

  In SC you can go to the DMV and get a 45 day temp tag for 25 bucks. Indiana might have something similar.

[Slvrvalk1]

Art -

Can you do that if you are a non-resident?

Thanks.

Dave

[Pete]

In TN any car dealer can sell you a temp tag good for 30 days, maybe check dealers in the area.
In state, out state does not matter.

[John Schmidt]

Just call the nearest DMV/tag office in Indiana, nearest to where the bike is located. Ask about the temp. tag, explain the situation, really shouldn't be that big a problem. Most states have that service.

[Willow]

Does anyone know if there are any problems riding the bike back as long as I have insurance and have the title with me?

Not if you don't get stopped.

[Big IV]

A bike that is not speeding, not being reckless, and has a license plate that looks legit is less likely to be pulled over than a bike that you're overly enjoying the throttle on a bike without a plate.

[R J]

If you are carrying a Bill of Sale, (Notarized), title properly filled out and an Insurance card, you should be good to go for all states except I think it is Colorado.   They are a little picky unless they changed their requirements, especially on ones just running through..

[Dave Ritsema]

If you bought it from an Indiana dealer you will get temp tags. I don't think you can get temporary tags if you buy from a private party in Indiana. Where did you get the bike at?

[Dan Manko]

SLVRVALK1:
I just bought a car in Virginia. Drove it part way, and had it trucked the rest of the way.
[1955 Studebaker]
After a number of calls to DMV in California I finally got someone who knew their stuff.
Get a "ONE TRIP PERMIT"   "REG 1-402T " 
You have to go to California DMV in person.
Can't get it at AAA.  It's not shown anywhere on the DMV site and I guess not a lot of DMV people know about it.
$20.00 bucks.
The permit is good to either take a vehicle into or out of California.
No time limit but your supposed to take the most direct route. They don't want you galavanting all over.
In Virginia the plates stay with the owner not the car. I had no plates on the car. Never got stopped but even if I would have I had the sticker in the windshield [passenger side]

Take Care
Dan Manko

[vanagon40]

Indiana Code § 9-18-7-1(b)(1) provides that a temporary license plate may be issued if  "the person has purchased or otherwise obtained the vehicle in Indiana and will be titling or registering the vehicle in another state.”  The registration is valid for 30 days.

I would recommend calling the BMV branch closest to where you will be purchasing the bike to ask what they require.

I believe that many states, including Indiana, can (at a minimum) issue a ticket for improper (or no) registration and possibly impound the vehicle until it is properly registered.  See e.g., Indiana Code § 9-18-2 43.

In the late 80s, I purchased a used vehicle in Indianapolis and was stopped while driving home to Madison (Indiana).  I received a ticket and the threat of impoundment.  I had the title that was signed and dated on the day I was stopped.

I would NOT ride cross country with only the title in hand.  Looks like Dan Manko might also have a good solution.

[Walküre]

I would check both with Indiana, AND California, and see what they recommend.

If you'd like, I can call the local branch, here in Indiana, and see what they say about it. They are closed Mondays, but can do it tomorrow.

I haven't lived in California for 22 years, but we used to get the "one trip passes" all the time, when we had the shop.

I think troubles on the road, would depend on a. Who stops you b. How their day has been going c. WHAT they stop you for, and d. YOUR attitude when stopped. I would definitely have every bit of paperwork I could.

What never ceases to amaze me, is that I drive safe vehicles, safely, and at the speed limit or less, ALL the time. And I still get stopped on occasion. Yet I've known people, who's car hasn't had a muffler since Clinton, the one headlight they DO have, only works when the brights are on, and it points at the owls. Three mis-matched tires, and the 4th is the "bagel", that already has 15,00 miles on it. One window has cardboard duct taped over it, the driver's mirror is hanging by the cable, the rear view mirror is pointed so that the driver can see their own smile, but the headliner is hanging down so the rear view wouldn't see out back, anyway. Five kids in the back seat, three with the driver in front. Seat belts are hanging out BOTH the back doors. The registration was legal...back in '04, and the kids are all sitting on "empty soldiers". If you stay less than 100 feet back, you get oil drops on your windshield...

And they are heading to Vegas, on "vacation". Chances are, they'll make it without getting stopped.

Just don't understand it...

[Kaiser]

What never ceases to amaze me, is that I drive safe vehicles, safely, and at the speed limit or less, ALL the time. And I still get stopped on occasion. Yet I've known people, who's car hasn't had a muffler since Clinton, the one headlight they DO have, only works when the brights are on, and it points at the owls. Three mis-matched tires, and the 4th is the "bagel", that already has 15,00 miles on it. One window has cardboard duct taped over it, the driver's mirror is hanging by the cable, the rear view mirror is pointed so that the driver can see their own smile, but the headliner is hanging down so the rear view wouldn't see out back, anyway. Five kids in the back seat, three with the driver in front. Seat belts are hanging out BOTH the back doors. The registration was legal...back in '04, and the kids are all sitting on "empty soldiers". If you stay less than 100 feet back, you get oil drops on your windshield...

And they are heading to Vegas, on "vacation". Chances are, they'll make it without getting stopped.

We did make it to Vegas without getting stopped.  Sorry for not waving - I couldn't see you 100 feet behind me due to the aforementioned sagging headliner. 

[Slvrvalk1]

Thanks everyone for the very good information.  I  will definately keep it in mind for the future.

I sent an email to the person with the bike on ebay, and he did not answer all of my questions and was not willing to give me a phone number to call.  I understand that the person may be hesitant about giving out a phone number to a stranger, but any other type of advertising in PhotoAD or  Cycle Trader or Craigslist requires a phone number. While I think that the bike is probably fine, I felt uneasy about bidding on it.  I also agree that there is some risk in getting a bike and then trying to immediately ride it across country from both a reliability and comfort standpoint.

Valkure - Roger - Thanks for your offer to check with the Indiana BMV.
Dan Manko -  Thanks.  I will get a "one trip permit" from California if I need it in the future.  I did find the listing for a "transit permit" on the California DMV web site, but I got the impression that it was only for bikes leaving the state.

Dave

 

[fudgie]

If your a 'by the book' kinda guy my advise will probally be no good. I doubt you will get a temp tag here unless you buy from a dealer. You may try and get one in Cali.
What I would do, and have done, is take the tag and registration from your current bike and put it on the 'new' bike. If its the same color I doubt they would catch it.