Selling a Bike Questions

[ScraitT]

Hello,

So the Ninja is still up for debate on weather I will sell it or not. I don't ride nearly as much as I would like to, and seeing my bike sit there un-used bothers me knowing that someone else could be using it. Plus I hate seeing a perfect bike sit out in the weather, no matter how much you clean it, it still slowly starts to show it's age.
I have thought about selling it and buying a cheaper older bike, maybe another 250r, just an older pregen.

But that's all still undecided. I am however looking to sell both of my dirtbikes, both of which haven't been ridden in well over a year since there isn't a place to ride anymore.

The money part I think I have down. I will only sell for cash. In the case of the dirtbikes, I am only looking for about $300ish for one and $1600ish for the other, so cash shouldn't be a problem. For the Ninja, if sold, I figured meeting at the buyers bank should make a cash deal easily done, correct?

My real concern and questions come with the titles, particularly if I sell the Ninja. It's late, so I'm not searching for my titles at the moment, but from what I remember buying my dirtbike, the seller just signed the title over to the buyer, correct? The buyer then takes the title to the DMV for transfer.
As the seller though, how will I know that the buyer actually takes the title and gets it transfered and doesn't just ride the bike around with the title in my name.
My worry is that the new buyer could be out riding the bike the next day and wreck it, hit a car, etc, then leave the bike and scene. The police show up and run the bike, and it's in my name still?

I suppose I would of course have a bill of sale to prove I had sold the bike, but the whole title issue still has me a bit concerned.

Any help/answers would be greatly appreciated.
Also, I live in S. Florida if it varies between states.

[Alex]

/moved to general

[ScraitT]

Thanks Alex. I figured since it was a selling/title question and wasn't entirely about the 250r that it might be better off in the Off Topic, but General works for me

[CC Cowboy]

Originally Posted by ScraitT

Hello,

So the Ninja is still up for debate on weather .
Also, I live in S. Florida if it varies between states.

It is actually perfect riding weather right now. South Florida has great weather, much different than other states.

[lunerkid]

I can't remember exactly, but I believe that when they sign the title, you tear the perforated part and you keep the seller side and turn that to the DMV within a certain time frame.

Release of liability if I remember correctly.

[ScraitT]

Originally Posted by CC Cowboy

It is actually perfect riding weather right now. South Florida has great weather, much different than other states.

Contrary to popular belief, it's rainy and cold here right now 59 degrees!

Originally Posted by lunerkid

I can't remember exactly, but I believe that when they sign the title, you tear the perforated part and you keep the seller side and turn that to the DMV within a certain time frame.

Release of liability if I remember correctly.

I'm looking at both my titles at the moment and neither has a tear off part.
I will try to upload some pictures in a few minutes to see if it will help.

[CC Cowboy]

Originally Posted by ScraitT

Contrary to popular belief, it's rainy and cold here right now 59 degrees!

I had that weather yesterday. I sent it down to you today. The rest of the week it should be upper 70s.

[Scott1620]

When I bought my bike from PA (used), I had to get the title notarized with both partys present. I am not sure about how florida does it though, is there a place for a notarization stamp somewhere on the title? If so, you probably have to get it notarized...

[ScraitT]

Originally Posted by CC Cowboy

I had that weather yesterday. I sent it down to you today. The rest of the week it should be upper 70s.

Damn you! I knew it came from somewhere


Ok, here are the titles from one of my Dirtbikes.

First, The title I received from the seller when I bought the bike. He signed the title over to me and I sent it to the DMV.





Next, this is my current title for the bike that I received from the DMV after turning in the above title (and paying fees).




I see no tearoff sheets on them, just the info on the bottom to sell the bike.

Now say I sold the above bike, and the guy turns out to be an idiot and takes it onto the road to do some wheeleys and hits a car. The guy is unharmed, gets up and runs away leaving the bike.
The cops show up, run the VIN and it's still i my name because the guy hasn't tuned the title into the DMV. What then?

(sorry for the big images, it's small text on the documents)

[ScraitT]

Originally Posted by Scott1620

When I bought my bike from PA (used), I had to get the title notarized with both partys present. I am not sure about how florida does it though, is there a place for a notarization stamp somewhere on the title? If so, you probably have to get it notarized...

I posted pictures of the titles on one of my bikes. No notarization spot that I notice. Nothing was notarized when I bought the bike, the seller just signed the title over and I sent it to the DMV a few days later.

[kkim]

Call the DMV to get your questions answered. Procedures vary from location to location.

[ScraitT]

Originally Posted by kkim

Call the DMV to get your questions answered. Procedures vary from location to location.

Unfortunately that's a joke down here. You'll wait on the phone for hours, then IF you get through, you'll get a very rude person who doesn't know the answer and will just make something up...every time you call you'll get a different answer. Your also lucky if you can find someone who speaks english.
The DMV down here is a joke.

I was just hoping someone might have a little experience before I attempted that route and pulled my hair out

[kkim]

I know on the ownership papers for vehicles in Hawaii, there are instructions somewhere on it that explains what needs to be done when that vehicle is to be sold. Is there no fine print on the back of yours?

[Postiez]

Anything above 40 is riding weather for me, and a few times I went below that

[ScraitT]

Originally Posted by kkim

I know on the ownership papers for vehicles in Hawaii, there are instructions somewhere on it that explains what needs to be done when that vehicle is to be sold. Is there no fine print on the back of yours?

The back of the Titles deals with lien information on the bike and licensed dealer reassignment. On the bottom there is a section for the purchaser to fill out for application for the title, but still nothing for me to hold a copy of.
No fine print anywhere that I can see unless it's that small!

Originally Posted by Postiez

Anything above 40 is riding weather for me, and a few times I went below that

Anything below 80 is stay home weather for me Give me 90-100 degrees any day.


Thank you all for the help thus far

[ScraitT]

Ok, I believe I have the question answered myself after searching google for a while (I did this the other night before posting this and came up with nothing...I guess the lack of sleep got to me!)

The answer for anyone else selling in Florida appears to be the following

Originally Posted by www.dmv.org

Protect Yourself When You Sell
The person who buys your used vehicle should transfer the title and register the vehicle in his or her name within 30 days, but that doesn't always happen. If the buyer fails to complete the transfer, it creates legal issues for you as the owner of record on the vehicle. To avoid civil liability or other problems, fill out the Notice of Sale and submit it to your local county tax collector's office within 30 days of the vehicle's sale.

This allows the HSMV records to show that vehicle as "sold," and releases you from legal liability. It also removes your registration information from the HSMV database and essentially makes it illegal for the buyer to operate the vehicle on public roads until it's properly titled and registered in his or her name.

Thanks everyone for the help!

[silver_bullet]

When I just sold mine I wrote out a bill of sale, signed by myself, the buyer and 2 witnesses. Since the bike is under 300CC's I didn't need a title, just gave him the MCO. He gave me the money. I pulled my plate off and was on my way.

For him to register the bike he went to the town office, presented the MCO, his insurance card for the bike and the bill of sale. They have him a plate and registration and it's his.

[lunerkid]

Oops my bad. It was a separate document.
For CA, we are suppose to turn in "release of liability" to the DMV.

Document can be done online or by mail or turned in within 5 days.
I remember now walking into the DMV that this was shown all over the DMV to remind people that they are suppose to turn this in within 5 days after transferring a title.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/forms/reg/reg138.pdf

[min nin]

When you sell your bike, get payment, fill out title, send purchaser to dmv to transfer title, When the title is in their name they get the bike.

This protects you. If they wont do this, sell it to someone else.
CYA.

Dont forget to tell your insurance company you sold it.

Terry.

[CC Cowboy]

Originally Posted by ScraitT

Unfortunately that's a joke down here. You'll wait on the phone for hours, then IF you get through, you'll get a very rude person who doesn't know the answer and will just make something up...every time you call you'll get a different answer. Your also lucky if you can find someone who speaks english.


I was just hoping someone might have a little experience before I attempted that route and pulled my hair out

Are we talking Health Care? Oh yea, that hasn't started yet. I can see the simularities as soon as it does though.

[capt_bugaloo]

Originally Posted by ScraitT

Contrary to popular belief, it's rainy and cold here right now 59 degrees!

59 = cold? Sounds like a warm spring day here in the PNW, just right for riding.

[HKr1]

For sure fill out the notice of sale and give to dmv