| Author | Message | ||
     Buellish |
Well,new to me that is.This is for all you guys that have bought a bike in a state that requires the seller to remove the tag at the time of the sale and then ridden it home across multiple states.How did you deal with it?I will have a bill of sale and the title, will be traveling from Massachusetts to Georgia and would prefer not to spend the night in jail. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Check your DMV's website or give them a call. I'd guess you have to get a temporary tag in advance, but they'll give you the legal scoop. | ||
| Buellish |
There's no useful information that I can find on the web site,I'll go by there later this morning. | ||
| Aaron_thomas |
Most it will be is a no tag ticket. usually as long as you have insurance in force with a bill of sale and title you should be o.k.. Our DMV will not give a tag for this because they require inspection of vehicle brought in from out of state before any type of tag will be issued. Usually the state of origin will give a temp "in transit" tag. Or find a friend that you can borrow a tag from. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I looked into it for my fly and ride. Hypothetically. The conclusion I reached was that the laws of your state of residence as shown on your current drivers license should apply. That was going to be my story anyway. In Ohio, from what I could tell, you have 30 days to notify the DMV that you have transferred your tag from your old vehicle that you sold to a new vehicle you bought.
So if you have a motorcycle, it seems to me you can take the plate off that motorcycle and take it with you and then put it on the new (to you) bike and ride it home. If you get pulled over, and the cop even thinks to ask you if the plate matches that particular vehicle anyway and asks in the first place (an advantage of going from one Buell to another Buell  ), show the signed over but not transferred title and a *dated* bill of sale for the bike you are riding, show the registration for the old bike, and explain that you are transferring the bike back home and that in Ohio you have 30 days to transfer tags. If the officer asks if you have sold the old vehicle yet, and you haven't, then that could be an awkward question. I can't tell from the law quite what "transfer" means. In my mind, if I am going to transfer the plate within 30 days its transferred. But perhaps the title has to have already been transferred, I don't know (and I don't know that the officer would either, particularly if they are not Ohio). You could also play it safe by just getting a temp tag... $30 or whatever, so money well spent if it avoids even one ticket / headache and you are crossing multiple states and may run into a cranky cop (or if you have a tendency to make cops cranky). | ||
| Buellish |
I just checked the Massachusetts RMV web site and it doesn't appear that they issue any kind of temp tag to individuals,only dealers can issue temp tags. | ||
| Thumper74 |
I just did it recently with no tags. I had an officer follow me, but didn't pull me over. I had the bill of sale, title and insurance just in case. I would think that you would be okay as long as you have all of the supporting documentation on you and are super friendly. The alternative is a friend with a truck. | ||
| Buellish |
I looked at driving up with my trailer but fuel cost would be about $400.I can fly and ride it home for under $300 and it's a hell of a lot more fun. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Call me old fashioned, but I never ride a new bike home. I prefer to check all fluids, check tire pressures, check and oil chain, check brakes, check cables and adjust suspension to my weight, and so forth, before any long trip. And that goes double for a new bike about which I know absolutely nothing. Normally, I change all fluids on a new bike as well, so I will have a known baseline for future scheduled maintenance. A new battery isn't a bad idea either: worn out batteries put a strain on the entire electrical system. A new set of tires is a pretty good investment as well, especially if you can fit them yourself. The best $250 you can spend on any bike. Bottom line: your tag is the least of your problems, if you plan on a long and satisfying relationship with your new motor. | ||
| Pwnzor |
Hmmm... ride at night with all the lights off. | ||
| Elsinore74 |
For my two cents, I'm with Mr. Jon for all the reasons he gave and more; Trailer or use a pickup to bring your new Buell home. Besides dealing with the different laws in all the states you'll be crossing, you'll make better time over that kind of distance with four (six?) wheels. Good luck and congratulations on your new bike. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Better for sure, especially since it puts less pressure on you to make a bad buy decision just because you missed a return flight. That being said, life is an adventure, and my fly and ride adventure went badly wrong and was freaking awesome and I would not have traded it for anything!!! So it probably comes down to asking your self... "Self, do you feel like an adventure today?". Some days I answer yes, some days I answer no. Nothing wrong with either. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
I've done fly-drive/ride many many times in Europe both 4 & 2 wheels inc both my Buells. The M2 shat it's oil-pump drive on the way home, fortunately not too far from home so went back with a trailer for it. The XB I bought new from a dealer in the North of England & rode home to France. From the moment the bike was wheeled out of the showroom, the heavens opened & it poured with rain non stop for 2 days, a miserable ride home & bloody hard work too. Gentleman Jon's advice is good. If the difference is only $100 I'd advise taking the pickup. Yes it's less fun for sure but your options remain open & much less stress for you (& your family & friends too) | ||
| Luftkoph |
Some people put on cardboard tag that says, (in transit)you have proof of ins.,bill of sale and title signed over to you,that's what I would do | ||
| Bigblock |
In California, the last thing you want to do is have a plate and tags that don't match the VIN on the vehicle. They will confiscate vehicle, which you may or may not get back. Ever. Doesn't matter if the plate and reg and tags all belong to a vehicle you own, even if it is the same type of vehicle, the CHP loves to check VIN and that's what matters to them. Here you're much better off with no plate, no tags and a bill of sale and title. However, I know nothing about the states you'll be in, so this may be useless info to you | ||
| Buellish |
Well it's far too late to heed the sage advise offered by several members,I bought my ticket on Thursday.This S3T is a well maintained bike with service records and I'll take my chances for better or worse.I appreciate all the comments and suggestions. I wouldn't even consider putting the tag off my S2T on it,I had my share of contact with the law when I was a kid and have no desire to repeat those times. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Good luck with the fly-and-ride, Michael. Whatever, happens, it'll be an adventure, and that's kind of the whole point of motorcycling, isn't it?  | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Don't forget to print a copy of the BRAN to take with you, just in case. Carry a couple of spare bank/credit cards & a phone charger too. Remember also, no hand tools in cabin baggage. Been there done that, lost the tool roll. Have a great time, the necessary leap of faith is a real buzz I know. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Good information on other states. Putting the tags from your old vehicle on the new vehicle is what the law says to do in Ohio if you are going to transfer them within 30 days of purchase anyway. So it clearly varies by state. I wonder if CA would impound an Ohio vehicle with plates that don't match, which laws apply, and how long ***that*** would take to sort out. | ||
| Buellish |
I'm shipping my gear and tools and I'm only taking a couple of items on the plane.Oh did I mention I've never flown commercial before? | ||
| Midknyte |
I just struck two items of my list this summer, a fly & ride via greyhound, riding home a new to me X1. Seek out some contacts along the way in case you need help (are you passing thru Chicago?) but, doooo iiiittttt. It's a great experience. Just know when to stop and take a break. I'm with the others on just title and insurance papers. (Message edited by midknyte on August 30, 2014) | ||
| Buellish |
Not going anywhere near Chicago,traveling from Massachusetts to Georgia.I'll look at the BRAN for contacts. | ||
| Buellish |
Speaking of the BRAN,where in the hell is it?I seem to have misplaced it. | ||
| Ourdee |
You have to log on to see it. | ||
| Ourdee |
Click "Edit Profile" at top of this screen. Log In Click "Topics" top of that page. Then it should be right in front of you. | ||
| Ratbuell |
If you get stuck in the MD/VA/WV/PA area, I'm right near I81. Send me a PM if needed. Have truck, tools, and can travel  | ||
| Buellish |
Rat I appreciate that,I'll be following I-81 part of the way. | ||
| Phelan |
Sounds a lot like my fly-n-ride to pick up my first Buell, a '95 S2 with T conversion and other goodies. I had never flown prior, but I made arrangements with the PO that he would pick me up from the airport in Detroit since I was flying in. I bought the bike and proceeded 1600 miles home on it to Amarillo. Bike ran like a champ but my fingertips were numb for weeks! | ||
| Buellish |
I'm riding a bus from Logan Airport in Boston to Newburyport,Mass.The bikes owner lives one mile from the bus station.If Boston traffic is anything like Atlanta traffic,saving the owner a 70 mile round trip during rush hour to pick me up at the airport ought to be worth an extra $100 off.  I will be doing between 1200 and 1400 miles to get back to GA.I think some Blue Ridge Parkway,Deals Gap,Cherohala Skyway,Tn 68 and GA 60 past TWO will be in order to kick out the jams after all that interstate. | ||
| Akbuell |
Sounds like a plan! Don't forget about the fine folks at U-Haul and Enterprise for trucks in an emergency. Maybe if only for a day, or a couple of hours, to travel through really bad weather. And if your travel gets you into the area around Waynesville, NC, I'll be here. Dave | ||
| Damnut |
in MA, all you need is the old plates (tags) that are still insured and registered. The old vehicle that the plates are registered/insured to needs to be out of your possession. (aka, tell the cop you don't have it any more)You must have a bill of sale that is not older than 7 days. Basically in MA you can transfer a plate from one vehicle to another but you have 7 days to register the new vehicle and follow the rules I stated above. I'm on the R.I. border and work north of Boston if you need any help. And that is an AWESOME S3T that you're picking up. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Thinking about it, CA is probably a really whacked out stated for this anyway, as in CA the plates stay with the car when you sell it. So in CA if the plates don't match the VIN it means something no good is absolutely going on. In Ohio (and other states) that isn't necessarily the case. | ||
| Bigblock |
As far as CA goes Bill, that is correct. CA is a completely whacked state for the DMV and insurance, our registration fees are probably the highest in the country, and the DMV here doesn't do much but make you wait in line forever, appointment or no, tell you to do it online or by mail, then as it turns out you needed to do it in person anyways! But there is a certain beauty to the plates staying with the vehicle. Although with custom plates this is not necessary. As far as out of state vehicles, if you are passing through, and have a leg to stand on, i.e. you are following your home states laws, you may get the pass, but the CHP really doesn't care for mismatched VIN. | ||
| Doz |
You got lots of friends in the CT/NY/NJ area too. check the BRAN and make a list. |
