The first question is: Can I buy a motorcycle without a title? Absolutely! You can buy a bike with no title if you choose to. For example, you can even purchase a scrap-branded vehicle if that’s what you’re after—but keep in mind, you’ll never be able to make it street-legal again in any state. Here’s how it worked: Vermont used to allow anyone, regardless of their state of residence, to register their vehicles there—no questions asked.
It was straightforward and hassle-free. You could buy a motorcycle without a title and feel confident that you could obtain a clean, new title or a transferable registration through Vermont with minimal effort.
Now, if you go ahead and buy a bike without a title, don’t worry—you can still recover it. We handle this through a bonded title process in Montana, utilizing an LLC for residency purposes.
How to Buy a Motorcycle Without a Title
There are a few steps to follow when purchasing a motorcycle without a title.
First, it’s important to work with the current owner and see if they can help you obtain a replacement title through the DMV. If they provide inconsistent or unconvincing answers, it’s best to walk away.
The bike may have unresolved issues that the seller is trying to avoid, and if you proceed, you’ll be responsible for addressing those problems.
If the seller’s reasons for the missing title are legitimate and they can successfully obtain a replacement, it’s still easier to proceed with our Motorcycle Service once a title is in hand.
Get a Bill of Sale (Preferably Notarized)
The first step when purchasing a motorcycle (and this is recommended for every vehicle purchase, regardless of state policy) is to obtain a bill of sale. If possible, it’s also a good idea to have the bill of sale notarized.
While notarization may not be required in every state, it’s a useful practice. A bill of sale provides proof of ownership transfer, and notarizing it offers added protection. In some states, a bill of sale can even serve as a substitute for a title in specific situations.
For instance, in Kansas, ownership of antique vehicles can be transferred with just a bill of sale, likely due to the high number of older vehicles missing titles. Rules can vary widely between states, so it’s important to check local regulations.
At the very least, securing a signed bill of sale from the seller is a crucial step and provides an extra layer of security for the transaction.
Getting a New Title (When Your Bike Doesn’t Have One)
The process is known as a bonded title. Essentially, a bonded title is a provisional document, and even if you’ve had the vehicle for several years, the ownership can still be challenged through official channels.
Here’s how it works: You come to us with a bike that doesn’t have a title. It might be lost, or we might not know what happened to it.
While it’s not an ideal situation, it’s the system we work within, and we’re making the most of it.
To proceed, you’ll need to obtain a surety bond (also called a title bond) to financially guarantee your ownership. In simple terms, you’re putting up money to confirm that you are the rightful owner of the vehicle.
You’ll need to determine the bond amount, which is typically a percentage of the vehicle’s purchase value. This can vary from state to state, but the bond is usually between 1.5 to 2 times the vehicle’s value. Similar to a bail bond, the buyer only needs to pay a small percentage of the bond’s total value upfront.
Once the bond is secured, the buyer can apply for a surety title. Here’s an important step: a VIN inspection must be performed on the bike. The police handle this process, and they’ll be checking to ensure there’s no criminal history associated with the title.
Check the VIN Number with Our VIN Check Service
Before you start the bonded title process, we strongly suggest you get our VIN check and see if anything pops up on the VIN. In fact, do this for all vehicle purchases.
Our VIN check (Note: this is NOT the same thing as a VIN inspection. VIN inspections are only conducted by law enforcement) reveals a number of different problems including:
- Junk or scrap brand
- Salvage or rebuilt title brand
- Flood damage
How to Get a Title for a Motorcycle (and What to Do When You Can’t)
Wondering how to get a title for a motorcycle? At Dirt Legal, we make it simple.
All you need to get started is your VIN, make, model, a valid ID, and any paperwork you already have. From there, we take the wheel. Our team handles the DMV, processes the paperwork, and tracks the progress for you—so you don’t have to.
Read: Reclaim Your Lost Motorcycle Title Swiftly — Even Without a Bill of Sale
What Are Some Best Practices When Buying A Motorcycle Without a Title?
We strongly recommend that you ask the seller to request a duplicate title.
We can’t stress this enough – having the title in hand will make the process much smoother. While you can still go through our Montana title and registration process without it, it will definitely be a lot easier if you have the title already.
We’ve helped many people navigate all sorts of title and registration issues over the years. If it’s happened, we’ve probably dealt with it.
That said, buying a bike without a title isn’t something to take lightly. It could be a simple issue or turn into a major headache.
Before spending any money, you really need to think about how committed you’re willing to be. In the end, it might not be worth the effort if things don’t go as planned.
