Titling your stuff in Colorado

2799 Views 14 Replies 10 Participants Last post by hd74, Apr 24, 2015

hd74

Discussion Starter · Nov 1, 2011

Thought I'd share my DMV experience for all you Coloradoans. I bought a set of 58 cases with a Missouri title from 2005. Not knowing that I would need to have the cases here to transfer the title ( the cases were sent out with other parts to start the build). My first attempted at the DMV I also found the clerk and her supervisor were less than knowledgeable, but after bugging them I got them to produce paper work detailing what you need to make it happen and that just because you have a title and a engine doesn't mean your going to be able to transfer it. Here in Colorado at the minimum you need a rolling chassis, which needs to include frame, front and rear wheels, forks, engine and transmission. For show we added tanks and oil and battery box, but after the clerk checked out the bike we had assembled, her first question was were is the odometer? So throw one of those on there too. I was lucking enough to have a friend that had a 58 roller minus the engine and tranny I could use. So the next attempt I decided to go to another location with a smaller office in hopes of finding a more experience staff. Well the clerk there was just another paper pusher but did come out to inspect the bike and VIN. Right off you could tell she was a bit confused trying to find the VIN number on the frame. So I reminder her that bikes didn't have VIN numbers before 1970 and she was inspecting a 1958 and the numbers were on the engine. For reasons unknown she thought she needed the mileage on the bike and again remind her after 10 yrs. there is no requirement. Another comment was if the bike was rideable? I had to say no but the engine did run and the bike is being restored. She commented that she would have to consult with her supervisor. After returning to the office she was talking to her super and in a few minutes came over and asked do you want plates with that title? Right then I felt like I just won the lotto. For those following I would suggest to hang as much stuff as you can on that roller to minimize the questions from the paper pusher, but in all fairness this clerk was professional.

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shovithead

· #2 · Nov 1, 2011

Government regulation, gone occult. Some states are still reasonable, and some are like Colorado. When i run into these problems, I use a title company to do the search and paperwork. I have a company, that is totally legit, and for less than 300 dollars, will do the title, registration and a tag. You have to have, either a title of some sort, or a bill of sale, and any other paperwork you can produce. THen they do the work, and will evaluate over the phone, so you never waste funds to find out. THey are 99 percent with mine. Plus, it avoids the out of state inspections we have here, and you can get a original HD title, even for the older bikes with no vin on the frame.

BobAsh

· #3 · Nov 1, 2011

That's just what I did; assembled the whole basket (minus engine internals) and put it on a trailer. I figured I'd have less trouble if it looked like what they expected to see: a motorcycle.

RetroRob

· #4 · Nov 1, 2011

Pennsylvania is a pain in the ass. I had a rat rod that would never pass inspection so i drove 10 minutes to Maryland, told them I moved in with my friend in maryland and walked out with historical tags and life time registration and no inspection need. Some states ate great, others suck.

My current project is a 66 triumph. All I have is the front loop, lower engine case and a title that matches both. Here all you need is a rubbing of the vin, many have gone to harbor freight, bought a number stamp kit, stamped them on a hunk of steel, did their rubbing and got their plates. You do what you got to do

vtwinmotors

· #5 · Nov 1, 2011

I have done this stuff in colorado since the 1970's and every time it is different. The last time I went though a title company on my 35 ford and I had to get the inspection and they did the rest less than a month had a colorado title for a 1935 with out any extra bull. But I mush say it is always a mystery what some of the people come up with.

hd74

Discussion Starter · #6 · Nov 2, 2011

It's funny how you can get two completely different results within the same county.

Big John 13

· #7 · Nov 2, 2011

shovithead said:
Government regulation, gone occult. Some states are still reasonable, and some are like Colorado. When i run into these problems, I use a title company to do the search and paperwork. I have a company, that is totally legit, and for less than 300 dollars, will do the title, registration and a tag. You have to have, either a title of some sort, or a bill of sale, and any other paperwork you can produce. THen they do the work, and will evaluate over the phone, so you never waste funds to find out. THey are 99 percent with mine. Plus, it avoids the out of state inspections we have here, and you can get a original HD title, even for the older bikes with no vin on the frame.

Would you mind sharing the name of that title company with us?

vtwinmotors

· #8 · Nov 2, 2011

The title company I used is GBI Titles a division of Crest Corporation P.O. Box 100125 Denver Colo. 80250. Greg was very helpful. 303 759 3599 .. Like I said I had to get the VIN check done and mailed it to them but the sent me all the paper work and how to do what I needed to do and sent it back and in about a month I had a colorado title. Went to my local DMV with the paper work he sent and walked out with plates and title in hand.

dudleysbasement

· #9 · Nov 3, 2011

wow colorado sucks to register something in

in new york you can register any thing 72 and earlier even without the paper work and theirs no inspections here . all you need is

tracing of the vin
insurance card
fill out registration form
fill out mv51b form
and a bill of sale , could be from anyone

you must alway back date the sale date one year or more before the day your register it . for some reason if you dont do this they wont register it

you hand this stack of paper to the clerk and they tell you this cant be done about 5 times to try and stop you .then they will call their supervisor and she will give you temporary registration and a few weeks later a transferable comes in the mail

ive done it 4 times this year the first time took me 6 tries till i figured out the 1 year sale date rule

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BobAsh

· #10 · Nov 3, 2011

I used Barry in Alabama. He's on ebay.

hd74

Discussion Starter · #11 · May 13, 2012

Well I finely have my Bobber registered licensed and titled, not an easy task here in Colorado. The Bobber is a special construction or another way to put it custom built, but here in Colorado the state does not use either definition. Their definition is Home made or Kit bike. I don’t like either term, but you have to pick one so I went with Kit. This is the process I used to get the bike titled. If anyone knows of a better way let us know. A friends shop I guess is lucky enough to have a State Trooper come by and inspect your ride and paper work. You have to provide the MSO’s for the frame, engine and tranny, receipts for most of the parts you didn’t make yourself. Once the Trooper looks over your bike and matches the number on the MSO to the frame, engine and tranny, he take the paper work back to his station and run all the number to make sure there not stolen. Later in the day he drops off the papers, MSO’s and his inspection sheet. The Trooper asked for 20 buck and after that exchange I ask “well what about the vin tag”? He then instructed me that I would now have to take everything to the state DMV and submit it for review and you need to fill out a few more forms.

Next chapter coming soon.

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britbikehacker

· #12 · Apr 23, 2015

did you go to the Loveland or ft.collins dmv? do you remember who it was that you talked to?

skinny

· #13 · Apr 23, 2015

Yea, Co. is an interesting place for sure.
I bought a 70's iron head from Texas. The frame had an old hard head kit welded on it, so there were no vin #'s on the frame. The gal at the DMV , in Denver,never even realized there was supposed to be a matching vin on the frame. Got a title and reg. for it. It was a complete running bike at the time, so there were no questions about anything other than the transfer of title into my name. I went there thinking, this was going to be a nightmare.
I guess I got lucky

skinny

old.wrench

· #14 · Apr 24, 2015

hd74 said:
Well I finely have my Bobber registered licensed and titled, not an easy task here in Colorado. The Bobber is a special construction or another way to put it custom built, but here in Colorado the state does not use either definition. Their definition is Home made or Kit bike. I don't like either term, but you have to pick one so I went with Kit. This is the process I used to get the bike titled. If anyone knows of a better way let us know. A friends shop I guess is lucky enough to have a State Trooper come by and inspect your ride and paper work. You have to provide the MSO's for the frame, engine and tranny, receipts for most of the parts you didn't make yourself. Once the Trooper looks over your bike and matches the number on the MSO to the frame, engine and tranny, he take the paper work back to his station and run all the number to make sure there not stolen. Later in the day he drops off the papers, MSO's and his inspection sheet. The Trooper asked for 20 buck and after that exchange I ask "well what about the vin tag"? He then instructed me that I would now have to take everything to the state DMV and submit it for review and you need to fill out a few more forms.

Next chapter coming soon.

Hmmm . . . I wonder if the State Trooper would have accepted a personal check or a $20 gift certificate from Dunkin Donuts or maybe he's strictly a cash-only double dipper. He's got a pretty good racket going there

.

Geo.

hd74

Discussion Starter · #15 · Apr 24, 2015

old.wrench said:
Hmmm . . . I wonder if the State Trooper would have accepted a personal check or a $20 gift certificate from Dunkin Donuts or maybe he's strictly a cash-only double dipper. He's got a pretty good racket going there .

Geo.

Well my first attempt was in Golden, Co at the State Trooper station, but first you have to get an appointment.
You can only call on 2 days of the week during a 4 hour window. Most of the time the number was busy. Once I finally got my appointment the Trooper comes out with a attitude. He's about 30 feet away and says this is not going to pass. So I ask why, he say well no mirror and he didn't like my pipes. That was BS I did have a mirror and after calming him down he gave me a pass on the pipes. After all of that BS I didn't pass because I didn't have a horn. Needless to say I did bother to return to that station. At the inspection mentioned in the quote they never asked my were my horn was, because I never put one on. Go figure.

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