I'm in the process of buying dirt bikes for my kids. I turned down a good offer on a craigslisted CRF100 b/c the seller did not have a title. I found another, but same thing, no title though the seller will do a bill of sale and has a bill of sale from the previous owner.

My question is - Am I being too much of a stickler? Are titles necessary for dirt bikes?

My concerns about not having a title are:
Insuring the bike is not stolen.
Insuring the bike does not have a lien on it.
Be able to prove ownership.
Being able to provide a title when I sell the bike.

Thoughts?

it's not uncommon for people to buy small dirt bikes, especially kid's bikes, and not title them. The reason you need a title is when you want to get a license plate for it. Otherwise, you can go to your local police department or sheriff and ask them to check the VIN to see if it has been reported as stolen. Go look in the dual sport forum, I think there has been a lot of discussion on how to get a title for a non-titled bike, if you really want to get it titled. I do think you should pay a little less for a bike without a title, because it requires you to do more homework to make sure it's not stolen.

In 20 years of riding, buying, and selling dirt bikes I have only had 3 that were titled. One I bought new and the other 2 were year old bikes that the original owner bought new.

Thanks, that's what I needed to know.

don't forget to mention that when you transfer the title of said vehicle you pay sales tax. here in Texas its estimated value so not actually whats on the bill of sale. so that prevents people from titling right there. plus with the 30 days rule more skip out. if the title was not transfered within 30 days its a $25 fine for every month you didn't title it. So if you waited until you wanted to sell to title it...your farged.

According to DPS site, off road vehicles do not pay the estimated tax amount. However, you still have to pay taxes on it based upon price paid. I believe the rate is 6.25%.

However, I have yet to figure out how you get a title for the bike if the bike has changed hands several times and there is not paper trail back to the titled owner.

look into filing a lost title.

I have titles for all the bikes that I have bought, but I do not title them. I have the owner sign everything but not date it and I just hold the title at that point. If someone wants to title the bike then its ready to go, just date and go pay....

Interesting topic... glad to see I'm not alone in not titling dirt bikes. I have an '06 KX250F that I'm trying to sell... I bought it in OK because I save a ton of money and no sales tax. No Texas Title is applied for in this situation. You do receive a bill of sale and the Manufacturer's Statement of Origin. When I paid the bike off I received from the finance company a letter releasing the lien and the documentation for me to be able to go apply for a Texas Title.

I'm selling it and don't plan to have it titled. I have documentation proving it's mine and that the original lien on it was paid off, but I'm not sure if that will be adequate for a lot of folks that feel a Texas title is important. Guess I'll find out eventually...

I'm going to pay alot less for an untiteled bike than titeled.


Actually scrap rates on an untitled bike