Title Services

[Its been a long time]

Must be joking.
My last dealings with them were punctuated by laziness, incompetence and idiocy, all on their side.

Nope. Not joking. January this year, got a V5 on an imported XS650 in 5 working days from their receipt of the application.

 

[OHRider]

There have been many threads posted discussing how to obtain titles for bikes that were purchased without one. In the past I have gone through the courts and obtained a Court Ordered Lost Title for my '77 that was pulled from a 35 year barn slumber. That was a nice way that only cost about $150 but took some time for the process, including taking a half day off work to attend the court hearing. I was fortunate and live in a small community where everyone was pleasant and eager to help. Others have used the old Vermont Bill of Sale loophole which has since been closed through government bureaucracy. For my latest acquisition, I decided to try a new route. I had heard of Saints Title Services in the past and read some good reviews of the service, so I decided to give them a shot. Basically the process goes like this...

https://www.saintsengine.com/services/title-service/

Start by going into their website and create a Bill of Sale. You also need to provide a clear picture of the VIN from your frame. I had to use some acetone to remove a few layers of paint for a clear picture. You are transferring the ownership over to them on paper. You can either pay by Papal for $450 or write a check for $400 (as of August 2024). Saints then submits to the TN BMV and claims ownership. In about 4 weeks Saints then sends you back a legitimate TN Title in their name that is signed off along with a signed Bill of Sale that you complete with your information. This is the point where I am in the process. I just need to make the trip down to my local BMV and transfer the title into my name.

I understand the apprehension of signing over a vehicle blindly. I was right there too but decided to roll the dice based on the positive reviews I have read. Everything is legitimate and has worked out just as they have stated it would. I have no issues and am currently very satisfied with the results. I'm off to the BMV on Tuesday to finish this process.

**NOTE -- I just checked their website and they are currently on hold for their services. Apparently they are applying for some new licensing to conform with new laws. They expect to be back in operation in early October '24. I got lucky and mine pushed through just before this took place.

My friend did when it was cheaper

 

[Raymond]

Nope. Not joking. January this year, got a V5 on an imported XS650 in 5 working days from their receipt of the application.

I've never had to register a newly imported bike, but on buying or selling a bike privately I've always had a trouble-free service from DVLA. Considering that the service is free, gives legal change of ownership and lets you change other details about the bike (or other vehicle) such as a new address when you move house I think we have nothing much to complain about in the UK regarding DVLA.

Just think about the amount of column inches in this forum alone devoted to N Americans railing about the woes and expense of transferring ownership of a motorbike . . .

I think we're quite lucky with the Historic vehicle category as well - forty years old, free road tax, no need for an MOT, no limitations on use or mileage.

 

[jetmechmarty]

Just think about the amount of column inches in this forum alone devoted to N Americans railing about the woes and expense of transferring ownership of a motorbike . . .

Yes, but not all of us. My experience in Mississippi has been positive. Same for Georgia. Being in a small town helps a great deal. Government employees in large metropolitan areas can prove to be less helpful and/or friendly.

 

[Grimly]

Nope. Not joking. January this year, got a V5 on an imported XS650 in 5 working days from their receipt of the application.

When I imported my old GS from the UK, the DVLA had to issue a cert. They binned all the history they asked me to provide, original documents.
The utter scum.

 

[WideAWAKE]

Yes, but not all of us. My experience in Mississippi has been positive. Same for Georgia. Being in a small town helps a great deal. Government employees in large metropolitan areas can prove to be less helpful and/or friendly.

I’m In California and while most of the states public services are trash, getting an old bike on the road (with or without a title) is pretty cut and dry.

Jump through the few hoops (typically just a vin check or to chp if you don’t have a title) and presto… title in the mail a few weeks later.

 

[Melnic]

One thing the Republican (He's truly a centrist) Gov of Maryland Larry Hogan did in his 8 years of office was to work to have the Maryland Vehicle Administration service the citizens better. There used to be a joke that the MVA is the only place where time moves backwards.
Now you have a scheduling system and it works REALLY well. I have titled 6 bikes and 3 cars in the past 3 years. I'm usually in there for 30 minutes on average. That is in and then out. If you arrive within 5 minutes before or after your scheduled time, your seen within 15 minutes. Sometimes within 5 minutes. They are all helpful and they have the more experienced people standing buy to help where the help is needed. I recently did a title for my mom where I"m the power of attorney for my deceased father's car that we were transferring. I was in and out in 20 minutes. If you have what you need to get things done, you are in and out. If you don't have what you need, they will list out what you need to bring next time. The thing I learned was coming early did not really help and if your late, they still do a good job to prioritize you and work you in.

 

[Kevin Werner]

I have done 4 title/license transfers for M/C in WI in the last 3 years. 2 of 3 out of state were w/o title. I did have to get more documentation and a 2nd visit on the untitled bikes but the waits were short, the service was helpful and pleasant and the trip over to the Dept of Trans , WISDOT (?) office is 6 minutes from my home.