So Your New Bike Doesn't Have A Title? Maybe This Can Help

Serial Facebook Marketplace perusers know the pain, but patience is key.

By: Janaki Jitchotvisut

Nov 26, 2024 at 7:09am ET

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I don't know about you, but any time I've ever been looking at used bikes online, I've always looked for a title. Granted, I'm not a serial bike buyer, nor a serial project vehicle accruer. So, my wants and needs may be different from yours.

But if you've ever thought to yourself that Bike A really belongs in your garage, or it would if it only had a title, then the latest from YouTube channel Brick House Builds just might be able to put you on the right path. It used to be that fans of vintage cars and bikes could get titles through the state of Vermont, but sadly, that program went away some time ago.

For those unfamiliar, Brick House Builds is based in the great state of Missouri, so the rules that BJ followed only apply specifically to that state. However, the process he followed might shed some light on similar processes in whatever state you live in, so they could be worth looking into with your state and local governments to see what (if any) similar systems are available to you.

The story goes like this: Back in 2023, BJ obtained a Honda CB750 chopper from an estate. The original owner had disappeared some time ago, and no one quite knew where he'd gone. So it wasn't exactly like it would be easy to contact the guy, or even if the guy still had the original title somewhere. But BJ had two separate bills of sale, including the one where he purchased the bike.

He tells the full story in this video, and also offers a list of the steps he took in the description of this video. He ended up getting what's called a declaratory judgment for a vehicle title in the state of Missouri, which basically meant that he was able to present enough evidence to the court he filed in that the judge said "yes, this bike is yours," and signed paperwork to that effect.

What do you think?

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He was then able to take that judgment to the Department of Motor Vehicles and get a shiny new title for it. This process took ages to accomplish, miles of hoops to jump through, and quite a bit more than 10 millimeters of red tape to traverse, but it eventually worked out (just in time for the end of riding season).

Still, perseverance is apparently key, and it can be done. What does getting a title for a vehicle that doesn't have one look like where you live? Share your best tips in the comments!