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How can i get a title for a motorcycle in New York state when the previous owner didn't have one?

I got the bike for free off Craigslist and got it running over the next two weeks. The guy i got it from didn't have a title either. The guy i got it from got it for parts, so he never bothered to get a title. I have NO way of finding the last titled owner.

Public Comments

1. In NYS, you can't transfer ownership without titles. The title is a certificate of ownership. The exception is if it the bike is old (I think in the 60's) before the law came in. The previous owner may NOT have the physical title, but if he didn't steal it he should be the TITLED OWNER. If you ask me he didn't get any money for it and he just doesn't want to bother with getting a replacement title. Now the problem is yours. Your best bet is to just call DMV and find out what to do. ==== You will have problem even junking it without a title. If you can't register it, and ride it, sell it for part on eBay.
2. first thing you do is have a police officer come over and tell him you just bought the bike and you wanna see if its stolen. then he will run the vin number. the persons name which the bike is titled to will automatically come up. ask for the name and address of the owner and then you can look up the persons phone number on www.anywho.com