Purchased a Motorcycle That May Be Stolen

[chilam00900]

My question involves vehicle registration or title in the state of: Hawaii
Ok, so I looked up a really nice 2001 Yamaha R6 from Craigslist, and bought it. The seller told me that the registration was out of dated and is registered in Texas, along with the title, but he said I could easily get a new Hawaiian one it if I had Insurance and License and safety. The Bike also has a title, again, under the state of Texas and is now under my name since I bought it. But once I took the bike home, everything started to seem sketchy.
The first thing I noticed is that on the title on the VIN, 2 numbers were faded away so the seller used a pen to write down some numbers, but when I checked the VIN, it matched the bike, and online results also state that it IS this specific bike, while the second thing is that the whole bike is spray painted into flat black.
My First Question is, can a bike be stolen and still have the title? I have a feeling that the bike I have right now is in this situation, and if so, what should I do, and does that make a big deal?! And when the information on the title has faded, can you just rewrite what was on there by yourself?
My second question is that, when I called the DMV today about getting a new registration, they said I had to have a Shipping receipt to show when the bike arrived to the island, but unfortunetly, the seller didn't give me any of that info, again, what can I do, and is there a way to get that information?
Last, if I take it to the DMV to check the VIN and it really turns out to be a stolen bike, Will I be in trouble? Because the title of the bike is currently in my hand, but all the information of previous owners are here as well.
Please! Tell Me What I Can Do!!!

[jk]

how did you get a texas title in Hawaii?

Last, if I take it to the DMV to check the VIN and it really turns out to be a stolen bike, Will I be in trouble?

Not if you truly are an innocent party but you will be without the motorcycle. You would have to sue the guy that sold it to you to get your money back.

Because the title of the bike is currently in my hand, but all the information of previous owners are here as well.

if you have not sent the title in to be registered in your name, the only names that should be on the title is an owner and his signature where he signed off when he sold it to you and your name as the purchaser. If there is anybody else on there, you have a lot of problems ahead.

My second question is that, when I called the DMV today about getting a new registration, they said I had to have a Shipping receipt to show when the bike arrived to the island, but unfortunetly, the seller didn't give me any of that info, again, what can I do, and is there a way to get that information?

that's because whoever shipped it was supposed to take care of that. Sounds like you have some more trouble ahead for you.

[chilam00900]

So I called the cops today, and he came over to check up the VIN, and the bike is fine with no stolen or bad records, but he said the Title is pretty much garbage, because it's pretty much old and torn apart. So from what I understand right now, I have a bike that is NOT stolen, but I don't have a "Good" title, just a one the cops and DMV won't reconize because it's old and kinda torn. I have all the info on the title, like the document numbers and VIN numbers and license numbers and all that stuff. So, if this is the case, will I be able to get a new title and eventually make it legalized? Or am I better off finding the guy that sold it to me and sue him? And again, the title and last registration of the bike is from the State of Texas, and the bike and title is currently in Hawaii. Thanks Guys!!!!

[jk]

If the guy on the title brought it over, if he was moving there, he should have obtained a Hawaii title. If this is legit, I wouldn't give up hope yet but it is going to involve the last owner. He is going to have to file for a duplicate title from Texas. Not sure if he can use that title to sell to you in Hawaii or if he would have to transfer it to a Hawaii title first. That is something you will have to check with the DMV. If he has to obtain a Hawaii title first, he will have to take his Texas title and the shipping records to the DMV and apply for a Hawaii title and then transfer that new Hawaii title to you.

If he can transfer a Texas title to you, you still need the shipping records and the new Texas title and then you can apply for a new Hawaii title in your name.