Selling a Motorcylce with a Notorized Title

[ri14997]

My question involves vehicle registration or title in the state of: Pennsylvania

So i bought a motorcycle from someone a few months ago everything was legit we went to a notary got the title signed with a bill of sale and my plan was to fix it up and resell it as a dealer. With the title legitly signed over to me with proof of purchase would i be able to then sign the title to someone else so they can register it? On PA titles there is several sections for signing away the title i assume that is so it can be signed away multiple times so would i be able to sell my bike by filling out the next section on the title?

[budwad]

Having the seller sign the title does not give you ownership of the bike. You must first have the title transferred to you by PA DMV. You must pay the sales tax and transfer tax. Once you have the bike titled to you then you can sell it. Otherwise you are doing what is called jumping title which is illegal.

[adjusterjack]

On PA titles there is several sections for signing away the title i assume that is so it can be signed away multiple times so would i be able to sell my bike by filling out the next section on the title?

That's for licensed dealers which you obviously are not or you wouldn't have to ask the question.

It's illegal for you to do it.

[Harold99]

A lot of things in life are "illegal" but the next question is usually " what is the likeliness of getting caught?"

Just saying "it is illegal" without answering that question would make me roll my eyes.

[Taxing Matters]

A lot of things in life are "illegal" but the next question is usually " what is the likeliness of getting caught?"

In PA, the chances are pretty decent he'd be caught (and that's probably the case in a lot of states). Why? Because when guy to whom he sells it goes to title and register the car, the DMV is probably going to notice the gap in the chain of title caused by the title jumping. And yes, I'm familiar with PA DMV as I lived there for a number of years.

[Harold99]

In PA, the chances are pretty decent he'd be caught (and that's probably the case in a lot of states). Why? Because when guy to whom he sells it goes to title and register the car, the DMV is probably going to notice the gap in the chain of title caused by the title jumping. And yes, I'm familiar with PA DMV as I lived there for a number of years.

If I said I know how the CA DMV handles this because I live in CA, that is a weak verification. However, if you said you know about "title jumping" with the PA DMV because you've done it before, it would be much more pursuasive.

In CA, I believe a vehicle can be sold without disclosing who it was sold to. In that case title jumping could easily be done with very little risk. But some people won't drive 36mph in a 35 zone because it is illegal. And then there are folks who like to scare people by saying "that is illegal."

[flyingron]

What does California have to do with the price of Potatoes. The poster is in Pennsylvania, and that's the only law that matters.

As TM points out correctly (without the useless noise from Hal), PennDOT regularly detects jumping and when the suspect a jumped title, they will not issue the new one without a court order.

[Harold99]

What does California have to do with the price of Potatoes. The poster is in Pennsylvania, and that's the only law that matters.

As TM points out correctly (without the useless noise from Hal), PennDOT regularly detects jumping and when the suspect a jumped title, they will not issue the new one without a court order.

Since you want to be an expert in all 50 states, maybe you could tell how they will detect title jumping? But when does someone back up what they claim here?

[flyingron]

Because, Mr. KnowNothing, it is required in Pennsylvania that the person whose name is on the title sign the assignment in front of a notary and list the assignee. In the case of licensed dealers, they can use the next block on the title to transfer it to an buyer (this is permitted). However, if the person trying to register/apply the new title doesn't match the listed assignee OR more than twenty days have elapsed since it was signed, the commonwealth will kick back the title. They can not leave the assignee blank like they do in California.

[Harold99]

Because, Mr. KnowNothing, it is required in Pennsylvania that the person whose name is on the title sign the assignment in front of a notary and list the assignee. In the case of licensed dealers, they can use the next block on the title to transfer it to an buyer (this is permitted). However, if the person trying to register/apply the new title doesn't match the listed assignee OR more than twenty days have elapsed since it was signed, the commonwealth will kick back the title. They can not leave the assignee blank like they do in California.

Having to search Google for your response means you knew and actually know nothing about it too.

What a reliable source to repeat...Google.