Ca title how to?

[350xRules]

Has anyone ever gone through the process of obtaining a California title for a bike that did not have any papers? If so whats the process? From what I have read you have to have a vehicle inspection done, then file a few pieces of paperwork. How much hassel is this? Thanks for any info.

[JustEnough]

I called the CHP and a knowledgeable officer called me back and said that you first have to let the CHP inspect it to confirm that it is not stolen. He said the the vehicle has to be complete because he does not want stolen parts put on afterward. He said if the frame or engine shows up as stolen, the whole vehicle is confiscated and you are SOL. Because of this, I call the CHP and have the numbers checked over the phone, as if I am about to buy the vehicle. The next step is a title search at the DMV, which I heard is time consuming and too costly. One seller told me that he always tells the DMV that he had a title and lost it, because the process is much simpler and cheaper. I have heard may people say the will never buy anything without a title because of the problems they have had in the past.

I have decided to drive to Nevada to ride my ATC's because there is no off-road registration there.

If someone has a correction to any of my statement, I would like to hear about it, because information on how to get a California title seems hard to find.

[kristofrogers]

I actually just restored a 1978 Suzuki DR370 and I was looking to get it registered. I had found it on the corner with a "for free" sign on it. I never ended up doin because I couldn't find a straight answer from anywhere I checked. I've heard that some people say that they created the bike from scratch and that when they got it it was just a frame with an engine. Or that you can file for a lost title. OR there is another option where its somethin along the lines of an "abandoned vehicle" re-registration... I'm not sure on any of this information but its what I gathered from scowering the DMV site and all kinds of other internet based forums and information sites. I'd like to find out more about the abandoned vehicle registration and that might be your best bet if theres a process for that.