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US states non-nationals can register a bike in US states non-nationals can register a bike in
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Trip Paperwork Covers all documentation, carnets, customs and country requirements, how to deal with insurance etc.
Photo by George Guille, It's going to be a long 300km... Bolivian Amazon

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by George Guille
It's going to be a long 300km...
Bolivian Amazon



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  #61  
Old 15 Jun 2015
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We just registered bikes on our names in Texas using our South African passports.
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  #62  
Old 28 Jun 2015
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Massachusets
I believe non-nationals are still able to register a vehicle in Massachusetts. Roynie and I purchased a couple of new motorcycles in 2001 and used a friend's address in Brighton without any difficulty. Admittedly, that was a long time ago, but I did a quick check of the DMV website and didn't find any requirement for proof of residency.
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  #63  
Old 8 Jul 2015
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I purchased a new bike in Oregon in May. The DMV wanted to know the situs address in Oregon. This is the address where the bike will be stored when I'm not using it. For my home address they were happy to use my home address in New Zealand. The registration cost very little and is current for 4 years I have an NZ passport. Insurance is from Progressive. Initial quote was over $2000 but got it down to about $1400 using various discounts like home owner safe riding course etcetera
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  #64  
Old 31 Aug 2015
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Does anyone have any information for foreigners buying and registering a vehicle in Michigan. I've looked at the SOS (DMV) website under various headings and, although there are lots of references to being a Michigan resident, there doesn't seem to be any bar to vehicle ownership for non-residents, providing you have an address and insurance ...

Secretary of State site: Titling an Registering a vehicle
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  #65  
Old 2 Feb 2016
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Montana works...
If you set yourself up as a Limited Liability Company in Montana you can register the vehicle in the name of the company and get Montana plates. Montana won't charge you a percentage of the value of the vehicle which can save a lot of money. If you search online you will find plenty of people who can do the paperwork - it's not expensive and entirely legal.

A British friend of mine just did that with a hundred and forty thousand dollar motorhome he bought in Colorado. It's about the only legal way you can register a vehicle in the USA if you don't have an American address...

Good luck
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  #66  
Old 3 Feb 2016
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MagicBus View Post
If you set yourself up as a Limited Liability Company in Montana you can register the vehicle in the name of the company and get Montana plates. Montana won't charge you a percentage of the value of the vehicle which can save a lot of money. If you search online you will find plenty of people who can do the paperwork - it's not expensive and entirely legal.

A British friend of mine just did that with a hundred and forty thousand dollar motorhome he bought in Colorado. It's about the only legal way you can register a vehicle in the USA if you don't have an American address...

Good luck
We did this for the Airstream motorhome a few years ago, that we still have, but more relevant to the overlanding scene, we used the same LLC to buy a CA registered vehicle located outside of the US and all paperwork was handled via our LLC agent and documents and new plates (with permanent tags since it was more than 10 years old) were posted to us.
No sales tax, permanent registration, and no annual inspections or smog checks make it an ideal state to register a vehicle in.

As far as I know the same deal is NOT available to real persons, only via an LLC
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  #67  
Old 17 Mar 2016
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Cool Foreigner with current USA passport??
I haven't lived in the states for over 20yrs but I still have a valid USA passport and family in the midwest. At one point as a teenager I even had a USA license (and several fakes ones ).

Now I am an NZ citizen going back for a holiday and riding, planning to buy a bike there. This year I'll just ride 1month on the CDR into Canada, and then back via the PNW and 101 to LA (arrive & depart). I want to keep the bike there and come back early 2017 for Central & South America. So i need it in my name eventually, but not necessarily this year.

My question is, am I basically a foreigner with an NZ driver's license, or would I find things faster and easier and cheaper with a social security number and a current USA passport???

I was thinking just to put the bike on family's insurance for this trip, and then sort out paying rego for the time I plan to use it next year. But I'd prefer to have it in my name from the start, and if I can get 2years rego from AZ or NV, that's ideal.

Help appreciated answering this, TIA from NZ!
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  #68  
Old 17 Mar 2016
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I suppose it must be simpler as a US ppt holder but all I know is as a Brit buying in AZ a couple weeks ago for similar sort of riding as you, it couldn't have been simpler.
Got it all effectively sorted - buying, transfer title, plate ($70), insurance (same) in a day. The key was having a local address, but even then what got posted there (ins dox) I already had online. No one asked for ppt, only Brit driving license.
Long version of the whole AZ buy and re-reg procedure here (scroll down, in blue). AZ is one of the easier states.

If you want my KLX250 for CDT, may be selling it in Oct in AZ or CO.
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  #69  
Old 17 Mar 2016
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Arizona is an unusual case--it's actually been getting easier to register a bike there. Until a couple of years ago, emissions testing was necessary in both major cities, Phoenix and Tucson. Motorcycles are now exempt statewide.

Mark
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  #70  
Old 19 Mar 2016
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Washington and Oregon are easy, Washington is easier but you have to pay sales tax. In Washington you do not even need a local address but they suggest it might be easier to get the title to you. I bought a bus conversion and set up Montana LLC, no sales tax and permanent plates. With the LLC set up I have now registered the bike bought to ship to Europe for my wife to ride. Bikes get permanent plates so that makes it easier if you are planning on traveling. You can get cross way of the government if they determine you primary residence is not Montana so there is some risk. It also cost $1000, (using an agent to set it up). But the sales tax on just the motorcycle would have been more than that.
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  #71  
Old 30 Mar 2016
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Hi,

I recently inherited a bike which is located in North Carolina but has a New York Plate. It is registered to a friend who has died last year and was given to me by his family. I would like to go on a trip later this year and could register the bike in AZ, I have friends with address there.

Any advice how to proceed and how much time I should reserve for the process of registration? The only document I have is the Title. Which other documents would I need?

Kind Regards for any answers
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  #72  
Old 8 Apr 2016
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Quote:
Originally Posted by michnus View Post
We just registered bikes on our names in Texas using our South African passports.

Re; Texas

My best buddy lives in TX - good to now it's possible to buy there. Could you (or anyone else) provide any more details? And buy register you do mean purchase a motorcycle?
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  #73  
Old 17 Apr 2016
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Usa trip 2016
Hi All
We are embarking on a US trip starting May 11th in Detroit, why Detroit ? Michigan is one state a non US citizen can register a bike.... I have encountered no problems with registration however the main problem I have encountered is insurance and you cant register without insurance.... Anyway our trip is
May 11th - 15th Detroit
May 15th - 16th Niagara Falls
May 16th - 17th Boston
May 17th - 25th New York
May 25th - 28th Washington DC
May 28th - 29th Indianapolis
May 29th - 31st Chicago
June 1st - 19th Route 66
June 19th - 21st Los Angeles
June 21st - 24th San Francisco
June 24th - 25th Yosemite
June 25th - 26th Bonneville
June 26th - July 1st Las Vegas
July 1st -7th Los Angeles (getting married 4th July Santa Monica beach )
any tips/advice gratefully accepted and appreciated.... Any advice I can give after our first big overseas moto adventure will be a pleasure to help others ....
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  #74  
Old 17 Apr 2016
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Hi Greg, try Progressive.
https://www.progressive.com/lp/motorcycle/
They've long been well known for insuring foreigners.
<$80 to insure my 250 in AZ for a year (TPO).
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  #75  
Old 24 Apr 2016
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Insurance
Hi Chris
Tried progressive and they wouldn't do it unless I did an advanced riding course in Detroit first.... I found Dairyland Insurance to help me out but even that was a bit difficult....
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