I love the idea of this thread. We are debating selling our bikes and buying new ones in the States, or shipping the ones we have. Price wise at the moment it seems buying new ones makes more sense than shipping. Anyone else with advice or experience to add to this would be fantastic! As of right now New Mexico it is! :-)

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Here's some information originally posted on the 1st June 2011 by Keith46 about New Jersey:

"Hey folks. I'm in New Jersey at the moment about to start a 6 week trip across the states. I bought a secondhand V Strom 650 but ran into major hassle at the DMV. Long story short i didn't get the bike transferred into my name but instead had to register it to my girlfriend who is a New Jersey citizen."

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Here's some info by Road Hog about Washington State posted 22nd May 2011.
"some (like Washington State) all you need to do is pay the fees and have an address to send registration to, (best if you have a local address but not required)"

I contacted the DOL about registering bikes in Washington and was given the following information:

"You most likely would be able to purchase the vehicle but you would not be able to register the vehicle here. You would have to contact the dealership in which you would have purchasing the vehicle from to acquire the correct paperwork. Hope this helps. Have a great day."

Not sure if that is simply the stock response - I explained to them in my initial email that I was from the UK.

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Here is some info from the DOL Washington State taken from WA State Licensing: Transfer ownership when buying from a private party

Transferring ownership when buying from a private party

If you buy from a private party or receive a vehicle as a gift, you’re responsible for transferring ownership of the vehicle into your name within 15 days.
What you’ll need

When you buy a car, motorcycle, or other vehicle from a private party, make sure you receive all the documents required to transfer the title. These documents may include the following:

• Vehicle Certificate of Ownership (title) — The seller must release ownership by signing in the appropriate place on the title. Everyone listed on the title must sign it.
• Affidavit of Loss/Release of Interest — If the title is lost, the seller must complete an Affidavit of Loss/Release of Interest and sign it in the presence of a notary public, county auditor, or licensing agent. Everyone listed on the vehicle record must sign it.
• Bill of sale — Both you and the seller must provide information about the sale on a Vehicle/Vessel Bill of Sale. This information includes the sale price, which is used to calculate the use tax you must pay.
• Emissions testing report — Emissions testing is required in urban areas of Clark, King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Spokane counties.
• Vehicle Title Application — If you mail your documents to us, you must include a notarized Vehicle Certificate of Ownership Application.
• Odometer Disclosure Statement — If the vehicle is less than 10 years old, both you and seller must state the mileage and sign, either on the title itself or on an Odometer Disclosure Statement.
  
  Note: Because the Odometer Disclosure Statement form is printed on tamperproof paper, it’s not available online and we can’t fax or email one to you.
  • If you need a copy of the form, there are 3 ways to get it:
    • Pick one up at any vehicle licensing office.
    • Send a request with your name and mailing address to titles@dol.wa.gov. We’ll mail it to you within 2 business days.
    • Call 360-902-3770. We’ll mail it to you within 2 business days.
  • If you’re a vehicle dealer and need multiple copies of the form, please call the Washington State Dealers Association at 1-800-998-9723.

How to transfer ownership into your name

• Visit a vehicle licensing office. The licensing agent will help you through the process.
• or
• Mail your notarized Vehicle Certificate of Ownership Application with all supporting documents and a check or money order for the fee to any vehicle licensing office.

You should receive the vehicle title 6–8 weeks after you transfer ownership into your name.
Deadlines and penalties

You must transfer ownership into your name within 15 calendar days from the date of purchase, or pay the following penalties:

• $25 on the 16th day.
• $2 per day for each day after the 16th day, up to a maximum of $100.

Fees

Please contact a vehicle licensing office to find out exactly how much it will cost to transfer ownership of the vehicle into your name.

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Here is some info posted by Bill Ryder on 10th June 2011 about Montana State:

"Hi there, I live near Helena Montana. When you buy a bike in montana you go to the local county courthouse and pay your dollars for vehical transfer and a bunch of taxes and added on revenue enhancers. I just bought and licensed a 78 KZ1000 kawi and it cost $95.00. They then give you a shiny new "permanant" license plate and a piece of paper that has the bike info and your name on it that is called registration papers. So when you get stopped by the cops they can ask you for "license, registration and insurance". This registration paper proves you own the bike. I just got back from canada and this was all I took with me. Two to six weeks later your permanent title will arive in the mail at the address you gave them at the courthouse when you transfered the ownership of the bike to your name.
Once you have the "title" which is just a more offical looking document I would go to a notary and have it notorized and sign it. This is required in montana to resell the bike. They want a offical notary stamp verifiying that you signed the title to sell the bike. Almost any car lot or bank can do this for you. The law used to be that you had to have a buyers name on the title but at least here in the state capital of Helena Mt. the title can be signed by you and left open as far as a buyer. If you do sell the bike I would download from the internet this form and fill it out just to be on the safe side http://www.doj.mt.gov/driving/forms/mv24.pdf
If you have the permanent title you can sell the bike in any of the other states or if it breaks down and is unfixable you can leave the title with it and be on your way ;-)
Insurance is not required on bikes in montana. Canada and other states of course require it.
Helena Handbasket: Helena Area ADV Riders' Union - Page 57 - ADVrider some local riders. "

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Subsequent to the information above I was told the following by another member:

"You will only be able to register and get plates on a vehicle if you are a
RESIDENT of Montana. Simply "using" someone Montana address will not work. You have to prove residency and that means having a MT drivers license. If you show up to get a MT drivers license with a passport from outside the UK, they are not going to give you one unless you can prove you are working here and not just a tourist.

People who live in other states in the USA use to come to MT and set up a bogus entity because we dont pay sales tax here on vehicles. Imagine the
savings on a $500,000 motorhome. MT has fixed this loophole. It still may be possible for you to hire an attorney in MT and set up a corporation or an
LLC here legally and have that new entity register the motorcycle. People
still do that for expensive motorhomes, but a used motorcycle may not be
worth the trouble.

..."In MT, you will need a MT drivers license to register and plate the
motorcycle. To get a license you have to establish residency."

Vehicle Title and Registration - MT Dept of Justice

worklive


The DoL in Montana told me the following after I emailed explaining that I was from the UK:

"I cannot address whether or not it is legal for you to purchase a vehicle, however would be able to tell you that Montana does not have a provision to title and register a vehicle for an individual who is not a resident of Montana."


Again probably the stock answer...

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Here is some info posted by olyflyer on 10th October 2010

"I bought a bike in Oregon, just needed an Oregon address, fill out the title and transfer papers, then they send out the title a few weeks later

No sales tax up here in Oregon, so it only cost me $77USD to do it, where as most other states have sales tax to pay"

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Indeed, it is at times like this we need a "Wiki" to organise such info better.

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I'm with gypsyprincess! Not because I'm interested in starting a business but just want the info, for sure!

If we're talking the UK, in my experience identical bikes in the UK and the US have almost always been cheaper in the US, so shipping your UK one there will clearly get costly. Let alone shipping it back.
IMO the main reasons you might ship yours over there are sentimentality/trust and continuity. If stashing and returning periodically, or moving on from the US, then that can make sense (and may simplify documentation). But not every last thing you do needs to be about money.
There are also some bikes still available new there (KLR, WR-R, DRZ, XR650R, DR650?) that are long gone in the UK.
Buying and then selling in the US are also made easier if you have helpful contacts out there.

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Morocco Overland 4 (2025) • Trans Morocco Trail

Hi guys!

Searched this forum and did not found an answer.

Can i buy and register a vehicle at Alaska as a foreign citizen with tourist visa?

I e-mailed DMV, but i guess i was answerd by a AutoBot.

Here's what i'v got from AK DMV:
So could someone explain me what did Becky mean by saying Yes and Correct?

Glad to see you asking here instead of over on That Other Website.

Becky meant yes you can cross borders and yes you can sell the car in Chile or Argentina. That's not a bot; that's a real person answering. However, note that Becky doesn't actually have any idea how one does or does not sell a vehicle in Chile or Argentina. Becky is merely stating the position of the State of Alaska, which doesn't really care about such things.

Selling in Chile or Argentina is going to be possible, but you really need to do your research among people who know how it works. Assume it'll be more difficult than your original purchase. Search this site for firsthand accounts, of which there are plenty.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark

Mark, I can't find any useful informaion about buying car at Alaska =(
I found information about buying car at Chile.

I searched "buying alaska" and turned up several solid references, e.g., http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...e-alaska-68094. You can private message the posters, contact the shops they mention, or just read between the lines.

Maybe you're looking for information about cars, but motorbikes work exactly the same way pretty much everywhere (except in a few cases it's even easier). Or maybe you're just not willing to invest the time in research: you should expect to spend a couple of hours reading endless threads which occasionally contain something directly relevant. I acknowledge that if English is not your first language, that's hard work.

I'll add only that you've already contacted the Alaska DMV, and they've given you the information you need. What else are you looking for?

Good luck.

Mark