Re Marks comment re shipping to/from Canada instead of USA - agreed, and Air Canada also has GREAT deals on shipping bikes to and from Europe and other places - far far cheaper than any US carrier.

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Grant Johnson
Seek, and ye shall find.
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Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

I'm an Australian, interested in buying a bike in Oregon. I've been on the phone to the DMV there and they say while they are perfectly fine to handle a changeover of title, they are unable to register the bike to someone who is a non-resident of Oregon.

I called up the DOL in Washington. Things seem simpler there as they don't require insurance to register motorcycles, although apparently I will need a Washington license. I'm told that this involves sitting a written and practical test and waiting for the license to be mailed to an address in Washington.

Not as simple as I had hoped. Has anyone had any other experiences? I'm trying to work out how best to proceed. I'm considering trying to go to California to register it, but I don't want to deal with any testing stuff as the bike has been modified. I do have a Californian address to use.

My other options involve waiting for a nice CA bike, or doing a working holiday in Canada and putting my trip off for a year while I organise things.

What you want is not possible in Oregon. Your information is correct. Probably you wanted to purchase in Oregon because they have no sales tax, in contrast to Washington or California. Oh well.

On the other hand, you do not need a Washington state license to register a vehicle in Washington State. I suggest you call again, since not everyone answering the phone has a clue. Here's the state form you'll need: http://www.dol.wa.gov/forms/420011.pdf

You will need a local address, but it's not necessary to claim that you live there permanently; it's just an address for the mailing of documents. Paying extra and/or visiting a contracted registration office (in my town, this is a little office in the middle of a strip mall) will speed the process markedly, although it will also cost extra.

I'm not sure about rules related to registering a "modified" bike. Many, possibly most, modifications are technically quite illegal. You might want to think about this.

You don't need insurance to register a vehicle, but you do need insurance to actually operate it. That's a whole separate issue, which you'll want to resolve before a random traffic stop ends up costing you severely in both money and time. Plus there's a definite risk that any sort of accident will absolutely ruin you financially--this is an expensive country in which to try and bend the rules.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark

Thanks Mark, I will get back on the phone. I'm just looking at Oregon because that's where I've found a nice WR250R. Cost is always a consideration, but thankfully the US is not so bad regarding taxes. I think I would still have to pay a use tax or something when transferring the title in Washington.

Hey,

thanks for all the infos.
Because last Postings been a while i will just ask:

What states you guys would recommend for a tourist with a normal tourist visa for buying a used motorcycle (Harley Davidson)? I mean terms of easily doable paperwork and prices for bike and insurance - if i need insurance.

Is Washington still most recommended? Geographically and for the weather I would love to read California, Florida or their neighbor states

I also plan to go to Mexico with the bike and back to the states. Or is buying a Harley in Mexico even easier and/or cheaper?

Cheers!

Thanks!

Arizona.

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TBS.com

I have registered and titled 12 motorbikes for International Travelers this year (2018 from Jan-July). I have done around 50 total over the last few years. No USA drivers license needed. I offer address use. I can also arrange insurance (no USA license needed). You get the California title to me and I do the rest. DMV office visit and insurance arranged. I maintain paperwork (title/insurance/registration renewal/picture tolls and etc) at the address for as long as you own the bike. If you are planning on heading south of the border know that it takes around 12 days after initial registration for actual title to arrive in the mail. So plan accordingly for onward travel. (You need title in your name for Mexico). I get registration in your name as soon as I visit DMV, no waiting. You don't need to be present, you don't need to sign anything, motorbike doesn't need to be present. You CAN ride the bike right away pending title transfer. By law you are required to have at least third party insurance cover to operate a vehicle on California roads. You DO NOT need insurance for initial registration...but you ARE REQUIRED BY LAW to have it to operate. This service is for motorbikes already currently registered in California. If you buy a bike in another State there are some pitfalls to avoid and I need the bike present to register it. DO NOT buy a bike without first contacting me and sending me a picture of the title and registration from seller.
I am a California DMV expert. Retired previously licensed California Vehicle Dealer. I have 50 years experience and tens of thousands of vehicle transfers....yes....that many....one year alone I did 3,600 transactions.
You can find me on facebook James Tucker (Claremont Los Angeles California)
ps: I used to do it for free....but it got completely out of hand...too successful! I have around 50 references.