A motorcycle title search is the same as a running a vehicle title search, you will need the motorcycle VIN to begin. The motorcycle VIN should be 17 digits that are alpha-numeric, this can be easily found on your motorcycle registration card and neck of the motorcycle, as well as the engine on newer motorcycles. Then you will want to obtain a vehicle history report for the motorcycle, which will cost a few bucks but well worth it. This report will tell you if the vehicle title is clean, salvaged, junked, recalled and if there are any liens on the vehicle. If you’re purchasing a used motorcycle and the person selling it to you isn’t on the title, then the motorcycle might still have a bank owned lien on it. It’s also a good idea to make sure before you make a purchase on a used motorcycle that you verify the seller is the owner. You can simply ask to see their driver’s license or ID, there are a lot of scams out there to watch out for and buying a stolen motorcycle is a real concern. According to a 2022 NCIB report, motorcycle thefts are up 26% in from the previous year, it’s better to check before you buy or you may be out of a lot of money.
There are several motorcycle title brands that you should look out for when purchasing a used one. These can be found by running a Motorcycle title search or by looking at the actual title on the vehicle before you make your purchase. If the title status is anything but clean, then you might be buying something that has significant issues and is not worth the listed price of the used bike. Below are some of the title brand issues to look out for:
You can lookup a motorcycle VIN number the same way you would check any other registered vehicle, with a simple VIN decoder. You can also use the motorcycle vehicle identification number to run a vehicle history report, which is a good idea if you’re purchasing a used motorcycle. This is essentially the same as running a motorcycle title search. This will give you the lien holder, if a loan is out on the vehicle, how many previous owners of that motorcycle, accidents and recalls and safety issues. Another useful government website that will help you learn more about a motorcycle is SafeCar.gov. This will show you all known safety and recall notices for your motorcycle, all you need to do is enter your 17 digit motorcycle VIN.
The VIN number on a motorcycle is located on the steering neck, the engine and sometimes the transmission as well. If you turn the handlebars to the left and look on the right side of the motorcycle frame you should see the metal tag with the VIN number on it. If you cannot find it there then it might also be located on the motorcycle motor. The easiest way to find your motorcycle VIN number is to look on your registration card, motorcycle title or motorcycle insurance card. If all else fails then you can use a service, like SearchQuarry.com, and lookup your 17 digit VIN by your license plate number.
You can find out if your motorcycle has any recalls or safety issues by using the free government resource, SafeCar.gov. This free resources is federally run safety resources for the public to find out if their vehicle has any reported recalls or safety concerns. This can prove to be very useful when purchasing a used motorcycle, knowing this information before you make your purchase can save you a lot of frustration down the road. Another great government resource, that is not free but very informative, is VehicleHistory.gov. This resource will provide you with the history of a motorcycle as well as a NMVTIS report which will protect you from fraud and buying a stolen vehicle.
There is a path to follow when buying a motorcycle without a title but you will want to verify a few things before making this purchase. You will need to verify a few pieces of information before you can legally register the motorcycle in any state. If you are willing to take that risk, understand the term caveat emptor, and follow these simple steps:
Please be aware that the information obtained using SearchQuarry.com searches may not always be accurate and up to date as we do not create, verify, or guarantee the accuracy or the amount of information provided through our service. Data availability is largely dependent on various public sources from which the information is aggregated. SearchQuarry.com is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by Fair Credit Reporting Act and should not be used to determine an individual’s eligibility for personal credit or employment, or to assess risk associated with any business transactions such as tenant screening. By using the services offered through this website you agree to comply with all of the conditions set forth in our terms and privacy disclosure. The information obtained from our searches is not to be used for any unlawful purposes such as stalking or harassing others, or investigating public officials or celebrities. Violators may be subject to civil and criminal litigation and penalties. All searches are subject to our terms and applicable laws.
I am considering purchasing a Harley Davidson XL883C – the VIN number 5HD4CP2179K442158 indicates it was manufactured in Missouri USA in 2009 before being shipped to Europe at some stage although there is no history until 2015
I am concerned it may have been written off prior to being sent to Europe and am hoping to discover information with regards the bike’s history while in the USA ?
Anything you can do to assist would be very much appreciated – the bike seems too good to be true ! How would I go about contacting the DMV please?
Michael, you will need to reach out to your local DMV to inquire what is need to title and register this Honda motorcycle in your name. You can use our Free DMV Finder to locate a DMV office near you
hello my name is Stephanie, my dad bought a motorcycle went to the DMV and the vin number was alterated. how can i proceed with this situation.
Hi I purchased the bike with only 10 digit Vin and only a bill of sale with no title on a barn find what can I do to register it? its a 1980s GL 1100 Honda I can’t find no information on it
Melissa, it is sometimes possible to obtain a VIN number with a license plate search. Then once you have the VIN, you can run a vehicle history report on the motorcycle to find out the status of the title
How do I run a title search on my father’s motorcycle without the vin number
William, you will need the full VIN in order to run a motorcycle title check
My cycles vin is CL450-4113560
It’s a 1970-1973 CL450 Honda
Trying to ascertain it it was stolen
Rich, you will want to consult with the DMV directly about how to register a motorcycle from another state that hasn’t been registered in 20 years. You can use our Free DMV Finder to locate an office near you
Bought a bike hasn’t been registered in 20 years and its from cali i live in pa
Robert, you can contact your local North Carolina DMV to inquire what you will need for this motorcycle purchase so you can change the title into your name.
HI, my son has just got into riding and i was gonna help him buy a bike. We responded to an ad on facebook, and went to look at the bike. My son loved the bike. We agreed on a price, but we didn’t have the money on us, we agreed to come back the next day. He then told us the previous owners name was on the title, not his. And that person is from another state. Like a dummy i gave him a hundred bucks as a deposit to hold it. We both signed a piece of paper stating that if i don’t pay for the bike in full he got to keep the deposit. We live in NC, and i don’t know what i should do. Any help would be appreciated.
I am trying to find out if it is ok to buy a 1971 Suzuki 250ts it only has 12 characters in the vin your search and others say nothing found
Nancy, you will need to rely on the police to find this motorcycle. Unless there is a GPS tracking device on the motorcycle it’s impossible to know where it is unless someone tries to register it
My daughter inherited her Father\’s Motorcycle. Just months after His passing, it was stolen. A report was made with local authorities however the case was dropped due to the thief having a copy of the bikes title signed by her Father. We still possess the title. Even though they knew she had a copy. They dropped the ball so many times. My question is how can I try to locate this bike?
Randy, you will need to contact your local Motor Vehicle Department to order a copy of your motorcycle title. You can do this online by downloading and mailing in the proper forms. If you let us know what state you live in we can send you a link
need title for c CB 550-1011041
Scott, you might want to file an appeal with the FLHSMV in FLorida to see about getting the motorcycle registered but as far as the title goes, that is a good question. Our VIN search requires you to have 17 digits on your vehicle identification number and older vehicles have fewer than 17 digits which we do not have in our vehicle database resources. It would seem that the Arizona DOT would have a precedence for this situation as it’s not that uncommon for people to lose or misplace their motorcycle titles, especially on older bikes. The only advise we can offer is to keep trying to find some information to reference that you can give the Arizona DOT and try talking to a different person if your initial contact did not resolve this for you. It’s their specific job to manage all the vehicle titles and registrations for the state of Arizona so we can certainly understand your frustration. Best of luck Scott!
My brother cannot find the title for his 1964 Harley Davidson. He knows the Identification Number butbit does not have 17 numbers and so no one seems to be able to help. It was last registered in Tucson, Arizona in 1982. We contacted the DMV in Tucson but they claim that in 1982 everything was paper only and not on any computer. Is there any other way to get this resolved? We now live in Florida and the bike has been repaired and is now ready to license.
Kalani, if you have the bill of sale you can transfer the motorcycle title without having the receiving he original motorcycle title. This is fairly common. If you don’t have the bill of sale then you will need to visit the DMV in person and inquire what steps you need to take in order to get the motorcycle title transferred to you. You most likely need to sign an affidavit stating everything you said is true, which is a legal binding document that the DMV typically requires in these situations where someone has lost or not received the motorcycle title