So I've been looking for a bike that's a little quicker than I have now so I can run to PA and back without having to fear for my life climbing a mountain with a 19HP bike when the speed limit is 65mph.
Anyways, I've seen a lot of them without titles. I'm not particularly interested in a bike without a title based on what I've heard, but I was curious and decided it couldn't hurt to learn a little.
I went into the DMV today (my bike needed inspection anyways) and asked a few questions... what I was told is that the DMV would under no circumstances tell you if a vehicle was stolen or not if you provide the VIN number. Furthermore you wouldn't be able to obtain a title if you were to take the vehicle through the auto theft unit inspection... which I was under the impression existed for the sole purpose of inspecting vehicles with missing titles/VIN numbers, and issuing new VINs and titles.
Basically, what I'm getting from this:
1. The DMV doesn't care if you buy a stolen vehicle nor has any interest in helping you determine if the vehicle is stolen until you try to register/title it at which point I assume they take it from you and you lose your money at least, and potentially get arrested for posession of stolen property. But chop shopping is okay.
2. The auto theft unit which exists solely to inspect vehicles to ensure they are not stolen/comprised of stolen parts (as well as inspect purpose built vehicles) has no ability to determine that a vehicle is not in fact stolen and issue a new VIN/title in that regard.
Not to say I trust the people at DMV. I previously have had an argument with one of the people there about the legal max displacement of a moped (I even had a printout of the delaware code) and it took her calling her manager to set her straight.
Tomorrow I think I'll call the auto theft unit to see their take on it. When I had called before in regards to a purpose built vehicle they seemed very knowledgeable.
So in the meantime -- does anyone here have any experience titling a vehicle with no title, and is there any way to check if it's stolen (and/or, do you think it would be right to have a database of stolen vehicles and not tell someone upon request if a vehicle they are considering purchasing is stolen)?
Anyways, I've seen a lot of them without titles. I'm not particularly interested in a bike without a title based on what I've heard, but I was curious and decided it couldn't hurt to learn a little.
I went into the DMV today (my bike needed inspection anyways) and asked a few questions... what I was told is that the DMV would under no circumstances tell you if a vehicle was stolen or not if you provide the VIN number. Furthermore you wouldn't be able to obtain a title if you were to take the vehicle through the auto theft unit inspection... which I was under the impression existed for the sole purpose of inspecting vehicles with missing titles/VIN numbers, and issuing new VINs and titles.
Basically, what I'm getting from this:
1. The DMV doesn't care if you buy a stolen vehicle nor has any interest in helping you determine if the vehicle is stolen until you try to register/title it at which point I assume they take it from you and you lose your money at least, and potentially get arrested for posession of stolen property. But chop shopping is okay.
2. The auto theft unit which exists solely to inspect vehicles to ensure they are not stolen/comprised of stolen parts (as well as inspect purpose built vehicles) has no ability to determine that a vehicle is not in fact stolen and issue a new VIN/title in that regard.
Not to say I trust the people at DMV. I previously have had an argument with one of the people there about the legal max displacement of a moped (I even had a printout of the delaware code) and it took her calling her manager to set her straight.
Tomorrow I think I'll call the auto theft unit to see their take on it. When I had called before in regards to a purpose built vehicle they seemed very knowledgeable.
So in the meantime -- does anyone here have any experience titling a vehicle with no title, and is there any way to check if it's stolen (and/or, do you think it would be right to have a database of stolen vehicles and not tell someone upon request if a vehicle they are considering purchasing is stolen)?
