How To Get A Title For A Dirtbike In Ohio (Best Tips!)


How To Get A Title For A Dirtbike In Ohio

Do you know how to get a title for a dirtbike in Ohio? this is one of the questions our readers ask a lot. Well, we´ve got you covered.

If you own a dirtbike, then it is important that you obtain the title for it. This proves that you legally own the dirtbike. It means that you have the legal right to sell the dirtbike if you ever need to do so.

Now, you do not need to have the dirtbike in your name if you are planning on riding it on the roads of Ohio. You can ride the dirtbike even if the title is somebody else’s name. You just need permission.

There are a lot of benefits to getting a title in your name, though. For starters, insurance will likely be cheaper (it is tough to get insured to ride somebody else’s bike!), and if you ever did want to sell the vehicle, you don’t have to ask somebody’s permission.

Thankfully, obtaining the title to a dirtbike in Ohio isn’t all that difficult.

There are two potential processes that you can go through here.

If you do not have the original title

If you do not have the original title to the dirtbike, then things are a little bit trickier.

When you purchase a dirtbike from somebody, they should provide you with the original title to the vehicle. They should also provide you with a signed certificate that says that they are signing the vehicle over to you.

If they can’t do this (some states will not require somebody to hold a title for a dirtbike), then the process is different.

They will need to provide you with a bill of sale. This will list details such as the VIN of the dirtbike. It should also list details about the person that is selling. It should also cover their ID, etc.

The more information they can provide you with, the better.

You will then need to take the motorcycle to a State Patrol Office. They will check the VIN on the dirtbike to ensure that it isn’t stolen. If it is, then they will seize it from you.

This is why it is so important that you purchase a vehicle from somebody reputable.

If the State Patrol Office is fine with the vehicle, they will sign a document that you need to bring along to the DMV. At this point, you are going to be issued a new title.

Now, do bear in mind that the DMV may still reject the title application for your vehicle. They never tend to be huge fans of just granting title to a vehicle without one in place.

This is because once you have the title to a vehicle, you will now have certain legal rights. The DMV do not want to grant those legal rights to the wrong person, do they?

How to obtain a title for a dirtbike if you have the original title

Your job is going to be a whole lot easier here.

When you purchase a dirtbike, the title and signed title certificate will be handed over to you. You will also be handed a bill of sale.

All you need to do in this case is to head to the DMV, fill in a short form, and the title to the vehicle will now be in your name.

Read also: How To Get a Title For a Motorcycle Without Title in Ohio

Obtaining a title for a custom-built dirtbike 

If you have a custom-built dirtbike, then you will be able to obtain a title for it.

The first thing that you will need to do is to ensure that you keep all of the details related to the materials that you used to build the dirtbike. This is especially important if you have taken parts from old dirtbikes. You will need to keep a record of their VIN.

All of this information will be used to check that the custom-built dirtbike is truly yours. There will need to be a check on each of the VIN used on your dirtbike. 

You should also take photos throughout the build process. While it is rare that you are going to be asked for photos of the build process, it is always good to have them to hand.

It is just going to be a little bit of extra proof that you built the dirtbike yourself.

Interestingly, the process of obtaining a title for a custom-built dirtbike is surprisingly easy.

You will need to head to the Ohio State Highway Patrol. They will inspect the vehicle. This will cost around $60-$100.

Their job is to ensure that the vehicle is safe to drive. They will also check to ensure that none of the components that you used to build the vehicle were stolen.

Again, if they were, then you will have the vehicle seized.

They will then provide you with a certificate that you can take along to the DMV. The DMV will check the certificate and issue you with a VIN.

This VIN will need to be attached to the chassis of the motorcycle. If the dirtbike has another VIN on it, then that old one is going to need to be removed.

Read also: How To Get A Vin Number For A Custom Motorcycle

Obtaining a copy of a title 

If you already had the title but lost the original, then head to the DMV. They can hand you over a new title.

You will need to provide your ID, though.

When can you not obtain a title for a dirtbike?

There are certain situations where you may not be able to obtain a title for a dirtbike.

The first is if the person that signed the title over to you wasn’t legally allowed to do this. For example, if they purchased the dirtbike through financing and they have yet to pay off the financing, then there will be a lien on the title.

This means the owner does not have full ownership and technically can’t hand it over to you. If they do, then you are going to be on the line for the rest of the finance. 

If you have a custom-built motorcycle that is not safe to drive on the road, then you will not be able to obtain a title for the dirtbike.

The same if the parts that you have used to build your custom-built motorcycle are unaccounted for. There are some people that claim that the Ohio State Police never checked the VIN or the receipts.

However, there is always the risk that they are going to do that. So, seriously. It is so important that you ensure that every single part is accounted for!

If you purchased the vehicle from out of state, then you may also struggle to obtain a title. This is because most states do not actually require titles to dirtbikes.

However, Ohio does. You will need to obtain a title eventually, though. You can’t sell a dirtbike without a title within Ohio.

That would be against the law.

Conclusion

Obtaining a title for a dirtbike in Ohio isn’t all that difficult. You will need to go through the DMV. Depending on how you obtained the vehicle, you may also need to speak to the police first.

It is important to note that if you do not own the title to a dirtbike, you will not be able to sell it in the future.

All dirtbike sales (as well as sales for off-road vehicles) in Ohio require a title.


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References

https://ohioriders.net/index.php?/topic/73536-home-build-title/

Mike Gilmour

Hi, I'm Mike, co-founder, and editor of RV and Playa. My passion is traveling (with my RV) and enjoying the day at the beach (Playa)! Well, I originally created this blog as a way to share what I've learned by experimenting with the RV lifestyle, and I want to help others develop in life through new skills and opportunities.

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