Here's a link to registration information in New Mexico:

New Mexico Car Registration Guide - Renewals, Changing States, New Vehicle Purchases, Non Operational - DMV Guide

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www.culturaladventurer.com

Here's another similar link to registration in various US states:

DMV.org: The DMV Made Simple

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www.culturaladventurer.com

10 years ago I bought a klr650 with Nebraska tags from a fellow traveller in Argentina. He then flew home. In order to get legal papers in my name, he registered the bike in my name at his address in Nebraska. I had to do nothing/sign nothing/not appear in person.

A couple of years ago I "borrowed" a DRZ400 from a mate in Nevada. He put me on the title (we were now "co-owners"): I never went to Nevada: he delivered the bike to me in California) and I was able to ride the bike legally. I went to Baja California on the bike with no issues.

The second time I used this bike was in/out of Arizona (my friend had moved): I ended up with a temporary tag in my name, which was good enough for for the time I was in the USA. Don't know if it is easy to get a permanent tag. We just went to an office, paid some money, got a yellow piece of paper that I gaffertaped to the rear mudguard. I was even stopped by a copper in Nevada and he accepted it with no problems.

I have head things are quite straight forward in Montana, but cannot confirm this through first hand experience.

HTH
Chris

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CURRENT RR WITH REGULAR UPDATES: The Wife Takes on Chlamydia: A South American Retrospective

Like I posted, in New Mexico they print you the title and registration right there, and you can have option of 2 years registration and tabs which may help someone who is going to keep bike awhile...

and you DONT need to prove you are a citizen, this is New Mexico - there's a BIG LAW here against asking that question of someone, ESPECIALLY here in Deming where maybe 20% or more op population is illegal, owns houses, has kids in school, etc.....



Zig

Found this info on (not my own experience):

Buying a Car to Drive in the USA - USATourist Community


Ohio

I am in Cleveland, Ohio and already bought a car from a dealer. I got a temporary tag (=plate) and title issued to my name and friend's address here in Ohio which was all handled by the dealer. The problem is that I can't register my car and get the permanent tag (=plate) because I don't have a social security number. You must have a social security number to register your car in Ohio. And I can't get a social security number on my tourist status.

Wyoming

I drove to Wyoming and got my plates sorted at first DMV office (Gillette) on my way. The only documents that are required to get plates for non-Wyoming car is the original title, bill of purchase and proof of insurance. They also require VIN inspection, but this can be obtpained at any police station free of charge. No need for any identification document or SSN. And the address for the title can be any address in US, without need of proof. So my problem is solved and I'm fully enjoying travelling around the US with my own car.

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Luc

You get Title and Reg and plates IN HAND..........

no questions about your immigration status

you just need a rent receipt and your new NM address on your insurance form (from Fernet Insurance in Orlando FLorida)........that simple


JAmes

Having worried about bike registration for ages, I finally did it last week. I ended up doing it in Montana. I used an address in Montana, a separate 'out of state' postal address, and my UK driving license. It cost about $100, and I was given a number plate immediately. The process was entirely straight forward, it really was about ticking boxes rather than demonstrating or proving anything more complex.

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www.culturaladventurer.com

Hi guys I am new to this board - and not able to send a private message - could anyone maybe zigeuner53 or Cultural Adventurer give me the step by step instruction how you did it? I mean how should I get a rent receipt? thx

Hi, looks like we are both doing the same thing at the same time. I spent some time searching this board on the subject but only found this useful stuff after I started my own thread. Your message had placed this thread next to mine on the entry page!

My wife and I are very keen to have a bike permanently in the US, ideally starting this April/May.

We had expected to start in LA as we have contacts there and are interested in exploring the West Coast region to start with. Though I’m learning that we need to understand the different procedures in different states.

I will PM Cultural Adventurer.

Guy

Hey Guy(s),

Zigeuner and Cultural are both on the road right now, somewhere in Mexico (Cancun I believe).

I haven't heard from them for a few weeks now.

I will send Cultural a mail through hotmail to check how he is doing and ask him to contact the hubb regarding this subject.

Grz

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Luc

Hi Everyone,

As you will tell from this thread, I was really nervous about registration before I started my trip. In the end it was straight forward in Montana, simply a case of ticking the correct boxes.

I know that in certain states registering a motorcycle as a foreign national will be impossible, they will ask you to prove that you are a US citizen. There are other states, such as California, Montana, Wyoming, and New Mexico, where the process is far more straight forward. You will need to do a little bit of research...many of the links you will need are in this thread.

I contacted the DMV in several states, they were non committal about the possibility of me registering. I think that if you can't do it as a non-national they'd say outright. The bottom line is that they don't really want to admit that non US citizens will purchase motor vehicles, however if they are prepared to pay the state 100$ + they are not going to make a fuss. They are really only interested in the ££$$$, this is after all tax as much as anything more special!


When I left to buy the bike I had a couple of options, if Montana hadn't worked I was going to head towards Wyoming. If that had gone bad I had the options of New Mexico, which was a bit of a drive, or California, which was going to be expensive. One way or another it was going to be possible, it was just going to take time and possibly money to do.

Don't let the bizarre US laws get in your way...one way or another it is possible to get the bike registered and insured...I'm living proof of it!

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www.culturaladventurer.com

Tnx for the advice Cultural.

If I may contribute; having a (local) address makes it much easier.

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Luc

Bought a bike off Craig's list (better than eBay or cycle trader I found, once you settle on your region).
PayPal was only 1% if you load your pp account rather than draw from your bank account.
Delivery from seller in San Diego to Phoenix was $300. (I was arriving in Phx but there is more choice is SoCal).

Once I arrived, to reg/license the bike (was originally from VA) to AZ plate took 10 mins and cost $106 with uk license (had a local address). They have so called third party DMV places in AZ which are said to be much quicker over the counter but cost a little more. The $106 was possibly 4% tax of their book value of the bike. That's 2650 which is way low or what a shop would give you, but could bode well for export valuation if I ship it back to UK.

'Mot' was not asked for and the local mate I was with was surprised how easy it was. The VA mot sticker on the forks lasts for a few months yet. Don't know if that counts.

Next insurance: used mate's local broker. Only wanted 2 months but had to get six minimum with foreign driving license. Cost $28 so did not mind. Bike is a near-new 250 trail bike.

I have a feeling anything in California, especially mots, are tougher. AZ seemed easy.

Oh, regarding getting it regd for you before you arrive to save time, I was told by seller that in AZ you get a 'power of attorney' form or something like. But in my case with local mate helping out was quick like I say.

Hope this helps someone.

Ch

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I was staying in North Carolina at the time I bought the American bike.

I had to take an NC driving test, wait for the plastic card in the mail which took 10 days, then call round to get new insurance and wait for that to arrive in the mail, then go to DMV to get the title changed into my name, then wait 2 weeks for the plate and the new title in the mail.

The whole thing took me about 6 weeks as I was in a catch 22 - I needed proof of insurance to be able to take my driving test but they wouldn't insure me until I had a driving licence!!

I won't ever be doing anything in NC again - the insurance companies run the state!! I have friends in lots of other states so I'll try one of those next time!

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CURRENT RR WITH REGULAR UPDATES: The Wife Takes on Chlamydia: A South American Retrospective

I imported (Canadian reg) and registered my bike in Arizona, Australian national.

This is a ridiculously easy process (compared to anything similar in Australia anyway). The steps below not related to purchasing a local bike can be skipped.

-Brought insurance online (used Progressive) and printed the temp insurance ID document.
-Filled in the EPA 3520-1 and DOT HS-7
-Went to the customs office at the Phoenix Airport, filled in another form, the engine capacity meant no duty was payable.
-Went the MVD, you can't use an agency as it must be inspected for the relevant EPA and DOT stickers, VIN and Engine numbers. As they wanted to see the VIN and Engine nos, good idea to know where they are - for me this meant pulling some stuff off the bike (fairing and sidestand).
-Then just went inside to get the rest of the paperwork and plate. Two years was $349. They weren't interested in the customs paperwork at all, so I think probably could have avoided that aswell.
- If the bike is over five years old you need an EPA test.