Hi friends,

I think about buying a bike in USA and ride her down to Guatemala, where I (german) live. The salesman in USA wrote: "At the time of sale, you will be issued a 30 temporary driving tag."

Well stupid me - what is a "tag" - is it a license plate?
Can I receive that although I am only a tourist?
Will it be in my name?
And most important: Can I cross borders with that 30days tag legally?
Does the dealer put the tag on the bike or do I have to visit an institution?
Does it cost me anything?
Do I have to stay on a "drive home course" or can I ride first to Alaska and then to Guate (kidding, just to understand).
Is a german passport and driving license enough or do I need to have anything else to get the tag?
Insurance?
Is that so for all US states?

I would be very thankful if someone could explain that to me.
I can fly in for 600 USD - the shipping is 1700 USD.

All together: Can a german from Guatemala buy a bike in Tennessee and ride her through Mexico just legally.

Many thanks from my wife - the bike would be for her.

Cheers
Frank

You would be wise to buy in Florida. Much easier registration, and no sales tax. Here we must have a Motorcycle endorsement on our driving license to get tags (license plates) You must show proof of insurance.
At issue in your scenario is the title. It will be mailed to you. Takes a couple of weeks, so you'll need a viable mailing address. If there is an issue crossing a border, it would be the lack of actual title

Do I understand correctly that it is only a matter of trust?
Let's say I buy the bike blindly over internet.
Can the salesman then start to bring the bike into my name and mail me when the real title finally reached him.
So I would fly in, get a bike a ready title in my name both out of his hands.
I do not have to be there for that process - right?

Frank, you need to start at the beginning.

Each of the 50 states in the USA has different rules--that means that it is easy for a German non-resident to buy and register a bike in some states, difficult in some, and impossible in other states. For example, in some states you need a local--that means local to the specific state--driving license. In some states you need a motorcycle license ("endorsement"). In some you need to buy insurance first (advisable anyway). In some you pay sales tax at the time of purchase, while in others you do not (in my state this adds about 9% to the cost). Etc.

Each state also has its own procedures. Some require that you do all the running around from office to office on your own. Others do it all for you if you buy at a dealership--although not if you buy privately. There are differences in how quickly and by what means you get your actual documents--this could be immediate, but it could also easily take a month. Et cetera.

What this all means is that if you want answers to your questions you need to Google the licensing agency in any state you are considering--this will come up as Department of Licensing (DOL), Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), or something similar. Each will have specific, written guidelines for their own purchase, sales, registration, insurance and tagging procedures. If you choose to rely on what someone tells you over the internet or in an email, you're running a significant risk they'll mislead you. That is especially true if they are trying to sell you something.

There are certain states which are often mentioned here as being easy. A site search will take you to lists of these and discussions by non-residents who've bought and registered bikes. I have not heard of any state in which you can have a bike and all its documents prepared in advance so that they are waiting for you, and I don't think I'd "trust" anyone who promised to do so without first confirming with the actual government office which makes the rules. In other words, if a dealer in Tennessee promised to do this, I'd Google the state DMV/DOL, get a phone number, and call them to ask. Use a cheap phone plan, and be prepared to wait for a long time while the minutes add up.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark

Yes it was - many thanks for the job!

Frank
Mark is correct of course. Just treat the US as fifty seperate countries, each with it's own laws (speed limits, helmets, insurance), governments, rules and regulations. All pretty confusing for a visitor. Oh then there's 'lane splitting (filtering) where in almost all states, you would be treated by other road users as a criminal but completely accepted by Californians. Vive la difference!

I'm not sure if you can cross any borders with a temp tag, and note that there may even be restrictions on riding on a temporary tag (license plate) from one usa state to another! Some states (ie Virginia) only have 6 - day temp tags to allow for transport from original state before requiring full registration to ONLY Virginia license holders.

Be careful relying on dealers and do check with the licensing authorities in the state where you plan to purchase.

Good luck!

Roborider - 1150 GS Adventurer - Galax VA

__________________
Roborider
Rob Osborne
Vail (Tucson), Arizona USA

A few more buying thoughts: A few states have no sales tax on vehicle purchases-that doesn't mean they will be the overall best place to buy. In my state of KY you(meaning someone) can "walk it through now" and only in person in the state capital,Frankfort,KY.
Dealers may be an asset as they do this all the time in their own state or if on a border in several states. One downside is the ridiculous fees many charge these days for "paperwork fees"-not unusual to be $300+.
When you have a question may need to call that DMV-like after a MC is found to buy. In my location where it's very rural you walk in ( the lines are long,hours crappy,etc., in some locations & the clerks will eat your lunch in a few states I've done this-not like that in KY!) to do the paperwork,people are friendly & helpful but like said you will wait on the title to be mailed. No reason this cannot be done through the mail in many states. Dealers don't always walk in for an e.g.. Another e.g. of how its easier here in KY is we have no inspection of any kind, excepting a VIN verification by the sheriff for out of state purchases, which is $5 & easily done. Our temp tags are 30 days but I saw another state that was 60.
Insurance costs vary lots! I just got my Progressive renewal for my 2012 BMW, full coverage is $96yrly. I pay more than that for a crappy liability policy to ride in Mexico!

Many thanks to all,

25y ago I bought this huge big 2door Ford LTD wreck in Waco for 500 USD and drove it to Honduras and thruh all USA. All I needed was a texas driving license, which I made.

Here in Guate ev.one rides shopper or racing (short legs). But my lovely wife does not want a shopper - she wants a KLR 650 - and these bíkes are rare here and if you find them they had accidents....

Just 2000miles north is this big market with cheap prices and good bikes. And I remember how easy it was...in those days...