Registering bike in USA & Expedite the title to travel to Mexico?
 

Hi,

The Plan:
I'm a German national and I'm planning to buy two Suzuki DR650SE in the US (California) in November this year. I have some relatives in california who's adress I can use to register them. The Dealer will do the registration. Than we plan to drive down through central and south america.

The Problem:
To receive the title it'll take 4-6 weeks (over X-mas probably even longer) but we would like to head into mexico in December already. I was told that crossing the border to Mexico is not possible without the permanent title.

The Questions:
1. Do I really need the title to cross the border to Mexico?
2. Is there a way to expedite the registration process? Can I receive the title any earlier, e.g. within a few days?
3. Is there any other state (besides) california where I can register the bike as a foreigner (German) and receive the plates and title earlier?

Many thanks for your help in advance.

Bjoern

Hi Bjoern -

I bought a brand new bike in Nevada last year (7% sales tax vs. 12.5% in Calf. btw) and got it registered and titled there, using my friend's address as my own. I also used Progressive.com for insurance who will insure foreign licence holders/non residents on US registered/titled machines...

My bike had to be made road legal (XR650R) before they would issue the title, but once that paperwork was done it only took a couple of weeks for the title document to arrive in the post at my US address.

I shouldn't have thought it would take 4-6 weeks, especially if it is already a road legal machine?

xxx

btw. Oregon has no sales tax at all - worth considering if you know someone with an address there you can use for title/registration and insurance?

Use the link below to get your temporary vehicle importation permit, you don't need to have the title in hand. Fill in the required info and they will send the permit within 3 or 4 days by Federal Express. A signature is required for the delivery. At least that's how it works if you're a U. S. citizen...

Skinny

instruccionesIITV

The 2 people who've used my address in California to register a bike had no problems at all with the rough paperwork they got from the DMV (Dept Motor Vehicles). Both times I offered to mail them the paperwork when it showed, but they both said it wasn't needed.

-Dave

Dear JMo, skinny and Dave,

many thanks for your prompt answers. That already helped a lot.

@JMo:
I actually have a dealer in Idaho, who would let me register the bike on one of his freinds adresses in Oregon (with 0% tax). Talking to the DMV in Oregan, they said that they do not allow to register a vehicle on a foreigners name. It had to be registered on a local. I could only be in the title as the secondary user or owner. Do you have any other information in this? Will I gat into trouble beeing the secondary owner of the vehicle at any of the central / south american borders?

@Skinny:
Is it really necessary to aply for that permit online beforehand or can I do that at the border in person?

@Dave:
You mean they registered and went over the border immediately thereafter? So, I do not need the title papers at all to get into mexico etc.?

Again, many thanks for your support,

Bjoern

Hi Bjoern - I'm not sure about the situation in Oregon, but in Nevada, I simply bought the bike, and took the paperwork with my name and 'my' US address down to the DMV and it was all sorted... not sure if they check on any US data base for residency/citizenship or not to be honest... they certainly didn't ask for a Social Security number or anything like that...

That said, if it's different in Oregon, then perhaps the best thing is to get the Title in this person's name (although that could be a bit dodgy for you, as they technically own the vehicle, not you) and have you listed on it if that is possible? - If so, I imagine a covering letter from the main owner saying you have permission to use the bike would be enough for any customs office? (I borrowed a press Land Rover a couple of years ago and took it from the UK to Morroco and back with such a covering letter - no problem).

Personally I can't see why you can't just get the bike titled and registered in your name at a US address though - erm, you rent a room from this guy in Oregon don't you?!

Good luck,

Jen xx

Both guys showed up in California, bought bikes using my address and then went immediately went south. Los Angeles has a way of provoking escape. It would seem to me that having proper paperwork would be needed, but they did fine with the temp paperwork they got from the DMV.

The Oregon thing sounds kind of dodgy but so does going to South America with temporary documents but I know that has worked. I'm sure your relatives can make color copies and DHL/FedEx you the papers when they show.

easy
 

I have a oregon plated bike and i am australian ,all you need is the address of a friend or horizon member i got 2 years on the sticker for about $90 bucks give or take some (klr 650)got it done in Bend Or ,when you get to the mexico border at san diego you simply ride straight in, no nothing ,your supposed to get a torist card ,i got mine in La Paz ,by the time i got to La Paz in the bottom of baja my friend had DHL posted my title to the DHL office in La Paz ,you wont get on the boat without the import permit and for that you need the title, but this is piss easy, as you are allowed any where in baja with out it ,hope this helps,
] i would go withthe first option if buying from a dealer ,pay for them early and have the title ready when you get there

Titles are different in every state. My unofficial advice is to just print something up in english. I use a color copy of my original title and could have well just created one myself.

I dont get questions for originality of the title, but because I bought my bike used and there is someone else's name on the title. In texas, both the current owner AND previous owner's name are on the title confusing non-english speakers.

You can do all the paperwork at the border and most people choose to take that approach. Using the online Banjercito web site takes about 5 minutes and you'll have your permit in 2 or 3 days. The same procedure at the border may take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours, depending on how crowded it is, how brain-dead the Mexican official is, and a butt-load of other factors that are completely beyond your control...I prefer the on-line registration because it's mostly fool-proof and fast.:clap:

You can register a vehicle in Arizona without being a legal resident of the USA, and as another poster mentioned, insure it with Progressive who will write coverage for non-residents without American driver's licenses.