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Motorcycle title stolen, what to do? Motorcycle title stolen, what to do?
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Trip Paperwork Covers all documentation, carnets, customs and country requirements, how to deal with insurance etc.
Photo by Mark Newton, Mexican camping

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Photo by Mark Newton,
Camping in the Mexican desert



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  • 1 Post By John933
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  #1  
Old 21 Mar 2015
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Motorcycle title stolen, what to do?
Hi there.
I was unlucky/stupid enough to get pickpocketed and I lost the registration document of the bike. When I bought the bike I got an email with photocopies of all the documents, but because there were so many documents I failed to notice that the most important one, the title, wasn't among the copies. Yes, I am an idiot. Since the bike is not originally in my name (power of attorney) I can't ask for a duplicate of the title. I'm trying to find the original owner to ask if he still has a copy lying around somewhere. Idle hope probably.

I went to the police to get a certificate with heaps of stamps that says they were stolen and that I am the current owner. Took about 15 hours in total. Makes you appreciate the efficiency back home. Should this be enough to cross borders?
I have other papers like old insurance slips with the name of the original owner to prove it legally is mine.

Pfff had some problems on this trip, but for every problem there is a solution, right.
Any advice?
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Old 21 Mar 2015
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This post is a classics post. From where this idea came from.


http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...location-80950


Have no idea where you are, where you are from, or where you brought the bike, or in what country the bike is regerested in. So it look's like I can't help.
John933
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To buy petrol in Europe. Pull up at station. Wait. Get out a 20 Euro note, then ask someone to fill up the bike. Give person money. Ride away. Simple.
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  #3  
Old 21 Mar 2015
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3 questions that might help somebody answer your question:

Your nationality?

The bike is registered where?

Where were you pickpocked?

PS. John933: You got there first
Last edited by chris; 21 Mar 2015 at 20:41. Reason: Adding a Post Script
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Old 21 Mar 2015
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Yes, I might have forgotten some very inportant information.
I'm in Bolivia, I am from Belgium, the bike is from Australia.
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  #5  
Old 22 Mar 2015
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Photoshop is your friend.
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Old 22 Mar 2015
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I have heard that people use fake titles sometimes without problems. So I would have to find someone with photoshop skills and maybe find a template for Australian title. Anything I should be careful about?
Now, I am planning to sell the bike in about a week. Wouldn't it be better just to photoshop the new owner's name on there?
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Old 23 Mar 2015
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Anyone have a "how to" on this, such as where to find the template online? A tutorial would be welcome as many of us might need it some day.
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Old 23 Mar 2015
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I'm confused. You "bought" the bike, but you're not the "owner?" So that means that you own the bike, or not? Did you really have the actual title in your possession prior to being pick pocketed? But your name was not on it? Are you sure the bike really belonged to the "original owner," and that it still does technically belong to that person, wherever he might be?

More importantly, why would anyone buy a bike from you if all you can produce is a faked ownership document? You're saying exactly what any run-of-the-mill thief would say.

That aside, no one is likely to provide explicit instructions here. If you read extensively on this site, you'll find all you need to know between the lines.

Good luck.

Mark
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Old 23 Mar 2015
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Quote:
Originally Posted by VicMitch View Post
Anyone have a "how to" on this, such as where to find the template online? A tutorial would be welcome as many of us might need it some day.
In addition to what Mark has said above, the hubb is not the place to openly discuss illegal manufacture of vehicle-paperwork. It's also disingenuous to assume that South American law enforcement officers can't spot a fake document or that they can't Google the words "Photoshop registration document" or "Photoshop title" and come up with this and other threads.
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Old 24 Mar 2015
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Quote:
Originally Posted by markharf View Post
I'm confused. You "bought" the bike, but you're not the "owner?" So that means that you own the bike, or not? Did you really have the actual title in your possession prior to being pick pocketed? But your name was not on it? Are you sure the bike really belonged to the "original owner," and that it still does technically belong to that person, wherever he might be.
First owner was australian (title in his name, still is), second owner was Brazilian and used the bike with power of attorney. I'm the third owner, with POA with my name and second owner's name on it. It's a chain of power of attorneys, and it seems to work, so far. It's a bit complicated, I have to admit. Losing the title will complicate things a bit.
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Old 24 Mar 2015
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Sounds to me like the second "owner" was never the owner. The title holder is, and always was, the actual owner. The rest is just fluffery. Whether you can make it work is an open question.
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Old 25 Mar 2015
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Odiel View Post
I have heard that people use fake titles sometimes without problems. So I would have to find someone with photoshop skills and maybe find a template for Australian title. Anything I should be careful about?
Now, I am planning to sell the bike in about a week. Wouldn't it be better just to photoshop the new owner's name on there?

I have no idea if I fall with-in this bag. But I always take a couple of copy's of my doc's with me. Made up by my local print shop. 30 p a sheet. Saved my bacon on one trip. You know border crossing, doc's please, need to pay to get them back. Have no money come back in morning you keep doc's. Rode off never to come back. Spent 60p on photo copy. Saved 100 euro's on guard.
John933
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To buy petrol in Europe. Pull up at station. Wait. Get out a 20 Euro note, then ask someone to fill up the bike. Give person money. Ride away. Simple.
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