Re Marks comment re shipping to/from Canada instead of USA - agreed, and Air Canada also has GREAT deals on shipping bikes to and from Europe and other places - far far cheaper than any US carrier.

I'm an Australian, interested in buying a bike in Oregon. I've been on the phone to the DMV there and they say while they are perfectly fine to handle a changeover of title, they are unable to register the bike to someone who is a non-resident of Oregon.

I called up the DOL in Washington. Things seem simpler there as they don't require insurance to register motorcycles, although apparently I will need a Washington license. I'm told that this involves sitting a written and practical test and waiting for the license to be mailed to an address in Washington.

Not as simple as I had hoped. Has anyone had any other experiences? I'm trying to work out how best to proceed. I'm considering trying to go to California to register it, but I don't want to deal with any testing stuff as the bike has been modified. I do have a Californian address to use.

My other options involve waiting for a nice CA bike, or doing a working holiday in Canada and putting my trip off for a year while I organise things.

What you want is not possible in Oregon. Your information is correct. Probably you wanted to purchase in Oregon because they have no sales tax, in contrast to Washington or California. Oh well.

On the other hand, you do not need a Washington state license to register a vehicle in Washington State. I suggest you call again, since not everyone answering the phone has a clue. Here's the state form you'll need: http://www.dol.wa.gov/forms/420011.pdf

You will need a local address, but it's not necessary to claim that you live there permanently; it's just an address for the mailing of documents. Paying extra and/or visiting a contracted registration office (in my town, this is a little office in the middle of a strip mall) will speed the process markedly, although it will also cost extra.

I'm not sure about rules related to registering a "modified" bike. Many, possibly most, modifications are technically quite illegal. You might want to think about this.

You don't need insurance to register a vehicle, but you do need insurance to actually operate it. That's a whole separate issue, which you'll want to resolve before a random traffic stop ends up costing you severely in both money and time. Plus there's a definite risk that any sort of accident will absolutely ruin you financially--this is an expensive country in which to try and bend the rules.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark

Thanks Mark, I will get back on the phone. I'm just looking at Oregon because that's where I've found a nice WR250R. Cost is always a consideration, but thankfully the US is not so bad regarding taxes. I think I would still have to pay a use tax or something when transferring the title in Washington.

"Best" state to buy a used bike
 

Hey,

thanks for all the infos.
Because last Postings been a while i will just ask:

What states you guys would recommend for a tourist with a normal tourist visa for buying a used motorcycle (Harley Davidson)? I mean terms of easily doable paperwork and prices for bike and insurance - if i need insurance.

Is Washington still most recommended? Geographically and for the weather I would love to read California, Florida or their neighbor states ;)

I also plan to go to Mexico with the bike and back to the states. Or is buying a Harley in Mexico even easier and/or cheaper?

Cheers!

Thanks!

Arizona.

For fee help in California. I get it done.
 

I have registered and titled 12 motorbikes for International Travelers this year (2018 from Jan-July). I have done around 50 total over the last few years. No USA drivers license needed. I offer address use. I can also arrange insurance (no USA license needed). You get the California title to me and I do the rest. DMV office visit and insurance arranged. I maintain paperwork (title/insurance/registration renewal/picture tolls and etc) at the address for as long as you own the bike. If you are planning on heading south of the border know that it takes around 12 days after initial registration for actual title to arrive in the mail. So plan accordingly for onward travel. (You need title in your name for Mexico). I get registration in your name as soon as I visit DMV, no waiting. You don't need to be present, you don't need to sign anything, motorbike doesn't need to be present. You CAN ride the bike right away pending title transfer. By law you are required to have at least third party insurance cover to operate a vehicle on California roads. You DO NOT need insurance for initial registration...but you ARE REQUIRED BY LAW to have it to operate. This service is for motorbikes already currently registered in California. If you buy a bike in another State there are some pitfalls to avoid and I need the bike present to register it. DO NOT buy a bike without first contacting me and sending me a picture of the title and registration from seller.
I am a California DMV expert. Retired previously licensed California Vehicle Dealer. I have 50 years experience and tens of thousands of vehicle transfers....yes....that many....one year alone I did 3,600 transactions.
You can find me on facebook James Tucker (Claremont Los Angeles California)
ps: I used to do it for free....but it got completely out of hand...too successful! I have around 50 references. :palm: :scooter:

just got a confirmation from wisconsin DMV that foreign visitor "can obtain a Wisconsin title and registration", but you need to have a wisconsin address.

Registering a bike as a non-resident
 

I recently completed my registration in Vermont. Just so you know - you don't have to register in the same state that you buy the bike in. I bought my used,from a private seller bike in RI and transported it to VT on a pick up. You will need a local address to which the DMV will send the title and registration. There is less complication if the title is free and clear.
The reg was posted after 3 weeks, but the title only arrived after 7 weeks. The DMV gives you a plate and a temporary reg. to use in the meanwhile.
I used progressive for liability insurance - done over the phone with credit card, $120 for the year. Locals would only pay about $80, but as a foreigner you have no history and are considered a higher risk.

Buy a bike in the US
 

Hi,
How can I buy a bike in the US, as a foreigner? Not living in the US, but want to buy and ride the bike in the US and down south America?

Djin

There is nothing restricting you from buying a bike in the US.

But registering it and getting a license plate is another matter. All of the legal paperwork is done by the individual states and their rules all differ.

For example in Colorado you have to have a permanent address to register it to. I believe there are several states that do not require this (Arizona? Washington? Oregon? and maybe Vermont or New Hampshire?)

You will have to check with individual states to find out.

Actually my advice would be to post your question on ADVRider in the Regional sections. I think there are a lot more US riders active there.

.............shu

Hello Djin:

That's a tough question to answer, because the regulations for motor vehicle registration in the United States are set at the state level - so, you have 50 different sets of regulations to sort through and research before you can get an answer.

Of greater concern - in other words, what is likely to be more of a problem than simply purchasing and registering (getting a license plate) the motorcycle - will be getting insurance for the motorcycle. Most North American insurance companies require that a person purchasing insurance have a USA driver license.

I think the easiest way forward for you might be to contact a friend in the USA and have them purchase, register, and insure the motorcycle for you, taking care to ensure that the insurance is valid for all riders (meaning, you), not just for the owner of the motorcycle.

There have been several other discussions here on the HUBB about the same question you have - perhaps do a little research here on the forum and you might find some useful information from the experience others have had.

Michael

Did you see this thread?
https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hu...nals-can-58648

I’m looking into the same thing at the moment, although we don’t plan to leave the US at this stage.
Looks like the easiest state to buy and register a bike, as a foreign national is Washington State - there are others that are also not too difficult but Washington suits us. From my research it looks like you don’t need to prove you live there, you just need a postal address for receiving mail - apparently the odd bike shop will let you use their address if you buy a bike from them.
If we go ahead I will post up - although our plans are for next year - perhaps you could also.
Good luck.

That's good news - the ease of purchase and registration in Washington state - but remember that getting a license plate is only half the battle.

The other half of the problem is getting insurance. This might be difficult to do if you don't have a driver license in the USA.

Be sure to carry out your due diligence concerning obtaining insurance before you pull the trigger and buy the bike. Keep in mind that in the USA, insurance regulations vary from state to state - some states might insure the vehicle for all riders, others might only insure named riders.

Some states may permit operation of an uninsured vehicle, others may not (for example, all across Canada, it is forbidden to operate a motor vehicle without insurance, and the penalties for doing so are very severe).

Michael