Irl to USA for trip .. how hard can it be ??

[Cortina]

Hi Cortina,
My experience may be of help.Last Summer I bought an 1150RT in NY and was unable to register it there due local restrictions. Got my friend in VA to put the bike on his policy and me as named driver and i did a trip down to Naples in Florida. I tried to register the bike in a few states along the way but got similar response to NY.
I was offered the use of an addresss in California so decided to continue my trip along the southern states to El Paso and then to Moab, Las Vegas, Death Valley to San Francisco.
I went to the DMV there and the process took about two hours.Just a visual check of the bike ,pay a few dollars and then they hand you the plates!.

I realise this was a slightly long way of achieving a result but you live and learn and in the end I got a very nice bike that is now legal in my own name and ready for the next trip!.

Hope this helps, PM me if you need more info

Might help me and others to know what the "local restrictions" were. My understanding is that with an "in state" address - it's a trip to (one of) the DMV offices of that state , spend the money on tags and sales tax and registration fee and ..., ..... and the job is done. ?

 

[Eagle i]

Might help me and others to know what the "local restrictions" were. My understanding is that with an "in state" address - it's a trip to (one of) the DMV offices of that state , spend the money on tags and sales tax and registration fee and ..., ..... and the job is done. ?

The 'local restrictions' I refer to are just from my own experience, i.e in NY to register a vehicle you require six points of identification, passport, local driving license, social security no, local address, rent receipts etc. Some of these will count for more than one point.
In Virginia and West Virginia I was asked for a local address and a signed affidavit from the owner to say I was legally living there.
In the end I found Ca easier but as somebody has pointed out already, all of the States have slightly varying rules and I believe it could even be down to the person you meet over the counter the day you register.

Some good info on the 'HUBB' and individual DMV websites.

 

[TheMcQuaid]

For countrywide insurance cover, contact Fernet Insurance Brokers, 4407 Vineland Road, Suite D-6, Orlando FL 32811
email [email protected]

Once you get your insurance sorted out, your visa if you are visiting for 90 days or more, a modern UK plastic drivers license, you're just about ready to go. I have no knowledge of getting a bike registered out there. Don't forget that registration numberplates (Tags) are allocated to the rider and not the bike so you need to look into getting that done.

I stayed either with friends or budget motels, and Motel 6 are reasonable and pretty inexpensive. 'Mom & Pop' (non-chain) motels are even cheaper and can often be good too. Petrol (gas) is ONE THIRD the price it is here. Various states have different methods of dispensing petrol. NJ for instance have laws which suck the petrol vapour back into the dispenser so have weird spring concertina devices over the dispensing spout.

Ah jaysus, im after having a look at the value over there, you cant half pick up some toys for near nothing

 

[Cortina]

Ah jaysus, im after having a look at the value over there, you cant half pick up some toys for near nothing

Where did you look ?? ... My impression so far is that bikes in price range I'm looking at ... are much easier and cheaper to buy here !!

Eg ... buy something like a K100RT here for £1000 to 1200 easy ... where are they in America ?? (I'm hoping it's a time of year thing) ... now , fine , if you want a HD , but ... I don't !!

 

[drimcong]

bike mates

why not team up with the cousins on advrider, guess someone will be in the know.
hope it will be a great adventure!
Josey

 

[Earache]

Where did you look ?? ... My impression so far is that bikes in price range I'm looking at ... are much easier and cheaper to buy here !!

Eg ... buy something like a K100RT here for £1000 to 1200 easy ... where are they in America ?? (I'm hoping it's a time of year thing) ... now , fine , if you want a HD , but ... I don't !!

Three of them here: http://claz.org/classifieds.html?q=K100RT

Range was $2,900 to $3,100

It's a crap time of year to be looking at bikes in the US though, 10" of snow on the ground here - wait until it warms up and there will be many more for sale...and the prices might be up a but as well.

 

[Earache]

The 'local restrictions' I refer to are just from my own experience, i.e in NY to register a vehicle you require six points of identification, passport, local driving license, social security no, local address, rent receipts etc. Some of these will count for more than one point.
I.....

Same as it is in Indiana. You'll need ID along with utility bills, rent receipt or something showing that you've been living at the address.

I added a friend from the UK to my insurance as an additional rider and the annual premium was around $100. We bought a used bike for him and then added him to my insurance. Very easy to do and we didn't have to jump through any hops for registration.

Best thing you can do is to find someone in the US and do the same as above with them. Makes everything much easier and much cheaper.

 

[Cortina]

Three of them here: http://claz.org/classifieds.html?q=K100RT

Range was $2,900 to $3,100

It's a crap time of year to be looking at bikes in the US though, 10" of snow on the ground here - wait until it warms up and there will be many more for sale...and the prices might be up a but as well.

Err ... that's my point .. average $3000 approx £1860 ... roughly twice what they cost here !!

 

[Earache]

Err ... that's my point .. average $3000 approx £1860 ... roughly twice what they cost here !!

How do other bikes - say a Honda Pan or FJR- look in comparison pricewise?
BMW's aren't the most popular bikes in the US - dealers are few and far between - so maybe the prices are up due to exclusivity?

 

[Cortina]

How do other bikes - say a Honda Pan or FJR- look in comparison pricewise?
BMW's aren't the most popular bikes in the US - dealers are few and far between - so maybe the prices are up due to exclusivity?

Pans are quite rare - have seen very few ... prices look about the same as here. I have not looked at FJR - a bit new for me I suspect (FJ would probably fall into the range , but have not seen any yet)

I suspect it's wrong time of year for a while yet ... and yes , prices will go up , but so will choice ... no hurry which is a good thing.
I suspect what I need is a friend on the ground "in the know" to sort out one or two or three possibles nearer the time ... then I can decide. As someone posted earlier , a dealer who could offer 30 day temporary tags would hold a certain attraction .... they may even be persuaded to do a buy back after that month ??

 

[Earache]

, a dealer who could offer 30 day temporary tags would hold a certain attraction .... they may even be persuaded to do a buy back after that month ??

You should make a list of which States offer 30 day tags then. Some are 10 or 21 and some are 30.
OF course, the buy back deal would vary - but be cool if you could arrange prior to buying.

Edit: Good place to start: http://traffic.findlaw.com/drivers-license-vehicle-info/state-vehicle-registration-information.html
Clicking on each State links to that State's BMV

 

[Cortina]

I am making progress on this - flights now booked (£402 return out of Belfast to Charlotte NC) ... have hooked up with a dealer (provisionally !!) who has made the suggestion that I just ride on temporary tags ... good for 30 days ... and a bill of sale ... Now why didn't we think of that

I have asked him about sourcing a bike for me , on a buy back basis with a target of circa $500 depreciation for the month

let's wait and see .......... no panic

 

[Geno]

I am making progress on this - flights now booked (£402 return out of Belfast to Charlotte NC) ... have hooked up with a dealer (provisionally !!) who has made the suggestion that I just ride on temporary tags ... good for 30 days ... and a bill of sale ... Now why didn't we think of that

I have asked him about sourcing a bike for me , on a buy back basis with a target of circa $500 depreciation for the month

let's wait and see .......... no panic

That all sounding very good . Flights are great value . Keep in touch with details

 

[Cortina]

Update :
Dealers don't really want to play ... too few tries to be absolute , but those I have "dealt with " so far. Too interested in making money ... which is OK up to a point , but when I'm told my $5000 used bike will loose $2000 in 4 weeks use , then it's time for me to throw the toys !!

Question for team Americans on here : In SC sate , can I as a non resident (but with local address) register a privately bought bike in my own name ??

.. and before you suggest , yes I have emailed the SC DMV website ... and twice my mail has been sent back as having "sat too long " in their in tray , grrrrrrrrrrrrr.
Contacts I have in the states are giving me mixed answers , grrrrrr again !!!

I have tried mailing adverts on Craigslist (direct from home PC and via gmail) ... none have been answered !! .... Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm

I WILL get there.

 

[Earache]

Going to have to wait on someone from SC to comment on the BMV there - I'm not familiar enough with their laws to know.
If there's anything I can do - such as call the BMV for you, let me know.

email: EaracheMS @ Gmail.com

 

[Cortina]

Going to have to wait on someone from SC to comment on the BMV there - I'm not familiar enough with their laws to know.
If there's anything I can do - such as call the BMV for you, let me know.

email: EaracheMS @ Gmail.com

.. and here was me thinking it was DMV (Dept of Motor Vehicles) ... ah well

Stuff it - I rang them myself today ... was very nice automated message telling me how nice the weather was in SC this morning , then eventually after more weather got throu to a human being

Btm line ...... err ..... NO !! I have to be resident , so I asked her was I OK to just to ride it about as bought ... err ....... NO ! , well what should I do then ??

Don't know ..... who can help me ................... don't know .... er you could talk to someone in the UK about it ?? ...... well that's a good idea , seeing as I'm travelling to America

.... ye gods

but she did tell me to have a nice day

(I have a plan B to register it in my friends name , but it would have been nice to get a proper solution)

ah well. watch this space

Now .... who would like to come and tour the East coast after me , and buy it off me .... even thou I don't know what IT is yet !!??
You need to arrive about 9th June 2013! (Charlotte would be handy !)

 

[Earache]

.. and here was me thinking it was DMV (Dept of Motor Vehicles) ... ah well

Some States are the DMV, some are BMV (Bureau of Motor Vehicles) but they perform the same function.

Shame about the run around they gave you. Hope it works out for you.

I might swing down to the Carolinas in early June and meet up for a beer. Keep me posted of your plans.

 

[Cortina]

Some States are the DMV, some are BMV (Bureau of Motor Vehicles) but they perform the same function.

Shame about the run around they gave you. Hope it works out for you.

I might swing down to the Carolinas in early June and meet up for a beer. Keep me posted of your plans.

That would be grand ... but why bother when I'll be riding past your door !!

I have base in Irmo (SC) then we will go to Baltimore (MD) , then on 25th May (reason for going) .. party in Sylvan Lake - (MI 48320) .. then back down to Irmo.
Want to take in run up Blue Ridge Mountains .. and then go to SITM which is in the last few days before leave on 9th June

** SITM ; Sharks in the Mountains ... biggest gathering of Porsche 928's just about anywhere - up a high mountain somewhere .... / Beach something ..... could that be right ? (Google it)

Sniff at youtube with the words "Molls 928" ... and follow the Lazybeaver !!

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

...... Insurance? That will be expensive but not impossible to get. Bike registration? You'll need a permament address of some sort, a friend's address or perhaps your first hotel. British drivers license is fine. Buy a bike - fine, and sell it? What if you can't find a buyer and your return flight is tomorrow?

Just some points to ponder over.

Exactly - You'll need an address for insurance and rego to arrive at - will take 1 week min of waiting.

I still have a car in Newark airport i left there in 86...

 

[Cortina]

Exactly - You'll need an address for insurance and rego to arrive at - will take 1 week min of waiting.

I still have a car in Newark airport i left there in 86...

No bother - I have an address , Reg in my name is not going to happen now , but my "minder " will register it in his name , and also will be a back up sales plan / route, should it not shift quickly while I am there
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