The Expert Podcast

Is getting a title for a motorcycle any different from getting a title for a car or truck? Well, technically the title document for a motorcycle is the same as any other motor vehicle. However, the process of getting a title for a motorcycle or a bike title may have some different requirements, and here's the reason why. Motorcycles generally have two physical differences that make the titling process more enhanced.

First is the VIN number. The vehicle identification number on a motor vehicle like a passenger car, truck, or SUV is stamped into many places on the vehicle, such as on the dashboard, on the firewall, on the cowl, usually on the door jambs, and underneath. On modern vehicles, there are 14 or 15 hidden VIN numbers on that vehicle. On motorcycles, there's not as many places to put a VIN number, so it's usually on the forks, on the neck, or somewhere close to the handlebars, and it may be in other places of the frame. On older Harley Davidson motorcycles, it may even be on the engine or on the engine case.

The Department of Motor Vehicle agencies in all the states recognize that motorcycles have a different VIN number placement, so they usually make a requirement to have a more scrutinized inspection of that VIN number. The reason why is because motorcycles are easier to steal; they're smaller, and if you just change one part, sometimes you can get rid of a stolen VIN number. So, they're going to look at that vehicle more closely to make sure it's not a stolen vehicle.

In fact, when we process titles, every once in a while, we'll get a message that the vehicle has an active theft record. More times than not, it's a motorcycle, and for whatever reason, a lot of those are Harley Davidson motorcycles because they're easy to swap the motor and just get a new VIN number.

So, if you have a motorcycle and yours is going to be legitimate—that's not what we're saying—be aware that you may run into more complex titling processes for a motorcycle versus a regular vehicle because the DMV recognizes the differences, the physical differences of the motorcycle, and the market differences in the security of ownership on a motorcycle title.