I've got, as mentioned elsewhere, two motorcycles that need to be retired.  Both have lapsed registration and lapsed safety checks.  I've never sold a vehicle in Hawaii, and only sold a couple in my life.  What do I need to do to get these legally into new hands?

1.  Advertise
2.   
3.  Profit

I've got, as mentioned elsewhere, two motorcycles that need to be retired.  Both have lapsed registration and lapsed safety checks.  I've never sold a vehicle in Hawaii, and only sold a couple in my life.  What do I need to do to get these legally into new hands?

1.  Advertise
2.   
3.  Profit

I think it depends how much work you want to put into selling them. First you need the titles (in your name).

1. Fix them up and get maximum $ for them. But you are going to have to advertise and allow others to take them for test drive. Which means risking theft. Maybe take them to mechanic at buyers request (paid for by buyer). You will also need to pay for the back registration and safety checks if it is under 5 years (I think). Over 5 years (I think) all you need to pay for is one year registration and safety check. This can be more hassle than you want to deal with.

2. Sell them as-is. Advertise them and take cash only for them. Whatever you are offered just take and get them out of your hair. This is a lot less hassle but you get a lot less $.

3. Have a shop come over and make an offer to take them off your hands. Or take them down to a shop and have them make an offer. This will be the least amount of $ but probably the least amount of time and hassle.

4. After the sale, fill out the little form you tear off the top of the title and send it in to the DMV to let them know you sold the vehicle.

I think it depends how much work you want to put into selling them. First you need the titles (in your name).

<snip>

4. After the sale, fill out the little form you tear off the top of the title and send it in to the DMV to let them know you sold the vehicle.

This is what I'm interested in.  The actual, legal, procedural part.  The part that gets it out of my name and under someone else's.  Surely there's more to it than this???

This is what I'm interested in.  The actual, legal, procedural part.  The part that gets it out of my name and under someone else's.  Surely there's more to it than this???

The only other thing I can think of is a bill of sale. Otherwise you are good to go. To be honest I would keep a copy of the little slip you send to the DMV just in case they never change title and the DMV loses that little paper. But truly that is it. I just went through the process of selling a car recently. The title does have to be in your name so the new owner can legally transfer title. If you have receipts for parts and service you put into the bikes you can give that to the new owner if they want it. Extra parts? Covers?

Seriously, I can't think of anything else.

Lemme get this straight.  All I have to do to get a car/motorcycle out of my name is send in a little, jagged-edged slip of paper torn from the title?  No notary?  No visit to a tax office?  No obligation to check the buyer's license?

Lemme get this straight.  All I have to do to get a car/motorcycle out of my name is send in a little, jagged-edged slip of paper torn from the title?  No notary?  No visit to a tax office?  No obligation to check the buyer's license?

Jagged-edged slip of paper, yes. Notary, no need. Visit to a tax office, no need. Obligation to check the buyer's license, I always make that part of the bill of sale. But not necessary. It is not illegal to sell a car to someone without a license. A person without a license cannot legally transfer title to a car. But that is not your issue. Even if they are under age it is not illegal. An under age person cannot enter into a contract legally without a parent signature. So worse come to worse a parent can force you to undo the sale to their under age child. It is a civil matter.

One thing I just thought of. If you advertise do not make any offer to warranty the bikes in any way. It would be prudent to also state in any ad that the sale is without warranty and is as-is. Even though the law expressly implies this in all used vehicle transactions it wouldn't hurt to make this statement.

Jagged-edged slip of paper, yes. Notary, no need. Visit to a tax office, no need. Obligation to check the buyer's license, I always make that part of the bill of sale. But not necessary. It is not illegal to sell a car to someone without a license. A person without a license cannot legally transfer title to a car. But that is not your issue. Even if they are under age it is not illegal. An under age person cannot enter into a contract legally without a parent signature. So worse come to worse a parent can force you to undo the sale to their under age child. It is a civil matter.

One thing I just thought of. If you advertise do not make any offer to warranty the bikes in any way. It would be prudent to also state in any ad that the sale is without warranty and is as-is. Even though the law expressly implies this in all used vehicle transactions it wouldn't hurt to make this statement.

You need the title.  Once you got that everything is easy.  You just got to dodge all the lowlife lowballing sunnuffabeetches out there who are going to aske 50 cents on the dollar for your vehicle..............that is of course assuming you are not a snotty greedy brokedeeck bastage who wants 250% of the actual worth of his vehicle.


http://www.honolulu.gov/cms-csd-menu/site-csd-sitearticles/6442-vehicle-ownership-transfer.html

...lowlife lowballing sunnuffabeetches out there who are going to aske 50 cents on the dollar for your vehicle...

You don't have to get personal. 

Tom I have a used vehicle bill of sale that I have used for the last couple of years if you PM your email addy I can send It to you if you'd like.

http://www.honolulu.gov/cms-csd-menu/site-csd-sitearticles/6442-vehicle-ownership-transfer.html

Got to ask what kind of bikes

If you let the vehicle registration lapse, take the jagged paper from the title you ripped off of the title to the local DMV office.  That way you can settle the "amount due" to clear the title.

Unless the buyer agrees to pay your debt to DMV, then that's your responsibility.  If the buyer can't get a new title because there is still an amount owed to DMV, then legally the buyer can dump the bike back in your lap.  Part of buying any vehicle is an implied guarantee that the buyer can get a clear title in their name.

I converted my title to a storage title.  When I did, I had to pay a few year's back taxes.  If I remember, you don't have to pay the full back registration amount, just the back taxes and current registration fee.  The clerk mentioned the amount I paid was actually very good compared to cars she's done the same thing for.

For future reference, if you expect to garage a bike until you make it street-worthy again, take the title and TAG to the DMV.  They will keep your tag and issue a storage title.  You won't have to renew the registration on it while it's stored, because it's not legal to drive on the street (no tag).  You also don't need to insure it, but I kept liability for theft/fire since it was like $50 every 6 months.

That storage title will save you a bunch of money on any vehicle you won't be driving.  if you ever fix it up, you then have to get it inspected, then get a regular title and registration, then take the registration back to get the conditional inspection cleared.

Lemme get this straight.  All I have to do to get a car/motorcycle out of my name is send in a little, jagged-edged slip of paper torn from the title?  No notary?  No visit to a tax office?  No obligation to check the buyer's license?

Yep, that's it. Once the buyers info is on the transfer slip, send it in.
Your legal obligations to the vehicle are terminated, the buyer even assumes responsibility for all tickets that are associated with the vehicle.
Just be sure you send it in.

Yep, that's it. Once the buyers info is on the transfer slip, send it in.
Your legal obligations to the vehicle are terminated, the buyer even assumes responsibility for all tickets that are associated with the vehicle.
Just be sure you send it in.

I suggest you save a copy of the transfer slip because I have heard the DMV is waaaaay behind inputting these slips into the computer system and that sometimes are lost. So if the person you sold the bikes to doesn't transfer title and get tickets you can prove you sent it in and give them another copy of the slip to remove responsibility of paying for the tickets in case of a slow or lost transfer slip.

If the vehicle reg is not in storage then it will continue to incur reg charges. If the reg is more than 5 years in arrears it will wipe out the previous fees

And, if memory serves, there is a 10 day window to notify DMV of the title transfer.  They can fine you if you miss the window.

Hey T
Selling the bikes to pay for your summer vacation ?
Speaking of "lowlife lowballing sunnuffabeetches out there who are going to ask 50 cents on the dollar for your vehicle." 

Got to ask what kind of bikes

A pair of Kawasaki Vulcan 500, 2000 year model. 

One's been sitting up for two years; the other for several months.  The carbs on both are gummed.  Someone with the tools and know-how could get them up and running easily... $60 in parts from Amazon gets carb kits for two!  The front seals are leaking on both, and one of them needs the master cylinder rebuilt on the front brakes.  Other than that, and being 11 years old, they're in sound shape! 

Neither has current registration, neither has current safety, neither should be expected to move under its own power.  Bring your own transportation, ramp, and man power.

Kelly Blue Book is $2,000.  I was thinking about asking $300 each, or $500 for the pair. 

Pics ?