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Buying a motorcycle but not register it for a awhile?

  1. #1
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    Buying a motorcycle but not register it for a awhile?

    I've purchased motorcycles in the past and was always told that i have 30 days to register it. Im thinking of picking up a fixerupper and dont want to be paying insurance while its not on the road yet. If I dont register it .. say till next year will that cause a problem with back taxes for me or the previous owner?

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  2. #2
    still a newbie j4eric's Avatar
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    Re: Buying a motorcycle but not register it for a awhile?

    as far as i know ......yes, it will be an issue for the buyer.
    you have x amount of day in MA....i think its 7 days from the sale date.

    can you request the seller to leave the date blank on the title?

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    Lifer snwbrdr435's Avatar
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    Re: Buying a motorcycle but not register it for a awhile?

    You will have to pay back taxes

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  4. #4
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    Little bit extra taxes, I know it's not to much though.

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    Corey

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    Just Registered drop's Avatar
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    Re: Buying a motorcycle but not register it for a awhile?

    just go to the RMV and apply for the title within 10 days of the date on the bill of sale. you'll pay $75 for title + 6.25% sales tax.

    when you are ready to get it on the road, bring the title in and pay the $20 registration fee to get your plates.

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  6. #6
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    Re: Buying a motorcycle but not register it for a awhile?

    This doesn't make any sense. He has 7 days to register the bike for insurance reasons. All he has to do is apply for a new title and pay for sales tax. I think you are worried about Excise tax and you don't get that unless you register the bike.

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    Last edited by imstuner; 06-20-12 at 04:36 PM.

  7. #7
    still a newbie j4eric's Avatar
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    Re: Buying a motorcycle but not register it for a awhile?

    its a two prong question really......one is he does not want to pay insurance while fixing it....and the other is he does not want to get hit with back taxes either.

    drop has the closest answer......not unless the op wants to delay paying taxes til close to registration then my answer would address that scenario.

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  8. #8
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    Re: Buying a motorcycle but not register it for a awhile?

    Drop is 100% right. I've done exactly what he said. You pay sales tax now and get title in your name. Then register & insure at any point in the future.

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  9. #9

    Re: Buying a motorcycle but not register it for a awhile?

    most correct answer/suggestion

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  10. #10
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    Re: Buying a motorcycle but not register it for a awhile?

    Check the books, on dirt toys now, even bare frames in Mass are supposed to be registered. Might be a form you can file to declare a bike a garage queen while it sits?

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  11. #11
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    Re: Buying a motorcycle but not register it for a awhile?

    Im asking because the RMV always asks for the insurance paper stamped and signed when I go register my previous bikes.

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  12. #12
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    I would always apply for title . If you lose the selling title have fun getting a new title.

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  13. #13
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    Re: Buying a motorcycle but not register it for a awhile?

    The Mass RMV does always require insurance when you register the motor vehicle for use on the road. It is from the date of registration forward that you have seven days to get the inspection done.

    When NOT registering a motor vehicle, you can simply apply for a title by turning in the seller's title, paying the sales tax and the $75 title fee. Be aware that sales tax on motor vehicles is no longer based solely upon sales price. The RMV looks up book value and they charge the 6.25% of the book value or the sale price, whichever richens the Governor's pockets better.

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    Senior Member mell0's Avatar
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    Re: Buying a motorcycle but not register it for a awhile?

    Just ask the seller not to date it. I did that with my Trumpet because i didn't want to pay to have it sitting in my basement over the winter, and it wasn't an issue.

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    Re: Buying a motorcycle but not register it for a awhile?

    I have a 2000 Triumph Sprint RS sitting in my walk-in cellar. It's been there for 3 years and I've still got the seller's title for it with nothing more than a signature on it. I forsee no problems when it's time for my son to register it in his name.

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    Re: Buying a motorcycle but not register it for a awhile?

    I believe you can title and tax a vehicle in mass without registering it.

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    Lifer SprintPoser's Avatar
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    Re: Buying a motorcycle but not register it for a awhile?

    Quote Originally Posted by maxim_X View Post
    I believe you can title and tax a vehicle in mass without registering it.
    Yes, And no matter how long you wait there's no tax penalty. You pay the same amount as you would have if you had registered the day you bought it.

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    Re: Buying a motorcycle but not register it for a awhile?

    Quote Originally Posted by keeena View Post
    Drop is 100% right. I've done exactly what he said. You pay sales tax now and get title in your name. Then register & insure at any point in the future.
    This is the exact law:
    You have until the 20th day of the next month to pay the sales tax and title the vehicle in your name.If you dont you pay an extra percentage more and it keeps increasing the longer it goes.

    I went through the exact same thing.

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  19. #19
    Lifer
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    Woah..wait a minute...I got an un roadworthy bike, the person has the original title signed over from 1991....if he happened to date it, I'm going to pay back taxes for 12 years? Might as well junk it.... I better go check if it's dated...

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  20. #20
    Just Registered Doc's Avatar
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    Re: Buying a motorcycle but not register it for a awhile?

    Wow, Mass sucks.

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    Re: Buying a motorcycle but not register it for a awhile?

    The seller signs the title with no date. when he turns his plate in he will longer pay excise tax. when you fix it put the day before as the date and reg.

    Also dont let the seller put your name on the title leave it blank in case you want to flip it.

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  22. #22
    Lifer SprintPoser's Avatar
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    Re: Buying a motorcycle but not register it for a awhile?

    Quote Originally Posted by rice_rocket View Post
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    Woah..wait a minute...I got an un roadworthy bike, the person has the original title signed over from 1991....if he happened to date it, I'm going to pay back taxes for 12 years? Might as well junk it.... I better go check if it's dated...
    No fears. The Mass Dept Of Revenue won't go back 12 years. They will simply charge you just as I said, 6.25% on current value or whatever you paid, whichever gets them more money.

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  23. #23
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    Re: Buying a motorcycle but not register it for a awhile?

    Quote Originally Posted by Doc View Post
    Wow, Mass sucks.
    No. Massachusetts voters suck. They keep voting for "D". Weld abolished registration fees. The "D" s brought them back under the guise of reform and increased them to levels above the pre Weld era. Vote with your wallet. Don't vote for party affiliation.

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  24. #24
    Lifer
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    Phew, that sounds more like it... I'm sure stil the value is higher than what I paid, but once it is running thats still fair enough

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  25. #25
    Lifer SprintPoser's Avatar
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    Re: Buying a motorcycle but not register it for a awhile?

    Quote Originally Posted by Rambunctous View Post
    No. Massachusetts voters suck. They keep voting for "D". Weld abolished registration fees. The "D" s brought them back under the guise of reform and increased them to levels above the pre Weld era. Vote with your wallet. Don't vote for party affiliation.
    If you have to bring politics into it you should at least get the facts straight. Former Governor William Weld did not abolish registration fees. All he tried to do was make it a "one time" fee. Title fees, sales tax, and excise taxes all remained.

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