Question on swapping plates in MA

[evile]

I have a bike currently registered and inspected in MA. I want to sell it, and buy something different. That may happen this weekend, at least the buying part...

So, can I just take the plate off my current bike, put it on the newly purchased bike, and ride it home? Then call the insurance company on Monday and give them the VIN, pay tax and fees, whatever? (my ins. agent will do the registry running for me)

Or, do I have to get a whole new plate for the new bike and turn in the old one when I sell it?

Or should I just ride it home with no plate

[rg500]

I would check with your insurance agent, but I think you can swap the plates and you have a week to update the registration. -

[1/2pint]

how far of a ride and do you plane on riding like an A-hole? just do it and pray you don't get yanked over

[BLACK SQUIRREL]

Here How it Works,
In order to swap plates you need to have proof that you Sold or otherwise disposed of the bike you have the plate to. You have 7 Days from when you SELL your old bike, to use the plates on the new one.

I should know I rode all summer one year printing up a new bill of sale for a bike I sold every 6 Days

[hammadown]

I should know I rode all summer one year printing up a new bill of sale for a bike I sold every 6 Days

fuckin squid!

[OreoGaborio]

Here How it Works,
In order to swap plates you need to have proof that you Sold or otherwise disposed of the bike you have the plate to. You have 7 Days from when you SELL your old bike, to use the plates on the new one.

I should know I rode all summer one year printing up a new bill of sale for a bike I sold every 6 Days

Well shit, I know who I'm comin to when I need help selling a bike

[evile]

Here How it Works,
In order to swap plates you need to have proof that you Sold or otherwise disposed of the bike you have the plate to.

That's what I was looking for. So I have to sell the old bike first.

I should know I rode all summer one year printing up a new bill of sale for a bike I sold every 6 Days

That may get you out of a traffic stop but if you ever got into an accident you are legally uninsured, unregistered, and fucked, no?

[Brit-Triple]

You have to get an rmv1 form from your insurance. Call them up with your vin # of bike about to be purchased. If you own the other bike outright, or have sold, it, they don't really care, there is no "disposed of". That is something for excise tax and such. If you own something outright, the insurance company doesn't care if you have insurance and rmv only cares when the bike is on a public way. If you want to have 10 motorcycles with no plates and no ins in your garage no one cares. The ins paperwork is real easy. For the record they do want you to have the vehicle registered. If you have the rmv1 you will not look like someone that is attaching plates (which can get you in alot of trouble). so don't wheelie it on the ride home.

I am in law enforcement, and I have a plate that was recently on 3 different cars as I wanted to keep it so have gone to the registry way too many times in the past year.

cheers

[bergj1986]

Here's what I've done with bike swaps:

If you haven't sold your current bike and plan to get another one, grab the plate from your bike and bring it with you to the new bike. Get the title and a bill of sale and ride the new bike home CAREFULLY. Don't turn in the plate to the registry if you plan to use it on your new bike because you will get charged for another plate at the RMV.

Once your new bike is safely at home, take the plate off and put it back onto the bike on which it belongs. I know this isn't perfectly legal, but most times you don't have much choice.

Hope this helps!

[Brit-Triple]

As an LE, we hear all the time, I was going to the registry today, etc..

get the RMV1, then you have your insurance, the company will even give you a few days to do the swap, if you do get pulled over you have the piece of paper that says you are in the process of making it right. That way you can say you just had to get it home from dealer.

Lies are good when you have a little backing to them.

MA state troopers don't have a sense of humor, it is one of the job requirements.

[ChrisNoF4i]

Why can't I?

[evile]

Agent finally got back to me and here's the scoop they gave me.

Once you transfer your title to a new owner, your registration and plate can be transferred to a new vehicle. You just need a bill of sale and/or signed title for the new vehicle. You have 7 days from the date you transferred your title to get to the registry with $25 and a stamped RMV1.

They warned me pretty strongly about trying any monkey business, for example if you got into an accident you would not be covered under insurance, and if there was property damage or 3rd party injuries you would likely get your pants sued off. Not to mention you'd get cited for driving unregistered/uninsured.

So...I'm playin it safe here and borrowing a truck.

[Brit-Triple]

Why can't I?

you can lie all you want, you're just putting your life in someone else's hands.