Steps to buying bike in MA and registering in NH

[smd753]

I'm actually buying my second bike (!!) from a private party in MA. He has the title and I'm paying in cash. What are the steps to get the title transferred properly and get the bike registered in NH?

Second dumb question: How do I ride the bike home if I don't have NH plates for it yet?

Thanks for indulging my ignorance.

Steve

[khuygie88]

Pay cash, get title and bill of sale, register in NH, they will issue a new title (in a few weeks) along with your plates, registration, n'shit.

2nd: see if the owner will do you a solid and let you keep his plates on it to ride it home, maybe with a quick piece of paper where you agree to be liable for any damage done to the bike on that ride (i.e. you crash it and don't try and claim it on his insurance.) Or go illegal and use your plates from your other bike and don't get pulled over (not advocating that route, but it is possible)

[drop]

where in MA are you picking up the bike?

[gamorg02]

i do believe, altho could be wrong, MA has a law where you can use a plate of yours to get a vehicle home, legally?

[FZR]

i think in MA there's a 7 day window after purchase w/ title... I could be wrong but that's what I remember

[drop]

i do believe, altho could be wrong, MA has a law where you can use a plate of yours to get a vehicle home, legally?

i think in MA there's a 7 day window after purchase w/ title... I could be wrong but that's what I remember

this only applies if you lose possession of the currently registered vehicle prior to using the plate (trade in, swap, sold, etc). you can't legally pull the plate off a vehicle you still own to get another newly acquired one home.

[smd753]

where in MA are you picking up the bike?

I'm picking the bike up in Newburyport and I live in North Hampton, NH. So I don't need to get too far.

[rice_rocket]

Oh heck no.. yeah, you cannot slap on any plates to ride it back. MA doesn't issue temporary plates, if NH does, then you can do that.

In MA if you did trade in your vehicle and swap plates (still the paperwork has to be in the works) then you can ride it. Still, I got hassled once for this, a cop went ballistic on me when I traded in a car from a dealer. He first pulled me over for no inspection sticker, then freaked out when I said I transfered plates. There is (or used to) have a ton of small print on the registration explaining these rules. When I showed the LEO he got even more upset with me and threatened to bring me in to jail, except he'll "do me a favor" and let me go home.. if he saw me the next day he would take me straight to jail. What a crock!

["Dangerous" Dan K]

I'm picking the bike up in Newburyport and I live in North Hampton, NH. So I don't need to get too far.

There was a time I would throw any plate on it and ride. These days, I would throw it in a truck. I'm very close to newburyport and have a truck, straps and a ramp if you need a hand. N hampton is certainly close enough.

[drop]

I'm picking the bike up in Newburyport and I live in North Hampton, NH. So I don't need to get too far.

do you have time to get temp tags from the NH DMV?

if you are out of options and have to pick it up ASAP, i can swing through with a trailer and help you out.

[smd753]

Thanks for the info and offers of help.

I talked to the seller. He's willing to ride the bike up to North Hampton this weekend, complete the sale, then I can go get my temporary plate on Monday.

Is it just me, or do they make it a whole lot easier for a dealer to buy/sell vehicles than the average Joe?

[nhbubba]

If you can get a bill of sale ahead of time, you can get temp plates for $10 and a few dirty looks and groans from the hard asses at the DMV.

Personally I would beg or borrow a trailer or pickup. Easiest, cheapest, most LEO hassle free way.

[drop]

the question remains: what bike are you getting?