I'm buying an XR400 that has its manufacturer certificate of origin signed to the original owner and copies of the bill of sale from him to the current owner. If I take them to the DMV with a have a bill of sale from the current owner to me do you think they will accept it? l
NO It sucks, but I've been through that exact same thing with the DMV here in VA a ton of times. Unless the original MSO is signed over to YOU personally from the Dealer or place of original purchased, then you are screwed on that one. The DMV in VA will require the original purchaser of the bike who had the MSO issued to him to title the bike, pay sales tax, and then sign it over to you. I searched for loopholes for a while, and wasn't able to figure any realistic way around it. VA has a huge boner for their sales tax and is really strict about transfer of title... The best solution I came up with was to file a mechanics lean on my own bike and title it to myself that way...
I'd say your best chance is to try to get in contact with the original MSO holder and have him write you a bill of sale and try to completely cut out the middleman you bought the bike from so the DMV knows nothing about it...
Yes with that paperwork in the state of virginia there is a way to do it, but you may have to pay tax again.
I found this law in the DMV rules, and since it is a 2004 it should apply. It sounds like if I have proof of ownership I will be issued a title. I guess I will give it a try. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-644.1
