Why I Register Motorcycles In Vermont (Without A Title)

I found registering a new motorcycle in Vermont without a title easier than in my state. To register a motorcycle in Vermont without a title is a simple process requiring minimal time and effort. As long as you follow the Vermont DMV’s requirements and legally can prove you own the motorcycle.

I only had the completed Bill of Sale(an invoice from the vendors who sold me the Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin(MCO). With the motorcycle’s MCO and receipt, I managed to register all my bikes(x2) in Vermont with no trouble from Vermont.

My Vermont DMV, Legal, and Expert Notice

I am NOT a Department of Motor Vehicles expert(including Vermont’s DMV), I am NOT a lawyer, or run a motorcycle service or business. I am a new motorcycle rider and owner who ran into issues registering my new motorcycle(s) in my home state.

I want to share with you that I registered a motorcycle in Vermont without a title, and I’ve done this twice with good experiences. So this post is entirely based on my layperson’s understanding and experiences of doing out-of-state registrations of my motorcycles with the state of Vermont. Do your research.

Got Actual Vermont DMV Help.

You might have noticed I said I had GOOD experiences with a DMV. Yes, my personal, person-to-person contact(via phone) has been positive with the DMV in Vermont. I had a problem with the check I used to pay the fees and taxes. A lovely lady from the Vermont DMV called me.

Read: Call From Vermont DMV About Boom Vader (My Grom Clone). Oh-No!

The check I used was grossly mis-dated, being old, dyslexia, whatever; I screwed up the date on the check so bad that it was unusable. This lovely DMV worker walked me through the options and explained I could pay by Credit Card.

I was amazed; this DMV lady was trying to help me! She was so nice.

We all have those horror stories of going to the DMV, messing up with paperwork, and having to start over or wait in long lines. This person called me, left a voice mail, and was available as soon as I called back.

This specific experience was impressive, and I got my second motorcycle registered.

Now for my overall Vermont motorcycle registration experience.

What Is My Experience Registering Motorcycles, In Vermont?

My first experience was a necessary one. I bought the TaoTao TBR7 motorcycle and received information from the Pa DMV that the bike was a ‘custom’ motorcycle. I would have provided details on how I constructed it, notarized the original seller’s MCO, and completed a long/expensive inspection process.

My home state’s DMV didn’t recognize my TaoTao TBR7 motorcycle as a factory-made one. This was a real problem. I bought the TaoTao TBR7 motorcycle for about $1200 (minus shipping and handling), and now the state wanted to increase my cost of ownership by several hundred dollars. 

This wasn’t just a cost factor in money but in time. The bike would have to be left with an enhanced motorcycle state inspector. Not many of these special state motorcycle inspectors and the closest one to me is a good drive away.  

The inspection would take about a day, so waiting around wasn’t an option. I would have scheduled a ride to and from the inspection.  

The amount of paperwork I would have to generate was terrific. I would have to have all my Manufacturer’s Certificate Of Origins (MCOs) notarized, bill of sales, and all costs, including detailed history and steps I took to complete the motorcycle.

This amount of work was too large, all because the VIN( FAQ: Where Is The VIN On A Motorcycle? ) of my motorcycle didn’t match any database in the DMV as from a motorcycle manufacturer.

I Learned About Vermont’s Friendly Motorcycle Registration.

I was bummed out with my first motorcycle, all insured, but unable to easily register my TaoTao TBR7 motorcycle to ride on the streets.

My Chinese dual-sport motorcycle was turned into an overweight dirt bike. :/

After several web searches for options to register a new motorcycle, I found discussions about Vermont’s legal loophole for motorcycles.

Based on my experience, I created a post about how I felt it wasn’t a legal loophole but that Vermont is very motorcycle friendly. Compared to other states, including many motorcycle owners’ home state DMVs.

With no real way to register my motorcycle in my home state without paying ridiculous fees, costs and time, I opted to try the Vermont method.

My TaoTao TBR7 Motorcycle Specs And Vt DMV Conditions.

My TaoTao TBR7 motorcycle( TaoTao TBR7 Review & Specs ) is a small engine dual-sport. My TBR7 motorcycle is street legal(Except Ca, I’m told). It can be registered as a regular street motorcycle, although it maintains much of its dirt bike( My TaoTao TBR7 Is A Dirt Bike! ) characteristics.

Light weight bike(light compared to regular street motorcycles), high ground clearances, and large knobby, tubed, and wire spoke wheels.

The important part that helps me with the Vermont motorcycle registration process is the size of the TBR7 motorcycle engine. The TBR7 motorcycle has a 229cc single-cylinder engine.

Now being this small(<=300cc), Vermont allows complete registration by mail. This means I can register my TaoTao TBR7 motorcycle out of state, I can do everything by mail!

Yes!!!! With a small engine, my motorcycle will be easy to both register and keep registered with Vermont.

My Motorcycles In Vermont Without A Title.

So far, I’ve registered two motorcycles (TaoTao TBR7 and Boom Vader Gen 2) with Vermont without a title.  

General Steps I took To Register My Motorcycles With Vermont:

1. Downloaded Vermont DMV Registration form: VD-119 (https://dmv.vermont.gov/sites/dmv/files/documents/VD-119-Vehicle_Registration_Tax_Title.pdf)
2. Using Vermont DMV Registration instructions: VD-119i (https://dmv.vermont.gov/sites/dmv/files/documents/VD-119i-Registration_Tax_Title_Instructions.pdf), I completed VD-119.
3. Using the Bill of Sale(Receipt), I calculated the tax I needed to pay in Vermont: Price of motorcycle x 6%.
4. Mailed everything to the Vermont DMV: a completed form VD-119, MCO(I sent original with back completed by myself as the buyer, which the Vt DMV later returned), copy of Bill Of Sale, and payment for the registration fee($48/year + tax[6% of motorcycle price]).

Extra Motorcycle “Stuff” I Mailed To The Vermont DMV!

JUST IN CASE, I sent additional information.

I mailed: 

1. Photos of my Motorcycle VIN plates.
2. Copy of my motorcycle license.
3. Copy of my motorcycle insurance card.

This ‘extra stuff’ might have been overkill, but as you might have noticed, I’ve had negative experiences with my home state DMVs. Therefore I will send everything to ensure this registration process is completed in one step.

Did You Register A Motorcycle In Vermont Without A Title?

Please share your registration experiences with me; please comment below. Interested in what motorcycle you registered, what is your home state, and why you registered a motorcycle in Vermont vs. your home state?

I plan to keep a list of why people register motorcycles out of state in Vermont instead of using their home state DMVs. And why?

My Future Plans:

With the continued interest in out-of-state registration of motorcycles in Vermont, I will document the steps I took to complete my registration in more detail later. In the meantime, thank you.

Ride Safe, Ride Legal, Ride Fun!

Information Disclaimer:

Information contained in this post and on this site is based on my very novice opinions and understanding of motorcycle issues. I am constantly learning as a new motorcycle rider, tinkerer, and owner.

So, do your own research, and understand this site is for entertainment purposes only as I document my growth as a new motorcyclist.

If I make a mistake with any of my understanding, please reach out to me. Motorcycling can be a dangerous activity, and we all can help each other enjoy it safely.