Tips on Buying Cars: Motorcycle without a title, title, dmv

Question
Dear Ray,  there is someone selling a motorcycle for a very good price but without a title.  I asked him why and he said that someone owed him money and left the motorcycle in his garage for more than six months and never picked it up because they had an argument.  Basically, the vehicle belongs to someone else but this guy is selling it to cover the amount owed.  Or so he says... I don't think its stolen though... He wouldn't be advertising the bike so openly on CL.

But my question is, how legal is it for him to sell a bike that is titled to someone else without the owner's consent? And how legal is it for me to buy the bike?  If it's legal  - how do I go about obtaining a title?    What if the original owner comes after me?

By the way I live in New York City.

Thanks a lot

RJ

Answer
Hi Raymond

It's not his bike, legally he cannot sell it without title in his name. Don't buy it.

Here is a link on my website    http://www.usedcartips.org/DMV.html  click on New York, study the DMV website, from there should you still have questions contact your local DMV office.

 Ray