I just bought my bike this past weekend...The guy I bought the bike from had a lien on the title. It was financed through AHFC (Honda Financial). Has anyone had any experience with the lien release process? I can only assume it will take about two to three weeks before I will be able to get the title or lien release statement back from Honda. I realize the timeframe is dependent upon how fast the guy mails his final payment, but I just thought I would ask. It’s so hard to have a bike and not be able to ride it.

 

Go ahead and ride it. I bought mine from someone that had the same situation as yours at the end of april.... Needless to say I still have no title. I have been riding it the whole time, even though the license ran out in April. The AHFC people didn't even know where the title was at and they told us to get a duplicate title. I should be getting it settled finally next week but it sure has been a hassle. If I were you I would definetely get out there and ride though, it could be a while.

 

Dude first of all DON"T LISTEN to him!! Hes ridding a unregistered bike!! 2nd when he gets pulled over and they tow it and inpound it how you getting it out? The bike isn't even in your name..OMG wtf are you thinking just telling him to ride around unregistered and uninsured....Well on the other hand...I did a buy out on my F4I with the owner and we did a wire transfer of money at Honda assocaition web site witch he was making payments to.So I knew he paid the bike off and not party with the money. I had the lien release sent to me BUT he needs to tell them to do it or they will send it to him...2nd The title after he makes the final payment it takes about 3weeks to get it. It will be sent to him. So if you realy don't know him stay on top of him!! He got your money!
Well I know it suxs having a bike and not ridding it but my guy left his plate that was reistered and insured untill I got my paper work so I was able to ride it...Maybe he can do the same for you? Good luck

 

I'm not about to ride it. The guy took his tags back with him. I just parked the bike in the garage and called it a day. I made him sign a bill of sale just in case, but I don't foresee any funny business with him spending the money on another bike or something. I just hope he mailed that money off today! I'll have to give him a call. I guess the more I call him the faster he will move...Squeaky wheel gets the grease!

I gave him my address and he was going to request to have the title sent directly to me. We'll see how that one goes. I am just glad the weather here is going to be pretty bad the next 10 days (20-80% chance of rain everyday). It gives me some time to work on it and wait for the title.

 

I didn't say anything about not getting insurance on it. I have insurance on mine all I would get was a ticket for expired tags. It would not be impounded or anything like that it would just be a fine.

 

Milko got too excited and mustage cant get his title. Interesting. One, the honda finance will not the title which is NOT IN YOUR NAME it to your home and thats final!
Two, does you bill of sale indicate that he will warrant the title transfer? Meaning, if you can not become the legal owner you will get your money back. yes? no?
For most part, you can register and insure that bike legally under your name. You just need the signature of the owner of the bike on the dmv form in order to do that. Remember, just because its registered to u, it does not mean that you are an owner in someway.
Lein releases can take up to 60 days. They can fax the paperwork to him to speed up the process. Then you can do the title transfer.
Next time have that release paper BEFORE getting the bike, less problematic. Good luck

 

UPDATE:

Honda Finance WILL send it to me directly. The previous owner only has to send a letter to them with my contact information stating that I am the new owner. No there was no mention of getting the money back. I don't foresee any problems, the bike passed inspections prior to the written bill of sale and I am the POC for Honda. Called the MD DMV...I have to wait until I have the title in my name to register it. Thanks for the info, alekinci.

 

Insidejoke, good to hear that you resolved some of your issues. Really, in MD you have to be the owner to register? Interesting. In NYS/NJ/FL you dont have to be the owner of the vehicle in order to get the regi. Different states, different rules i guess.
Will honda bank send the title in your name too? Im surprized that they will send it to you directly, and if they can do that might as well have it in your name as well. So you can save time with the title transfer.
Im a bit perplexed by the banks action regarding sending the title to your place. Bank do everything by the book, meaning that they will deal only with the person that opened the account. But, if they are that lenient than its only in your benefit. Good Stuff. Your almost there!!!!!

 

alekinci - Yeah, MD has some strange laws...unless of course the lady at the DMV didn't know what she was talking about (or didn't want to help me). I can't believe Honda will send the paperwork to me either. The title is actually held by the owner, and there is a lien on the title which requires the lien release paperwork...that lien release paperwork is what Honda is going to send to me directly. The previous owner only had to send them a letter with my contact information and stating that the vehicle has been sold to me. To be honest I still have my fingers crossed, but worst case they send the paperwork to the previous owner and I drive 10 minutes to his house for it. He already signed the title over to me so its not a BIG deal. Almost there alright.