state-by-state -Texas experience
I went through Vermont. I sent them:
pictures of bike
Pictures of vin (explicity included the "THIS VEHICLE CONFORMS TO ALL FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS IN EFFECT ON THE DATE OF MANUFACTURE SHOWN" claim, because of previous questions whether the bike was approved for highway use.
NADA guide printed from internet , to support value of $800
my VIN checks printed from internet
hand written, not notarized BOS.
copy of Texas liability insurance, and Texas DPS safety inspection
Vermont's form
Check for 6% of 800 = 48 for taxes, plus 48 for registration, + 6 for warranty fee.-
REJECTED! Not supposed to pay warranty fee, and they said I had to show bike was approved for highway use. So I wrote back that this was a 70CC bike and was not highway capable, but it did "meet all federal" standards and was street legal. SUCCESS!
I think it took about 3 weeks for each pass... and they sent me plate, registration, and sticker.
So I drove it with that Vermont plate for almost a year. BEFORE that expired, I went to Hidalgo County Texas DMV.
Took:
Vermont registration
Vermont registration INSTRUCTIONS with highlights about no title required
Texas insurance
Texas inspection
They asked for BOS, I said don't have it but seller info is in registration.
Asked for title,I showed them the Vermont disclaimer that they don't title, and Texas made a copy of my page!
Asked if I paid sales tax, showed them that on the registration, and they credited me for that tax... and made a copy.
Had to talk the clerk through all this, but she was very impressed that I had all the documentation.
Paid registration and title fees, maybe $75? and walked out with Texas plates and sticker, with title in the mail.
Painless! and cheaper than bonded title path, and much faster.
Vermont will do cycles up to 300 CC.
I did this on a different bike also. I paid 250 for it, showed them NADA estimate showing I thought value was 1600 based on a similar bike because the (Buddy) had no values in NADA. Vermont assigned their minimum value of 500 and taxed me for that, but they did cash my check for the higher tax... maybe I'll get a refund? They did the process on 12/31, and license was postmarked 12/31, and registration postmarked 1/11, but both showed up together on 1/14. So I will drive that one for a year...