# Custom motorcycle registration **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 2, 2009, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-motorcycle-registration/501753 "2009-07-02T23:28:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2009, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-motorcycle-registration/501753/1 "2009-07-02T23:28:55Z")
If a motorcycle is built using a custom frame, or a home made frame, how is the motorcycle registered? Isn’t a frame number required? Or is the engine number used? What happens if the engine is changed? ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-motorcycle-registration/501753/2 "2009-07-03T00:02:15Z")
Depends on the country. In the UK, there are special registration plates starting with the [letter Q](http://www.olavsplates.com/foto/gb_q434yux.jpg) which are for use on kit cars (or bikes, presumably), or cars for which no age can be ascertained, e.g. imports and “radically rebuilt” vehicles. [This PDF document](http://www.dvla.gov.uk/media/pdf/leaflets/inf26.pdf) details the UK DVLA requirements. Essentially, if the vehicle doesn’t have a chassis number, it has to be inspected and have one assigned before it can be registered. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-motorcycle-registration/501753/3 "2009-07-03T01:20:19Z")
Some states are tougher than others. Last time I was involved with custom motorcycle registration (which admittedly was at least fifteen years ago), it was just about impossible to get a title for and register a motorcycle in my home state without a VIN from a major manufacturer. And the frame and engine numbers had to match. I remember that some guys I knew found a company that would get around this for you. They were located in a southern state with pretty easy titling requirements. They would ostensibly buy the motorcyle from you for a nominal sum (without actually taking possession of it – it could stay in your garage), title it in that state, and then send you the title. Voila – you’ve got a good title and can now register the bike (assuming you could insure it, which might still be a problem). ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-motorcycle-registration/501753/4 "2009-07-03T02:39:30Z")
I’ve wondered about places like American Chopper; they build tons of bikes with custom frames. Multi years back, I moved from California to Oregon with an old VW Bus. I changed engines while in Oregon and when I moved back to California, I had a hell of a time getting that thing registered. This was in the early 1960s and people didn’t realize VW owners changed engines the way some people changed pants. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-motorcycle-registration/501753/5 "2009-07-03T13:46:04Z")
> [@LouisB](#): > > I’ve wondered about places like American Chopper; they build tons of bikes with custom frames. They are a motorcycle manufacturer, just like Harley Davidson, but on a much smaller scale. Occasionally you can see their USDOT licence on the wall of the office. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-motorcycle-registration/501753/6 "2009-07-03T15:11:16Z")
In my state, trailers can be difficult to register if they are not commercially built. So there is a market for old, broken down, crap trailers. People buy them just to get a plate for their home made trailer. If you do not know about this, it can be shocking to see a trailer being sold for more than its apparent value. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-motorcycle-registration/501753/7 "2009-07-04T02:38:45Z")
> [@racer72](#): > > They are a motorcycle manufacturer, just like Harley Davidson, but on a much smaller scale. Occasionally you can see their USDOT licence on the wall of the office. I’ve never noticed that; interesting and logical. Thanks for the info. Thanks to everyone who responded and keep those cards and letters coming.