# Is a motorcycle title kept with the frame or engine? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 1, 2010, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-motorcycle-title-kept-with-the-frame-or-engine/541566 "2010-06-01T22:59:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FE3O4ENAIL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ba9def/32.png) [@FE3O4ENAIL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FE3O4ENAIL)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-motorcycle-title-kept-with-the-frame-or-engine/541566/1 "2010-06-01T22:59:01Z")
If I buy a motorcycle and disassemble it for the parts I need (wheels),and sell the frame (with a VIN) to one guy and the engine to another person, who does the title transfer to? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-motorcycle-title-kept-with-the-frame-or-engine/541566/2 "2010-06-01T23:08:56Z")
You answered your own question. What piece has a unique identification number that is on the registration? That’s the piece that is key to the title. IOW, the frame. ---
**Author:** ![jasonh300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@jasonh300](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasonh300)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-motorcycle-title-kept-with-the-frame-or-engine/541566/3 "2010-06-02T02:54:01Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > You answered your own question. What piece has a unique identification number that is on the registration? That’s the piece that is key to the title. IOW, the frame. I think the point is that the VIN is on both the frame and the engine. I’d still suggest that it goes by the frame. Cars have the VIN etched into a dozen different places, and you can swap out car engines, replace the driver’s side door, replace driver’s side fender, destroy the lower radiator support in an accident (all common VIN locations), but the title still stays with the car (which is attached to the frame). ---
**Author:** ![retterath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/919ad9/32.png) [@retterath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/retterath)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-motorcycle-title-kept-with-the-frame-or-engine/541566/4 "2010-06-02T03:08:34Z")
I would suggest checking with your local DMV. I know of certain instances where the title goes with the engine, vintage british bikes for example. ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-motorcycle-title-kept-with-the-frame-or-engine/541566/5 "2010-06-02T05:21:22Z")
Generally, the VIN is on the frame. When I built a chopper many years ago I had to show a sales receipt for the engine, but the frame was sold with a certificate of origin. The only policeman to run my numbers took the number from the headstock. ---
**Author:** ![FE3O4ENAIL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ba9def/32.png) [@FE3O4ENAIL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FE3O4ENAIL)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-motorcycle-title-kept-with-the-frame-or-engine/541566/6 "2010-06-02T21:18:02Z")
> [@jasonh300](#): > > I think the point is that the VIN is on both the frame and the engine. > > I’d still suggest that it goes by the frame. Cars have the VIN etched into a dozen different places, and you can swap out car engines, replace the driver’s side door, replace driver’s side fender, destroy the lower radiator support in an accident (all common VIN locations), but the title still stays with the car (which is attached to the frame). Yeah, I checked the wifes bike and the same number is on the neck of the frame and the side of the engine. I going with the title belongs with the frame. ---
**Author:** ![FE3O4ENAIL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ba9def/32.png) [@FE3O4ENAIL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FE3O4ENAIL)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-motorcycle-title-kept-with-the-frame-or-engine/541566/7 "2010-06-02T21:19:45Z")
> [@retterath](#): > > I would suggest checking with your local DMV. I know of certain instances where the title goes with the engine, vintage british bikes for example. This is also true for old Harleys. They did not have numbers on the frame for knuckleheads or early panheads. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-motorcycle-title-kept-with-the-frame-or-engine/541566/8 "2010-06-02T21:26:24Z")
I sit corrected. Learn something new every day.