So you are a PA resident, and you have a moped with no title.  What can you do?

YES! - you are supposed to register and insure a moped (MP) or a 50cc scooter (MDC) in the state of PA.

PA DOT / DMV INFO: Fact Sheet for Mopeds, Scooters, Motor-Driven Pedalcycles & Motorcycles and FAQ's for Motorcycles and Mopeds

If the previous owner cannot find any title to transfer to you...

Beg them to look in their file cabinet, safety deposit box, under the matress, junk drawers & etc. first. Even if you find an old PA registration card, it will help.

If the previous owner DID HAVE the vehicle titled or registered at some time,  ask them to fill out and turn in FORM MV-38O (Application for Duplicate Title) to PennDOT / PADMV.

Be smart and offer to pay all Notary and DMV fees ($5-$20 and $22.50) - maybe even a little extra for incentive.

If you have no idea who used to own your vehicle or where your vehicle came from...

You can request any title and previous owner history from PennDOT / PADMV with Form DL-135.

If successful, you would next attempt to locate the previous owner and ask for the help listed above.

If a vehicle no title or registration history in the PADMV database for 10+ years, the end results might will be 'no records found' or 'all records purged.'

Be prepared to waste $12.50 and possibly a couple weeks waiting time, unless you travel directly to PennDOT / PADMV.  When no prior information is found in the system, they may just tell you across the counter.

NOTE - There is a new Privacy Act that has been preventing PennDOT / PADMV from divulging previous owner information, as of late 2008.

You could pay someone to assist you...

There are Notary based companies that can assist - i.e. MotoRecycleTitle.com in MD

This two-part process involves Notarized paperwork that 'sells' your vehicle to the company first, then the company sells the vehicle back to you with transferrable registration and/or title from their state.

You will also need a VIN tracing, printed VIN photo, or Certified PA Inspection Mechanic's VIN verification on Form MV41.

WARNING! - This will NOT work if there if it conflicts with ANY title or registration history on file for the vehicle within 10 years (I'm told) at PennDOT / PADMV.

Do you have a friend (or even your own residence) out-of state?

Transfer ownsership ('sell' your vehicle) to someone in a state requiring only a notarized receipt to title and/or register, or for that matter, any vehicle old enough to avoid requiring a title.  States like Maine, CT, RI, Mass, MI, DE, NY and SD have allowed this in the past.

 Some state DMV's are beginning to require a VIN tracings, photos, or additional inspections (visual or possibly other) of the vehicle. I would suggest verifying this first by contacting an appropriate state's Motor Vehicle or Registration Office (answers to questions are free).

After this person legitimately registers the vehicle or acquires a new title or transferrable registration card,  they can 'sell' the vehicle back to you, signing off properly as the seller, with a new notarized receipt to you, the purchaser.

PennDOT / PADMV will accept this out-of-state paperwork, as long as it's all notarized properly.

You will also need a VIN tracing, printed VIN photo, or Certified PA Inspection Mechanic's VIN verification on Form MV41.

WARNING! - This will NOT work if there if it conflicts with ANY title or registration history on file for the vehicle within 10 years (I'm told) at PennDOT / PADMV.

But some states do not require ANY titling or registration on a 50cc motor vehicle...

True.  You might be able to use this to your advantage (it has worked at times in the past.)

Request a notarized receipt or bill of sale from a selling individual of a non-titling state, and also obtain a document from this state's DMV (official letterhead or from their Driver & Vehicle Code Manual) stating the definition of your type of  vehicle andthat it is ' ...is a non-titled vehicle...' or ' ...does not require a title/registration in the state of...'

This method is usually more successful when submitting the paperwork (and out-of-state purchase story) to a Notary and Tags office who is acting as a Messenger and Agent of PennDOT / PADMV, as opposed to submitting directly at a PennDOT / PADMV location.

You will also need a VIN tracing, printed VIN photo, or Certified PA Inspection Mechanic's VIN verification on Form MV41.

Here is a sample receipt to use - Bill of Sale.

You know a Motorcycle, Scooter or Moped Dealer...

Can you obtain a Certificate of Origin / Manufacture from a MC, Scooter, or Moped Dealer?

If so, then take this and a properly notarized receipt from the dealer to a PennDOT / PADMV or Notary office with the excuse 'this vehicle was never titled from new and the person I bought it from helped me to get this paperwork from the dealer who sold it to him/her.'

You will also need a VIN tracing, printed VIN photo, or Certified PA Inspection Mechanic's VIN verification on Form MV41.

Since the vehicle is not actually 'new' you may hit a roadblock , but it can work.  In theory, the vehicle is still 'new' because it was never titled.

You purchased your vehicle from a garage, and it was left behind or never picked up by the owner...

A garage with an abandoned vehicle can submit an application for a 'Mechanic's Lien' at their County Courthouse.

There is a fee and a waiting period involving the attempted contact of the original owner(s) that never picked up and/or paid for the vehicle, even if they've relocated.

Then the County Courthouse is supposed to contact PennDOT / PADMV, whichs sends information to the filing garage owner.

The garage owner then applys for ownership and a new title with PennDOT / PADMV.

Can I obtain reassigned legal ownership...

There is a process that will declare you as the legal and rightful owner of a vehicle, done by obtaining a completed Court Order that PennDOT / PADMV will accept in order to create you a new title.

Here is a sample of a Petition for Certificate of Title that you will need to turn in to you County Couthouse Prothonotary's Office who forwards this to an Administrsator of the Court.

A letter stating how you acquired your vehicle and attempted backround checks is suggested.

WARNING - there could be a large court record filing fee of $100 or more.

PennDOT / PADMV Form MV-217 must accompany the Court Order when applying for your new title.

You've heard that there used to be a way...

There is a Notary and Tag Service in Gettysburg and York PA named Runkle's Notary and Insurance that has been known to use a method of out-of-state into PA titling via outdated PennDOT / PADMV Form MV-32.

 This involves the Form MV-32 (no longer available) and a cooperative State Police Officer to complete the background check on your vehicle.

This form and procedure was originally intended for out-of-state vehicles missing a VIN plate.  Other requirements on this form are a little sketchy.

You know a salvage yard owner, storage unit owner, or someone in the banking business...

There are ways that one of these business owners/people can acquire legal possession and apply for a title after abandonment or 'default by owner.'

Forms that are used when doing this at PennDOT / PADMV are here - Vehicle Titling Forms Page, and here - Dealer Forms Page.

Upgrading a junk or 'Salvage Title' to a 'Reconstructed Title' status is done at a special appointed PennDOT / PADMV Certified garage along with Form MV-426B.

This process is very time consuming and frustrating.  You must collect receipts on all repairs made and parts used because you are expected to pay PA sales tax on your newly upgraded vehicle's value.