Alabama registration headache, please help!

Jenkins · 01-04-2021, 08:27 PM

Hello everyone, first off thank you for this awesome site and the wealth of knowledge I have already picked up. It has been invaluable while working on and tuning my Hawk.

Now, to the headache (bear with me, TL;DR at the bottom). I purchased my Hawk off of Amazon, received a few days later, got the MCO, all paperwork, insurance, and thought I was set.

Went to my local DMV to get the tag, because based off all my research, it should be no problem getting registered and a tag in Alabama.

1st trip: arrive, tell the clerk I need to get a tag for my bike, she see's it is purchased out of state, says it will need to be inspected. Ok, cool, I've never purchased a vehicle out of state so I learned something.

2nd trip: arrive with bike, clerk and her supervisor go out, "inspect" it, which consisted of writing the VIN down, and we go back in. It is at this point she says the signature on the back of the MCO is illegible and I will have to send an affidavit to the dealership, have them sign it, mail it back, and I would be set. Fudge. Whatever. Ok.

3rd trip: arrive, again, at the DMV, will all my paperwork, affidavit, bill of sale, insurance, everything, and now they tell me the bike has to have a metal plate on the bike saying it is for on road use. I said the MCO has motorcycle on it, not off road use only, plus the bike has lights, horn, etc, and she says well we have to have that.

So my question, especially for the Alabama guys, did you have to go through this many hoops? I spent the rest of the afternoon at work today trying to find specific laws or regulations on Alabama's DMV site and nothing. I can do the Vermont route as a last ditch, but I honestly did not expect it to go like this. Plus now it will be longer than 20 days to register so I will get hit with a late registration fee because of all this.

TL;DR - getting a different story each time at the DMV and cannot register and get a tag.

Any advice? Please help!

Thank you

**JerryHawk250** · 01-05-2021, 08:37 AM

Not from Alabama but if you have a local notary/tag shop i would go there. The DMV will not put any extra effort into helping you. The Notary/tag shop will take the time to get you registered as that's ho they make money. I've done this will all three of my china bikes. Usually takes about 15-20 minutes in and out the door. I wouldn't even attempt to go to the DMV here. Usually an hour wait before they see you and guaranteed that you will have some piece of paperwork missing weather you need it or not.

Send a Private message to timcosby on here. He's from Alabama and had no trouble registering his.

TxTaoRider · 01-05-2021, 10:19 AM

Anybody that believes socialism is a good thing has never spent any time at a DMV . Lol.

Shadowspirit · 02-03-2021, 06:37 PM

I'm in alabama. Macon county. I didn't have any issues I had the mco and a purchase invoice. It took a few minutes to get all the info typed on as it didn't show on their list .and title came back in about a week. I would also agree with Jerry a notary could help

Vorm · 03-23-2021, 05:07 PM

Turns out in Alabama it is required to have a FMVSS sticker and for the MCO to specifically say it follows federal road rules. But online and even the people at the DMV have no idea about it until you show them. News for anyone in AL thinking about a hawk-250, get the DLX that has the stickers!

Jwrider · 08-15-2022, 01:50 PM

I,m from NW Alabama. Purchased my X-PECT from txpowersports, mco and bill of sale arrived a few day,s later. No problem at all registering and tag here.Jenkins must have had a real “B” where he is. 200 mi and climbing on Lifan .

01-04-2021, 08:27 PM	#1
Jenkins Join Date: Jan 2021 Posts: 1	Alabama registration headache, please help! Hello everyone, first off thank you for this awesome site and the wealth of knowledge I have already picked up. It has been invaluable while working on and tuning my Hawk. Now, to the headache (bear with me, TL;DR at the bottom). I purchased my Hawk off of Amazon, received a few days later, got the MCO, all paperwork, insurance, and thought I was set. Went to my local DMV to get the tag, because based off all my research, it should be no problem getting registered and a tag in Alabama. 1st trip: arrive, tell the clerk I need to get a tag for my bike, she see's it is purchased out of state, says it will need to be inspected. Ok, cool, I've never purchased a vehicle out of state so I learned something. 2nd trip: arrive with bike, clerk and her supervisor go out, "inspect" it, which consisted of writing the VIN down, and we go back in. It is at this point she says the signature on the back of the MCO is illegible and I will have to send an affidavit to the dealership, have them sign it, mail it back, and I would be set. Fudge. Whatever. Ok. 3rd trip: arrive, again, at the DMV, will all my paperwork, affidavit, bill of sale, insurance, everything, and now they tell me the bike has to have a metal plate on the bike saying it is for on road use. I said the MCO has motorcycle on it, not off road use only, plus the bike has lights, horn, etc, and she says well we have to have that. So my question, especially for the Alabama guys, did you have to go through this many hoops? I spent the rest of the afternoon at work today trying to find specific laws or regulations on Alabama's DMV site and nothing. I can do the Vermont route as a last ditch, but I honestly did not expect it to go like this. Plus now it will be longer than 20 days to register so I will get hit with a late registration fee because of all this. TL;DR - getting a different story each time at the DMV and cannot register and get a tag. Any advice? Please help! Thank you
	0

01-05-2021, 08:37 AM	#2
JerryHawk250 Moderator Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Houma, La. Posts: 11,738	Not from Alabama but if you have a local notary/tag shop i would go there. The DMV will not put any extra effort into helping you. The Notary/tag shop will take the time to get you registered as that's ho they make money. I've done this will all three of my china bikes. Usually takes about 15-20 minutes in and out the door. I wouldn't even attempt to go to the DMV here. Usually an hour wait before they see you and guaranteed that you will have some piece of paperwork missing weather you need it or not. Send a Private message to timcosby on here. He's from Alabama and had no trouble registering his. __________________ 2024 Linhai 300 ATV 4x4 2023 Lifan Lycan 250 Chopper 2023 Venom Evader 2022 Lifan KPX250 2020 Kawasaki Vulcan S (Sold) 2004 Honda ST 1300 2016 Black Hawk 250 (sold) Keihin PE30 carb,125 main,38 slow.Pod filter,ported & decked head 10:1 CR,Direct Ignition Coil,15/40Sprockets,NGK DPR8EIX-9,De-Cat,Dual Oil Cooler,Digital Cluster 2016 Cazador180 XL 2014 Coolster150 JerryHawk250.com My YouTube Channel
	2

01-05-2021, 10:19 AM	#3
TxTaoRider Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Flower Mound Texas Posts: 904	Anybody that believes socialism is a good thing has never spent any time at a DMV . Lol. __________________ 2021 Tao Tbr7 - "Lucille" Mods so far- Brozz swingarm, 21" front rim (Bridgestone Tw302 rear/Dunlop D606 front tires), Digital gauge cluster, pz30b pumper carb, after market hand guards, aftermarket brake and clutch levers, round fold away mirrors, Fly handlebars shortened slightly, 13t front sprocket 2009 Q-link Legacy 250 1982 Suzuki GS1100ES - "Jolene"
	4

02-03-2021, 06:37 PM	#4
Shadowspirit Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Alabama Posts: 7	I'm in alabama. Macon county. I didn't have any issues I had the mco and a purchase invoice. It took a few minutes to get all the info typed on as it didn't show on their list .and title came back in about a week. I would also agree with Jerry a notary could help
	0

03-23-2021, 05:07 PM	#5
Vorm Join Date: Mar 2021 Posts: 3	Turns out in Alabama it is required to have a FMVSS sticker and for the MCO to specifically say it follows federal road rules. But online and even the people at the DMV have no idea about it until you show them. News for anyone in AL thinking about a hawk-250, get the DLX that has the stickers!
	0

08-15-2022, 01:50 PM	#6
Jwrider Join Date: Jul 2022 Posts: 26	I,m from NW Alabama. Purchased my X-PECT from txpowersports, mco and bill of sale arrived a few day,s later. No problem at all registering and tag here.Jenkins must have had a real “B” where he is. 200 mi and climbing on Lifan .
	0