Story, venting, questions, etc. Here is my experience with purchasing my 2021 MV Agusta Dragster RC SCS, so far....
Early in December, I decided to purchase the bike from GP Motorcycles in San Diego, CA. Felt like I got a good deal on price, and it was on consignment. But had to ship it to me in Mooresville, NC. The dealer paid for shipping, but used Haul Bikes. After reading the horror stories with that shipper, I then set up shipping on my own (paid for by me) with Federal Motorcycle Transport. It took about the same time, but I was relieved that it was a more reputable shipping company. I received it around Feb 1st. Perfect shape.
And in my garage it has sat, this entire time. Aside from putting around the neighborhood, I have not been able to ride it (legally). Let me explain. This is where things get interesting.
Before I received the bike, I went to the NCDMV (license plate agency - they use private branches in this state) to get a license plate and registration. They told me, "We cannot do anything without a title". So, I call the dealer, and request a "title".
<pause for a minute here> When purchasing the bike, the dealer refused to do "title-work", since it was out-of-state. Said that we should have no problem dealing with our DMV. So I accepted that. <end pause>.
The dealer then mailed me a document. A crumpled up "PNO registration" CA DMV watermarked piece of paper. Let me explain what a PNO is.... Basically, it is a registration that avoids taxes, since the vehicle isn't going to be driven. Like a collector's item or whatever. Apparently CA dealerships sometimes do this to avoid having to pay the taxes. Anyway, I'm not sure the whole "PNO thing" is relevant, but I wanted to give all details.
So, I took that paper, along with a "bill of sale", leinholder information etc. to my DMV. Everything that was required, that I was aware of.
Nope, now I need a "title". So back to calling the dealership (GP Motorcycles), requesting the "title" again. Only to discover that California uses a "digital title system", and that I would need to contact the CA DMV to request a "paper title" to be printed and mailed to me.
I call the CA DMV, and I'm told that since I'm not the "owner" due to the bike being financed, the leinholder (bank) will have to submit the application for the title themselves.
So, on the phone with the bank. They have been extremely helpful, and did exactly what was needed. They requested the printed title, and then overnighted it to my DMV (apparently, I'm not allowed to actually have the title in my hand...whatever).
THIS PROCESS TOOK NEARLY 2 MONTHS.....and I can't even tell you how many hours of phone calls, emails, etc. A lot.
Finally, yesterday I went to the DMV to get my license plate, since they NOW have the title.
But there's a problem now....
They say that there is a "mismatch" in the "system" (they use a database called NMVDIS) on the "dates". It's a brand new title....AS REQUESTED. But now, the issuance date on that new title, does not match that date on the "registration" (the crumpled up paper that the dealership sent me). Well duh, it's a brand new title, like you told me to get...and I did exactly that, and have been waiting for over a month for.
The DMV tells me that I have to submit for a NEW title, along with a NEW registration, from CA. I was actually on the phone with the CA DMV, while at the counter of my DMV, being told this ridiculousness. The guy at the CA DMV was like WTF, as this isn't any issue at all in CA. My local clerk calls Raleigh to verify, and they said the same thing. Since it's coming back as a "mismatch" in the system, they cannot proceed with registering and titling my bike still.
The CA DMV clerk tells me that he can submit a new registration, but the dates STILL WOULDN'T MATCH. And that process would take another 4-6 weeks.
But hell, I try to get the new stuff anyway....only to be told by the CA DMV that I will have to wait 30 days from the last title issuance date (the new one) to submit another title request. Oh, and once that is done.....ANOTHER 4-6 week wait for it to get to my DMV. OH, and yet again, I cannot directly request this procedure. Yet again, I have to go through my finance company, and have them do all of this, since they are "the owner".
So, best case scenario, I'm looking at approximately the end of April to get this bike "legal and licensed". But the dates still will not match, so again, that's not going to work.
5 months! 5 months of owning this bike, 5 payments on it and
still cannot ride it! And
I have zero hope that the NC DMV will ever accept the title and registration from the CA DMV.
I don't know what to do at this point really. I've communicated with 3 different clerks at my local DMV (oh, and this can take up to 1-2 hours of waiting in line!). Talked to the NC DMV in Raleigh multiple times. Talked to the CA DMV multiple times. All kinds of calls and emails with the bank and dealership. A TON of wasted time.
The latest attempt at getting "something/anything" done, is now waiting (and "hoping for") on a callback from a manager from the DMV in Raleigh (state capital). But they are probably going to still tell me the same thing. The "title and registration issuance dates from California, MUST MATCH", so it doesn't show up in their system (NMVDIS) as a "mismatch".
I'm obviously super @#%^!^& pissed right now.
Things going through my mind on possibilities. Demand the dealership to fully refund the purchase and return ship the bike back to them? Sue...someone? Who? Refuse further payments until this is rectified? That would probably just result in a repo and ruin my credit. I do not want that!
I do not know what to do.
I did say "&*%# it!" the other day, and slapped my license plate from my Rocket 3 GT onto it, and took it for an hour ride finally. I absolutely love the bike! I do not want to lose it! But swapping tags is a big no-no, and I could get into big trouble if caught. So that's not really an option.
In my garage it sits. Pretty, menacing, constantly fed with charge via battery tender. But there it sits, still.
