Ask The Editors: Did ATVs Always Come With Titles?
I’m buying an old used atc from the late 80’s. Should I be concerned if there is no title?
I can’t even remember if they used to have titles for things like this.
Keith Ouellette
Believe it or not, the practice of issuing manufacturer titles for off-road vehicles didn’t happen as a unified movement so much as it varied from state to state on a need-to-have basis.
Most any and all vehicles manufactured before 1985 will not have any form of factory-issued title. From that point forward but especially around 1988, some states began demanding titles for registration & insurance purposes. By 1997 most models made globally came with certificates of origin; which were essentially titles for those states requiring them.
The best way to determine your state’s requirements would be to head to your local DMV and inquire. If you aren’t going to register or insure the machine (use it on private land), there should be no issue whatsoever.
Keep in mind however that even if you do wish to register it there is a strong possibility your DMV will only require a bill-of-sale (which is still common in many states).
Some generalized info on the process can be found by clicking here.
