Originally Posted by Fasteratv

^^^^^ This is what I have always done ( open title ) but I have had a change of heart, and here's why. I purchased my son a new 2007 YFZ450, financed it. When I finally got it paid for, I put the title in his name...as a gift, and only cost him the title fee. The day came that he decided to sell it ( of course I gave him the money ...as dads do for their kids ). I sold it for my son, and he had signed the title and left it open and that's what I provided the new owner. I had recommended that he just leave the title open, and not have to pay the taxes and if he decided to sell it, simply pass the open title on. A few months later, in the state of GA, the ATV was stolen.
The new owner said that he did not get much cooperation ( could be heresay from new owner ) from the detectives because he did not have a title in his name therefore no real proof of ownership ( even tho we provided another bill of sale ). Anyway, long story short, about four months ago, I purchased a used ATV, with title, I went ahead a bit the dust and paid tax and fee's and had it titled in my name......just because of the possibilty of theft. Now, having said all this, it I were to purchase... say a super inexpensive ATV, and it had a title, I probably would not do the title name change....

Originally Posted by Kymco 450i

In Ohio you have to transfer the title inside of 30 days or you pay a fine/penalty. If a dealer does not issue a tittle to a buyer within 30 days the buyer can return the vehicle and get a full refund. This info came from our state attorney generals office as I had an issue getting a title from a dealer myself. Do not know about the other states but I would definitely get good info from your state attorney generals office. In Ohio it is illegal to sell a motorized vehicle without a current title. Here we call it tittle skipping and the state looses their tax dollars and of course we don't want the state government to loose any tax money now do we??