I recently recieved a kawasaki motorcycle from a dealer that has papers but to someone that can not be found.?

Question

They gave it to me for free just to get it off there lot. It has all the legal papers but the owner can not be found for the past 3 years. How can I get the papers in my name. I live in lawrence,ks and am of age to drive. How much will this cost me? Thank You.

Answer 1

They gave it to you for free.  Sure they did.

Answer 2

Go to your local DMV

Answer 3

Try the DMV.

The proper thing would have been for the dealer to seize the title for unpaid storage fees so he could transfer it to you.

If they can't make the transfer at once, a letter from the dealer might do the trick.

Answer 4

This is probably a question you would want to ask in the legal forum of this sight.

There are ways you can go about taking possession without a signature from the previous owner. I am curious however as to how the dealer went about getting this bike?

I am going to say it will be something along the lines of running a legal ad in 3 papers, with the guys name informing him that you are charging him storage and he should contact you to make arrangements to pick up the bike...  Every attempt will need to be made to contact the registered owner of the vehical, eventually you can get a lien on the bike, and then sell the bike to recover your losses for storing it.

You are probably going to need someone who has a business license and tows/stores cars to do this for you. Once you apply for the Lien, and request permission for a lien sale, the DMV will make every attempt to contact the owner, and give them an ample amount of time to recover their property.

You are going to have to be able to show without a doubt that you made every attempt to contact the owner though and inform him that you have his bike, and are charging him storage.