What are the regulations concerning building and selling custom motorcycles?

Question

I am wanting to build and sell some custom motorcycles as well as just buy and sell other bikes. are there any regulations for any of this? I live in Oregon and have heard that you can build and sell up to a certain amount of bike in a year before you need a manufacturers license or something. Are these state or federal requirements? Also is there a limit to the amount of other stuff I buy and sell, ex: other bikes, ATVs, go karts and so on? Also what requirements are there for licensing custom built motorcycles. Any help would be appreciated

Answer 1

well here in Az. you can only do 5 vehicles a year without a dealership licence.

Answer 2

The new EPA regs are hurting custom builders.  In Ga. a custom builder can only build 24 bikes  

Answer 3

You could get free consultation with SBA or some your own state resources. Or you could ask another business, say one not in direct competition or even out of state. Check your local ordinances also, is your location zoned properly? How is your area zoned? Commercial retail, manufacturing, residential, are home based businesses regulated? Do you stock and store parts? Do you need to a warehouse permit? Do you have to pay gross receipt taxes? See where your business fits into the puzzle and read the definitions carefully, because when you say business they all line up for a share of the prize.

When you ignore or sneak around - you are ripe for the picking so don't chance it, one fine could wipe you out  

Answer 4

get the current issue(october) of american iron magazine. they have a condensed version of the new federal EPA&ARB rules.

its way too complicated to go into on answers but an individual is only allowed ONE non EPA compliant bike IN HIS LIFETIME if you sell or lose that bike you can never have another one.

there are other rules for small builders but they can only use EPA certified components & cannot modify the intake,exhaust or even change the over all gearing or tire size. everything has to be left exactly  the same as when the bike was certified.

I don't know how they plan to enforce all these rules but the laws are now in effect.

Answer 5

I've heard that you can only sell 3 vehicles in a year, any more you would need a dealrship lincense.