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In order to title and register a motorcycle you’ve just purchased or when you’re registering your motorcycle after moving to a new state, you may be required to pass a VIN inspection as part of the registration process.
Refer to the list below for general guidelines on when a VIN inspection may be required.
If you’re looking at used motorcycles, be sure to check out our free motorcycle VIN check.
State VIN Inspection Requirements
Below is a list of states that have some sort of VIN inspection requirement:
| State | Motorcycle VIN Inspection |
| Alabama | Required to register out-of-state motorcycles. |
| Arkansas | Required to register out-of-state motorcycles. |
| California | Required to register out-of-state motorcycles. |
| Colorado | Required to register out-of-state motorcycles. |
| Connecticut | Required to register out-of-state motorcycles. |
| Delaware | Required to register out-of-state motorcycles. |
| Florida | Required to register out-of-state motorcycles. |
| Georgia | Required if the motorcycle has no title. |
| Idaho | Required to register out-of-state motorcycles. |
| Indiana | Required to register out-of-state motorcycles. |
| Kansas | Required to register out-of-state motorcycles. |
| Kentucky | Required to register out-of-state motorcycles. |
| Maine | Required to register out-of-state motorcycles. |
| Missouri | Required to register out-of-state motorcycles. |
| Nebraska | Required to register out-of-state, rebuilt, or salvage title motorcycles. |
| Nevada | Required to register out-of-state motorcycles. |
| New Hampshire | Required for abandoned motorcycles, antique motorcycles, motorcycles from a state that only titles bikes less than 10 years old. |
| New Mexico | Required to register out-of-state motorcycles. |
| Ohio | Required to register out-of-state motorcycles. |
| Oklahoma | Required to register out-of-state motorcycles. |
| Oregon | Required to register out-of-state motorcycles. |
| Pennsylvania | Required to register out-of-state motorcycles. |
| Rhode Island | Required to register out-of-state motorcycles. |
| Texas | Required to register out-of-state motorcycles. |
| Utah | Required to register out-of-state motorcycles. |
| Vermont | Required to register out-of-state motorcycles. |
| Washington | Required to register out-of-state or rebuilt motorcycles. |
| Wyoming | Required to register out-of-state motorcycles. |
What is a VIN Inspection or VIN Verification?
A VIN Inspection is not a vehicle history report or a stolen vehicle/salvage title VIN check.
For the purposes of registering and titling used, out-of-state vehicles, a VIN verification is essentially to make sure the physical state of the vehicle matches the information contained in the VIN.
A VIN inspections is a physical inspection of the motorcycle’s:
- Year.
- Make.
- Model.
- Body type.
- Weight, if applicable.
- Mileage.
- Federal Certification Label.
- Emissions label, if applicable.
- VIN locations.
- VIN stamps on the frame.
- VIN stamps on the engine cases, in some states.
Where to Get a VIN Inspection
VIN verifications are conducted by:
- a certified employee at the DMV.
- highway patrol.
- a licensed VIN verification company.
The DMV and the highway patrol do not typically charge a fee for a VIN inspection, you’ll just need to bring them the bike.
If you need to get a VIN verification for your motorcycle as part of the registration process, you’ll either need to bring the bike to the DMV or highway patrol station or find and pay a VIN verification company to come to you.
The certified inspector will fill out, sign, and hand you the VIN inspection form, which you’ll need to submit as part of the registration application.
Sometimes, you may be asked to provide the title, previous registration papers, or the Bill of Sale as part of the inspection.