Temporary Permit - Unfit Bike

I found this out the hard way. Even though I had insurance on my newly purchased bike, MTO would not issue a temp plate for an unfit bike. So I bolted on the plate from my other bike and rode to Rosey Toes to get the safety. Of course, he never asked how I had a plate for a bike that didn't have a safety and that's why I like going to Ted.

It's amazing how the obvious questions don't get asked.

How does one ride a bike with an Ontario plate to Canadian Tire to get a federal inspection?? lol
 
Rent a minivan or pick-up for a few hours, (if a minivan take out the back seats or fold them down, take off the windscreen)...... take the bike to get it certified.... there are many places that will do it.

I rather have the peace of mind of not getting into serious crap with the police for what $45 rental?

This is where there are laws in other countries that allow a person to drive or ride strictly to and from an inspection location. You must prove you have an appointment booked with them if you get stopped. I think that is fair!

The reasoning behind not allowing "unfit" vehicles to get a temporary licence plate is sound. "Unfit" branded vehicles are not roadworthy because a vehicle can be branded unfit if it fails a safety. However, being branded unfit for registering it without a safety is somewhat of an oversight, the MTO should have introduced a different brand for those vehicles like "Registered, awaiting safety", allowing you to buy a temporary permit when youre ready. It doesnt really make sense that when you first register it you can obtain a temp licence plate, but a week later you cant. Nothing has changed about the safeness or unsafeness of the bike in that time, its just basically a clerical oversight when it comes to ontario vehicle brandings (of which there are a lot, the entire system is really stupid).
 
It's amazing how the obvious questions don't get asked.

How does one ride a bike with an Ontario plate to Canadian Tire to get a federal inspection?? lol

I've safetied a dozen bikes over the years and this was the first time I tried to do it legally. Screw that, I'll stick to my method and take my chances 'cause that's how I roll.
 
Who dares wins.

Or looses ... many, many moons ago I was charged with 'plate not authorized for vehicle' and it was a court date.

Advising people to do something illegal, regardless of how well intentioned, isn't wise.
 
The white van motorcycle theft crew could make some extra cash hauling bikes for people to get safeties, to a mechanic etc. If they are going to expand operations, they need to diversify.
 
I've safetied a dozen bikes over the years and this was the first time I tried to do it legally. Screw that, I'll stick to my method and take my chances 'cause that's how I roll.

Dito here, just throw your old plate, get the safety done, go to the MTO. just drive at normal speeds and you won't be bothered.
 
The bike is at my parents place so I have to drive there anyway or take the looser cruiser (transit bus). I think I'm gonna rent a $15 uhaul trailer and throw the bike on it and take it to the shop.

I just might write a letter to the transportation minister explaining the stupidity of the law. Just to see what he says.

Thanks for all the info.
 
I see people (New riders buying used bikes) make this mistake all the time

Instead of transferring ownership right away
have he seller Sign the ownership and write a bill of sale (Obvious right?)

Contact insurance with VIN number and have new insurance in your name started
THEN go get the temp plate

Temp plates will be issued in Your name as long as Bill of sale /New insurance in your name and Signed ownership is shown but no new ownership will be given


Then ride the bike and get the Safety
Take safety and get new ownership in your name as FIT

I've been pulled over a few time for no Plate

They check insurance papers (My Name)
Read bill of sale and signed ownership in previous owners name
Run 10 day temp plate number (My name)

Tell me have a nice day and to make sure i get a Plate soon


Or an even easier way is to find a shady mechanic to write a safety without having the bike there


As far as the OP goes
Ted does make house calls to write a safety
 
Last edited:
I see people (New riders buying used bikes) make this mistake all the time

Instead of transferring ownership right away
have he seller Sign the ownership and write a bill of sale (Obvious right?)

Contact insurance with VIN number and have new insurance in your name started
THEN go get the temp plate

Temp plates will be issued in Your name as long as Bill of sale /New insurance in your name and Signed ownership is shown but no new ownership will be given


Then ride the bike and get the Safety
Take safety and get new ownership in your name as FIT

I've been pulled over a few time for no Plate

They check insurance papers (My Name)
Read bill of sale and signed ownership in previous owners name
Run 10 day temp plate number (My name)

Tell me have a nice day and to make sure i get a Plate soon


Or an even easier way is to find a shady mechanic to write a safety without having the bike there


As far as the OP goes
Ted does make house calls to write a safety

that's fine but if you buy the bike in the middle of winter and can't ride it to get a safety then you have to register it as unfit to transfter ownership. I wouldn't recommend waiting on the transfer of ownership on any asset. It's possible for the previous owner to run up debt and the PO PO can seize what is technically still his bike.
 
that's fine but if you buy the bike in the middle of winter and can't ride it to get a safety then you have to register it as unfit to transfter ownership.

LOL
So you'd buy a bike in the middle of winter expecting to Ride it home?
Obviously if it's wintertime you'd have a truck or trailer to take it home. So just drive by a shop and drop it off for a Safety
(Unless your storing there until spring)
In That case have someone make a house call and write the Safety

I wouldn't recommend waiting on the transfer of ownership on any asset. It's possible for the previous owner to run up debt and the PO PO can seize what is technically still his bike.

Not if ownership is Signed and Dated
You'll also have a Bill of sale Signed and Dated
 
Last edited:
That's all he does on Saturday mornings. The safety line up starts early.

Spoke to him a minute ago, he still doesn't have the forms for safety ..... I guess I will have to find someone else as he's been saying it since last Wed.
 
I see people (New riders buying used bikes) make this mistake all the time

Instead of transferring ownership right away
have he seller Sign the ownership and write a bill of sale (Obvious right?)

Contact insurance with VIN number and have new insurance in your name started
THEN go get the temp plate

Temp plates will be issued in Your name as long as Bill of sale /New insurance in your name and Signed ownership is shown but no new ownership will be given


Then ride the bike and get the Safety
Take safety and get new ownership in your name as FIT

I've been pulled over a few time for no Plate

They check insurance papers (My Name)
Read bill of sale and signed ownership in previous owners name
Run 10 day temp plate number (My name)

Tell me have a nice day and to make sure i get a Plate soon


Or an even easier way is to find a shady mechanic to write a safety without having the bike there


As far as the OP goes
Ted does make house calls to write a safety

Bolded part used to be true, its no longer true. Now to get a temp plate the car or bike HAS to be in your name. If an MTO employee still does what youre suggesting, they probably just arent aware of the new rules, or they are and they just dont care. If you transfer the bike over and get a temp plate right away, the vehicle is still transfered as FIT status anyway so what youre suggesting doesnt really make a difference anyway.
 
Hi guys, I'm planning to buy a bike tomorrow, however I'm planning to sell it next spring. Do I need to transfer it to my name if I want to ride it couple times before I sell? I know some people ride with the ownership of the previous owner. What happens if I get pulled over?

Also I didn't want to start a new thread, so I posted it here. This bike is fit, works fine, I just don't want to transfer it to my name and pay all the fees.
 
Last edited:
Hi guys, I'm planning to buy a bike tomorrow, however I'm planning to sell it next spring. Do I need to transfer it to my name if I want to ride it couple times before I sell? I know some people ride with the ownership of the previous owner. What happens if I get pulled over?

Also I didn't want to start a new thread, so I posted it here. This bike is fit, works fine, I just don't want to transfer it to my name and pay all the fees.
You need to transfer it to your name, to get a plate and sticker, to legally ride it. If you want to avoid the fees put the purchase price as $1 on the UVIP.
 
? What do you mean you don't have the ownership?

To get one printed its 20$ if I recall correctly. And by law you a certain time period that you have to transfer it into your name by. And I would be ****** if I sold a bike to someone and they didn't transfer it into their name ASAP.
 
Back
Top Bottom