Terms of Service

TitleVelo keeps a record of who owns a bicycle, from the shop that first files it through each later owner. A buyer can check the serial number before paying. A bicycle with a known owner and a public theft report is a poor thing to steal and a hard thing to sell. That is the point of the registry. An owner or a dealer in any country can use it. The aim is one bicycle record worldwide.

These terms govern use of the registry. By creating an account, paying a fee, or submitting a record, you agree to them. If you do not agree, do not use the registry. TitleVelo is a private service. It does not issue a state certificate of title.

How a record starts

Any bicycle that has a serial number can be registered. An authorized dealer approved by TitleVelo files it the first time, when the shop sells it. The shop enters the serial number. No receipt is required for that filing, and it has no fee. After that, the record moves only by a transfer. Every change of owner uses the same step: the current holder gives a claim code, and the next person accepts it from their own account.

An owner registration

If no dealer has filed the bicycle, the owner may register it. The owner submits a photo of the serial number and a purchase receipt that shows the same serial number, and pays the review fee below. If that serial number is read on both photos, the record can be marked verified from the check. Otherwise it stays pending until an administrator looks at the photos. You may register only a bicycle you own. The information and the photos must be yours and must be accurate. We may refuse or remove a record that is false, duplicated, or unrelated to a bicycle.

An administrator reviews a submitted registration in as little as one hour, and within three business days when many records are waiting. A verified status means only that the photos and the receipt met that review. TitleVelo does not warrant legal title, the authenticity of a third-party document, or that the bicycle is free of an undisclosed lien or dispute.

Fees

The first filing by a dealer is free. The buyer who accepts that first sale from the dealer is not charged. An owner who registers a bicycle the dealer did not file pays $4.99. That fee pays for the review. It is charged when the registration is submitted, and it is not returned if the registration is refused.

Each later change of owner costs $1.99. The person who accepts the bicycle pays it, when they enter the claim code. The fee is charged once for that transfer. Marking a bicycle stolen is free.

Card payments are processed by Stripe. TitleVelo stores the payment status. It does not store the card number. A promotion code can be entered on the card page and can reduce the fee. TitleVelo does not store the code. A failed or abandoned card payment does not create the record and does not complete the transfer.

Transfers

The current holder issues a claim code. The code is valid for 14 days. The next owner enters it from their own account. Accepting the first sale from the dealer who filed the bicycle is free. Accepting a later transfer costs $1.99. Until that claim succeeds, the record stays with the current holder. Do not share a code with anyone except the person who is receiving the bicycle.

Public verification

Anyone may look up an exact serial number. That lookup returns make, model, year, color, and status. A reported theft also shows the area and whether a police report is confirmed, and a visitor may send the owner a message. It does not return the owner’s name, email, or documents. A partial serial number returns no record.

Accounts

You need an account to register a bicycle or to accept a transfer. You must provide a working email address and keep the password confidential. You are responsible for activity under your account. You can change the email and password from the account page, or reset the password from the link we email you.

Acceptable use

• Do not file a bicycle you have no right to register.
• Do not mark a bicycle stolen, and do not send a police report, unless you are the owner reporting a real theft. A false report can close the account, and TitleVelo may refer it to law enforcement.
• Do not claim a transfer code that was not given to you.
• Do not attempt to read another person’s documents, account, or private record.
• Do not interfere with the registry, its accounts, or its storage.

Availability

The registry is provided as available. Records can be interrupted for maintenance, a failed sign-in, or a rejected upload. A public lookup is a snapshot of the stored status, not a guarantee that a bicycle is free of any dispute outside this registry.

Disclaimer

The registry is provided without a warranty of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or uninterrupted operation. TitleVelo does not insure a bicycle and does not promise that a recorded status will be accepted by a shop, insurer, or public agency.

To the maximum extent permitted by law, TitleVelo’s total liability for any claim arising from these terms or the use of the registry will not exceed the amount you paid to TitleVelo in the twelve months before the claim, or $50, whichever is greater. TitleVelo is not liable for a lost or stolen bicycle, or for indirect or consequential damages.

Governing law and disputes

These terms are governed by the laws of the State of California, without regard to conflict of law principles. A dispute arising from these terms or the registry will be resolved by individual binding arbitration. You waive any right to participate in a class action or in class-wide arbitration.

Changes

We may update these terms by posting a new version on this page. The date at the top is the version in effect. Continued use of an account after the update means you accept the revised terms.

The Privacy Policy explains what information the registry stores and who can see it.