Bike registered under family member's name; Any issue if I ride it?

Will there be any issue, especially from the police?

BHPian V0rtex recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Riders that regularly use bikes registered under someone else’s name eg. brother, father, wife, or cousin. Have you faced any issues because of this, especially from the police? Or do you ride without changing ownership without any problems?

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

In Bombay, I've never had an issue with cars. Trivia = I don't have a single car registered in my name. It's either company-names or family. I also frequently drive cars registered in the name of car manufacturers, and some friends. Zero problems.

That being said:

• At police checkpoints, I have noticed bikes being checked far more than cars. The ratio is like 3:1 or 4:1. Make of that what you will.
• Police are well-trained to spot the thieves (at least the obvious ones). They know when it's a family man or corporate guy taking a vehicle out, versus a seasoned criminal.
• The real criminals are not just thieves, but also those who buy a used vehicle, don't transfer it in their name and continue to use it for 2-3 years in the previous owner's name.

Here's what BHPian Rajesh V had to say on the matter:

There shouldn't be any problem as long as you're able to produce RC. Even the mParivahan app has an option to share RC, so it can't have been against the rules.

Here's what BHPian anjan_c2007 had to say on the matter:

If it's a motor vehicle owned by any family member there is no issue. Even relatives are OK enough. As long as it's licence and vehicle paper check that's no issue, provided these are up-to-date. The OP title says "Other" which includes a wide spectrum of fellas. And if it's a previous owner's vehicle one is using, having bought it as used, then better he had watch out.

Such vehicles owned by others (including family members and relatives) if involved in theft cases would require the owner to write, sign and lodge the FIR. Even the user can lodge an FIR, but he should be able to satisfy the police who are bound to grill him about his possession of a vehicle in someone else's name. Even an accident getting reported to the police will face similar scrutiny.

So the answer is as long as everything is smooth sailing, things are hunky dory. The moment there's a criminal case and law enforcement agencies are involved, things can get tough.

Here's what BHPian kozhissery had to say on the matter:

Usually, there are no issues when using vehicles which is not under your name. But if you go cross country, it is better to have an authorization letter.

A decade back, I had taken my co-brother's (T-BHP@Vasuki) bike (RE TB350) to Bhutan. At that time, I had kept an authorization letter as this was a cross-country drive (Kerala to Bhutan). Real fact nobody checked/verified that, but having the document gives peace of mind.

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