"Apologies in advance if this post is completely in the wrong place"
Nop, you are at the right forum, maybe the thread isn't the best, it's about brand new scooters, but there's non in line with your question, so...
"What kind of documentation do I need to get from the previous owner proving I am the new one?"
- receipt. Two often forgotten details are that the seller shall certify that the vehicle are not stolen and paid in full against third party.
- registrationpaper, a blueish two-parted paper. One part is about the spec. on the vehicle, some information you need to know as a owner, so you are able to drive legaly. The other handles the communications with "Bilregistret", a dep. of "Vägverket"(Swedish National Road Administration (SNRA)). Covers ownerchanges(new owner)"ägarbyte", announcement of non-usage(less tax)"avställning", of-registation(demolition, export)"avregistrering", ordering new licensplates"fram/bakskylt" and receipt of tax/controlmarking(the one in centre of cars backlicensplate, commenly known as the swedish word for owl"uggla")"kontrollmärke".
" Where/how do I register the scooter in my name (if I even need to do that?)."
Yes, you need to. The law stipulate that the seller are liable to sending in the registrationpaper, but proof of ownership are strongest at the one who are the owner according to databas at bilregistret, so see to that the paper gets in the mailbox.
"Do I have to get all new license plates?"
No, they normally follows the vehicle(On cars there's mostly a long thin one with three letters, "uggla", three digits. On MC's square one there's three letters and below the digits, with the owl on the left).
"Are there a few good companies that insure scooters people can recommend?"
In Sweden there's a law that all owners shall have a insurance that protects all injury's and others property at an accident. That fact limits the competition to a few big ones, non especially better than the other, maybe some pricediffence. I happens to have Folksam, check the phonebook. But if there's any problem, I guess it's because of the U.S. licence, I really don't know.
"Finally, what is needed to drive something in the 200cc range? Do I need a special motorcycle license (I still have my regular license from the U.S.)?"
On the swedish driving licence we have a system with letters "ABCDE", where "A" stands for the two MC types. "A1" Lite MC"lätt MC" are below 125cc, and 16 years and older. "A" heavy MC"tung MC" above 125cc and 18 and over. I don't know how long you can drive on your U.S. licence, ask the Polis(police) or Vägverket.
Vägverket:
http://www.vv.se/for_lang/english/index.htm Tel: +46 243 75000
vagverket@vv.se
Polis:
http://www.polisen.se/inter/nodeid=1023 ... ion=1.html Phone: +46 8 401 90 00
rikspolisstyrelsen@rps.police.se
Bella R200 -55
Bella R204 -60
Here are my questions:
