If you’re in the market to buy a used motorcycle, car or any other vehicle and especially if you are buying from a private seller then there are some things you should consider before travelling anywhere out of your local area.
If you are buying from a dealer or somebody in the trade, then depending on where you live in the world, you will have more consumer rights protection but also you have the ability to hurt their business if they turn out to be complete charlatans.
The main problem with buying a used vehicle is that you almost have to have blind faith that the seller will not change his mind whilst you’re en route to buy or sell to someone else in the meantime without telling you. Unfortunately this happens all the time so buyers really need to be aware.
So before setting off to go do the deal, make sure you tick a few boxes first of all.
- Get as much informations and photos from the seller as possible
- Try to do a background check on the vehicle to see if there is money owed on it or it has been stolen
- Try to have at minimum a phone conversation with the seller and agree a price depending on viewing
- Ensure that the seller is aware you will travel and they will not sell whilst you are on your way
- Ensure that they message you if the situation changes beforehand so you don’t waste a trip.
So the other aspect of this is cost. How far will you have to travel? What will it cost in fuel? Do you have a means of transporting the bike back with you on a trailer, in a van or will you ride it back?
Here is where you really need to start doing your sums because whilst the price of the bike might be fair, the added cost of getting the bike might make it more money than it’s worth or you can afford too, especially with the cost of current fuel prices.
The decision to travel or not is purely a subjective one. It depends on the distance and cost to you, what transport options you have and of course the agreed price of the vehicle too.
Buying a used motorcycle or car is full of mind games and is a mine field of opportunities to make you unnecessarily part with your hard earned cash but here’s the twist. It is always a buyers markets. Nobody is forcing you to buy and part with your money.
If the deal doesn’t sound true or the communication from the seller is vague, then it’s probably best to hold fire until you have something concrete. If the value of the bike is less than what is being charged for it then it is a bad deal regardless of how much you want it or how much the seller claims the value should be…and let’s not forget any cost you will need to make repairs to it also should it require it.
Whenever I’m, looking for a bike I always start with my local area and expand the search radius up to about 100miles max. If I can find a bike or car within 20miles all the better, however first of all I just see what is being offered on the market first of all. I gauge what other similar vehicles are being sold for, what condition they are in and also what the distance from me is…also whether the seller is able to deliver to me and how much that might cost too.
However if there is one tip to learn and it might be the best tip of all…it is to learn patience. Start searching around for bikes and check the local sources on a daily basis and see what you find. Then you’ll have a good idea what the cost should be and if you can afford it too. Compare it to a new or nearly new bike, some alternatives too and see is the overall deal is a good one too.
So before heading off on a long journey with a vague deal to be done on a vehicle purchase, make sure you get all your ducks in a row…otherwise you could end up with sobering experience and an empty wallet with nothing to show for it too.
Good hunting!
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