No matter how much bike owners love their motorcycles, there will eventually come a day when it's time for them to go. After all, very few riders stick with the same bikes their entire lives. Instead, most people upgrade to new ones as their needs change or new models hit the market. Believe it or not, some people even make life changes that require them to stop riding entirely.

 

Whether you're planning to sell your starter motorcycle to raise some extra cash to invest in a more specialized bike or plan to give up the open road entirely, safety should be a top concern. If you're wondering, how can I sell my motorcycle for the best price without worrying about scams, fraud, and theft, we have some good news. You can maintain a safe transaction when selling a motorcycle and still get your money's worth from the sale. Read on to find out how.

Understanding the Threats

Most people assume that the best way to maximize profits from selling a vehicle is to find a private buyer. After all, online classifieds sites make it possible to reach a greater number of potential buyers than ever. Unfortunately, though, they also create unique risks for sellers. Understanding them is the first step toward ensuring your safety when it's time to sell, so let's delve into the details of today's most common scams and schemes.

Check Fraud

Criminals have been committing check fraud for far longer than the Internet has been around, but it's still a common scam. The problem is that it's not as easy to spot a fraudulent check as you might think. People often assume that if they can cash the check, that means it was valid when that's not always the case.

 

In the context of motorcycle sales, a more complex case of check fraud might look like this:

 

1. The supposed buyer shows up to look at a bike.
2. They find a few minor flaws or make up other reasons to talk the seller down.
3. They pull out a check that has already been written for the full asking price.
4. The seller takes the check and brings it to a bank or check cashing business, where everything looks like it's on the up and up.
5. The seller gives or sends the scammer the difference in cash.
6. The check bounces and the seller is left on the hook for reimbursing it in full, while the scammer walks away with the cash.

 

The reason this scam works is that criminals know funds transfers between bank accounts don't occur instantaneously. The bank or business won't know that the check is a counterfeit until after it's cashed.

Phishing Attacks

While criminals have been committing check fraud for centuries, phishing attacks are specific to the Internet age. In this scam, phishers respond to ads on online classifieds sites pretending to represent the website or an online authority. They claim that the listing has a problem and is blocked, prompting the seller to follow a link to an external site to fix the issue.

 

The link redirects to a falsified page that looks just like the real classified site login. In most cases, these pages are professionally designed. The URL will most likely be very similar to the real one, as well, so that people who aren't paying much attention won't notice the difference. After signing in, victims are prompted to fill in forms requesting personal or financial information, which the scammer uses to commit identity theft.

 

The best way to avoid phishing scams is to never follow links directly from emails. Instead, you should sign into your account via the company's official website. If everything looks alright, contact the business to alert their security team about the new phishing scam online or by phone.

Violent Crimes

By far the most serious threat to sellers is becoming the victim of a violent crime. Robberies are still commonplace occurrences, and your beloved motorcycle might not be the only thing that could be at risk. Criminals are clever. They cull personal information from classifieds postings and sellers' responses to their questions about items and then use it to determine whether the person is worth robbing.

 

Most people know at this point to perform transactions in public places and bring other people along when they sell goods online, which has cut down on direct theft of items for sale. However, this precaution does not eliminate the possibility that criminals will use the information to commit other crimes. Even if everything goes fine on the day of the sale, you might wind up facing home invasions, burglaries, and even assaults later down the line.

 

While it's possible to minimize the risk of being targeted by keeping personal information secret instead of posting things like phone numbers and home addresses on Craigslist, there's only so much you can do. The motorcycle's title will need to be transferred, which will give the buyer your full name and current home address. There's no way to stop dedicated criminals from using this information against you.

Tips for Ensuring Safety During Private Sales

Just knowing what the risks are won't help anyone avoid becoming the target of phishing, check fraud, or violent crime. If you plan to list your motorcycle online, you'll also have to take some precautions to ensure safety. Here are a few tips that could help to create a safe environment:

Choose a Secure Location

Make sure to choose a secure location for the transaction. Public parking lots in well-trafficked areas are generally acceptable, but some people go so far as to request that buyers meet them at or near police stations as an added precaution.

Bring a Friend

Don't go it alone. Bringing a friend or family member along for support during the transaction can help to create a safer atmosphere. Plus, if the motorcycle you're putting up for sale is your only mode of transportation, bringing a companion gives you a ride home after you close the deal.

Confirm Identity

Ask to see the buyer's license. The name and contact details should match the information you've received online before the meet-up. If they don't, checking the ID as soon as you meet the person will make it easier to back out of the sale.

Accept Only a Secure Form of Payment

Confirm what payment method will be used with the buyer in advance. Cash and cashier's checks are both secure options. Personal checks are not. If the buyer requests the use of an escrow account, research the company thoroughly. There are also escrow scams to watch out for.

Create a Bill of Sale

Bills of sale protect both sellers and buyers during private transactions. Draw one up in advance and check that it contains all the pertinent specifics, including the bike's make, model, year, color, and VIN. The bill of sale should also include the motorcycle's odometer reading, the date, and the price. The document should also include any conditions for the sale.

Host a Safe Test Ride

Test riding a motorcycle isn't like taking a car out for a test drive since the seller usually can't ride along. Most people want to have the money in hand before they allow a test ride. You should also make sure the potential buyer is licensed and experienced and double-check that the bike's insurance policy covers these situations, just in case.

Are Private Sales Worth the Risk?

Now that you know about the most serious threats associated with selling a motorcycle online and the best ways to mitigate them, it's time to decide. Is the potential for making a few extra bucks in a private sale worth the risk?

 

No one can make that decision for you. However, you can make a more informed choice by investigating other, safer options.

The Benefits of Selling to a Dealer

Most people assume that their motorcycles will fetch less money at dealerships, but reputable dealers are more likely to offer fair prices and less likely to try to talk sellers down than private buyers are. Plus, riders who plan on using the money to purchase new bikes will be one step ahead of the game if they trade in their old ones instead of selling them outright. These aren't the only benefits of selling to a dealership instead of trying to find a private party, either. Others include:

Less Effort

Finding a private buyer, negotiating a fair price, and managing the entire sale takes a lot of work. In addition to cleaning up the motorcycle, repairing visible damage, performing maintenance, and removing personal accessories, sellers must also research prices and platforms, develop an effective ad, and vet every potential buyer carefully. While most people still clean up their bikes and research market rates before taking them to dealers, sellers who take this approach don't have to worry about advertising, research, or vetting buyers.

Fast Cash

All the preparation required to facilitate a safe sale to a private party takes a lot of time, and that's just the beginning. Most sellers also wait weeks, or even months, to find a qualified buyer. When sellers bring their bikes to dealerships for trade-in value or direct sale, they'll walk away with cash in hand the same day.

Guaranteed Safety

No matter how many precautions sellers take, there's no way to guarantee their safety during private sales. That requires selling a bike to a reputable dealership, where the chances of getting scammed or worse are reduced to zero. Cautious riders who understand the dangers of selling goods online will find that this benefit alone is worth giving up the possibility of finding that one perfect buyer willing to pay greater than market rates for a beloved bike.

Opportunities to Upgrade

Most avid motorcycle enthusiasts aren't selling their bikes because they're sick of riding. They're doing it to make space in the garage and raise extra funds for replacements that are more suitable to their current needs and riding styles. If you're in this position, heading to a dealership to trade in an old bike is the best option. Motorcycle dealerships offer the most options in any price range, and you won't have to worry about safety as a buyer any more than you will as a seller.

Do Dealers Buy Bikes Online?

At this point, you might wonder if it's possible to get the best of both worlds by selling your motorcycle online to a distant dealership instead of worrying about personal safety or settling for whatever the local dealer offers. Thankfully, it is. You don't have to ride your bike across the country to drop it off. Some dealerships make offers on bikes in other cities or even different states.

 

When you sell a bike to a dealer online, expect a slightly different process. Instead of just heading into the dealership to have the motorcycle evaluated and get a quote, you'll have to reach out via email or phone. Most dealerships that buy motorcycles nationwide have networks in place to make it easier to get the bike valued and make shipping arrangements.

 

In some cases, dealerships will buy out-of-state bikes sight unseen. They'll ask you about the motorcycle's condition, request detailed photos, then send a shipping partner to pick it up. Once the bike arrives, the dealer will verify its condition to ensure everything is in order. You'll then mail the title to the motorcycle, and they'll send you a check in return. Just keep in mind that honesty is the best policy since the dealership will not be required to buy the bike or pay return shipping if its mechanics find undisclosed damage upon inspection.

Don't Jeopardize Your Safety

Bikers have a reputation for being daredevils, but don't let that fool you. Safety is always tantamount whether you're heading out for a ride or preparing to sell your motorcycle and upgrade to a new one. There's no reason to jeopardize your safety when it's easy to get a fair price for your bike through a reputable dealership.