Motorcycle Bill of Sale

The motorcycle bill of sale is a very important legally binding document that is necessary for the conclusion of the sale and purchase contract. The bill must contain all the terms and conditions of the purchase, like cost, payment method, technical conditions of the motorcycle, and its registration. The buyer has to present this dill to the DMV for the titling and state registration.

When to Use a Motorcycle Bill of Sale?

You have to use a motorcycle bill of sale at any time when you are buying or selling a vehicle. Not only because you must do it under the regulations of many states, but also because it can give you additional protection.

Why Is It Important to Sign a Motorcycle Bill of Sale?

It is important this document can be the main instrument of legal protection in the case when a dispute between the parties has arisen. Also, the bill of sale is the main document that proves that the sale of a motorcycle indeed took place, so by requesting this document, you can protect yourself from legal problems.

Furthermore, in some states, the bill of sale can be a justification for tax returns, and it is always a good thing to save some money on the taxes.

Last but not least, many states in the country, for example, Washington, require such documents for the title transfer and the registration of the vehicle; some of them even require notary approval of the bill.

What Are the Components of a Motorcycle Bill of Sale?

In general, a motorcycle bill of sale is not a complex document, and to write it correctly, and you just have to include a few obligatory components.

• full name of the seller
• full name of the buyer
• the mailing address of the seller
• the mailing address of the buyer
• the date of the transaction
• the cost of the vehicle
• the year of production of the vehicle
• current odometer indication
• vehicle details, such as color, model, manufacturer, damages
• signature of the buyer
• signature of the seller
• date and place of the signature

Including all of these simple points will ensure that your bill of sale will be in compliance with the law of any state in the country. Also, for more precision, you can include the ZIP codes of the buyer and seller.

Moreover, it is very important to make clear in the bill the means of payment, whether it is cash, checks, or bank transfer. Do not forget to mention the exact date when the money should be transferred. Furthermore, if buyer and seller agreed to the partial payments, it must be explicitly indicated in the bill.

Do not forget to clarify who the buyer is and who the seller is, and what intentions the parties have because sometimes people write bills in a very confusing way, so it is very hard to understand who the parties are and what they want to do.

Also important to note

Also, if the mechanic inspected the motorcycle before the sale, it would be good to include his statement with signature on the bill. If his statement is really big, you can attach the full statement to the bill. Also, parties can make copies of it.

Furthermore, if you decide that witnesses should be present during the document’s conclusion, you have to include their signatures on the bill.

In addition, I feel that I have to say a few words about the handwritten bills of sale. Strictly speaking, it is not prohibited to conclude the bill of sale in handwritten form. However, it would be easier to do it in the printed form, not only because it is easier but also because it can save a lot of trouble for the buyer and seller in the future, in case if some legal questions would arise. Because legal expertise of handwriting could be needed and it could be a very costly issue.

How to Sell a Motorcycle

Besides the question of proper writing of the bill of sale, the whole process of selling a motorcycle includes a lot of difficult issues, which we will try to address and make the process more pleasant for everyone.

Step 1

At the start of the process, you have to prepare your motorcycle for sale. Because a vehicle in good shape will be sold faster and more expensively. Call a licensed mechanic who will inspect the motorcycle and help you find issues that must be fixed professionally before selling. When the mechanic finishes with the inside world of the vehicle, you have to clean and wax it for a better look.

Step 2

During the second step, you have to assess the right price for the vehicle. The easiest way to do it is by checking the internet and finding selling proposals for similar models of the bikes. Also, you can check the local market or use special internet sites which estimate the price by the parameters of the motorcycle. Probably the best idea would be to combine all these options. Also, do not forget about the possibility of calling an appraiser, but this option can be suitable only if you are selling some expensive vintage motorcycle.

Step 3

The third step of the selling of a motorcycle is the listing of the vehicle on the trading platform for sale. You can use as many platforms as you want, also do not forget about advertising in the local newspapers and social networks. In addition, consider using a professional photographer for the photo of the bike. Because nowadays a good photo is the main part of any sale.

If you have done the third step correctly, sooner or later, you will start to receive phone calls from potential buyers. The best option here would be to set up a meeting as soon as possible. If a person is really interested in buying a motorcycle, you can even allow a test drive. If it passes successfully, you can negotiate a deal. At this stage, you can come to an agreement about the main issues, like the date, price, and type of payment.

Final step

At the final stage of the sale of a bike, you will finally perform the transition of ownership. When the time of sale comes, the buyer has to come with the amount of money that has been agreed upon. He should prove it by checks or by physical cash, or by other means that you have agreed before. You, as a seller, have to bring the registration and motorcycle’s title. Afterward, you have to fill the bill of sale. Also, it can be a good idea to make photocopies of the document of the parties to the agreement, because it can facilitate the search of the person in case some issues would erupt.

When all the documents are signed, you can make the transfer of ownership and handle to the buyer all the necessary documents and the keys.