If you’re planning on buying or selling a used ATV, there are a couple of things you should know first. The last thing you want is to purchase an ATV from someone, only to have the cops come confiscate it for being stolen property. Understandably, it is common for people to wonder about what is needed to buy or sell an ATV. If this is the case with you, you’re in the right place.
When buying or selling a used ATV, it’s crucial to have the right information. To begin, having a bill of sale is essential to protect yourself from potential issues. To create an ATV Bill of Sale, you’ll need the buyer and seller details, ATV’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), make, model, year, color, agreed price, mileage, and signatures of both parties. Make sure all the necessary information is accurately filled out to ensure a smooth buying or selling process.
However, while you can create your own bill of sale, you can also download a pre-designed one in PDF format for convenience. Simply click on “ATV Bill Of Sale Download” to view and print it from your browser, or click “Download” to save it to your computer. Now, let’s dive into everything you need to know about buying or selling an ATV.
What is an ATV’s Bill of Sale?
An ATV bill of sale is a legal document that serves as proof of the purchase or sale of an ATV. It includes important details about the transaction, such as the buyer and seller information, ATV’s description, purchase price, and signatures of both parties.
The bill of sale provides a record of the transaction and can help protect the rights and interests of both the buyer and seller. Understanding the purpose and importance of an ATV bill of sale is crucial when buying or selling an ATV.
Do You Even Need A Bill Of Sale?
When buying or selling a new ATV, it’s important to understand the role of the title and the significance of having a bill of sale. As a buyer, you will typically receive a title that requires your signature for the transfer of ownership, usually found on the back or near the bottom of the document labeled as ‘Assignment’ or ‘Transfer By Owner.’
To complete the process, you can take the signed title to your state’s relevant authority and apply for a new title in your name. While having a bill of sale is not always required, it is still recommended for added protection.
On the other hand, as a seller, having a bill of sale becomes crucial to safeguard your interests. Imagine a scenario where you transfer the title without a bill of sale, and the buyer later causes harm to themselves, others, or property using the ATV.
If the buyer fails to update the title to their name, you could still be held liable since it is considered your ATV legally. Therefore, having a bill of sale helps establish a record of the sale and can protect you from potential liability issues.
Also, if you’re buying or selling an older ATV, the title might not always be available. People lose or misplace titles all the time. But with a valid bill of sale, most states will let you apply for a new title in your name. This is needed if you ever want to register the ATV in your name. Some states even require ATV’s to be registered, and you need proof of ownership to do that.
Note!
Never buy an ATV without either a title or a bill of sale. If you do this, the original owner could then claim it stolen. Without proof of ownership, you wouldn’t have a leg to stand on.
Furthermore, be careful with newer ATVs that have no title. Even if they give you a bill of sale, the title could still have liens or encumbrances placed on it. Meaning the owner hasn’t finished paying it off, or it has been used illegally in some way.
How Can I Make My Own Bill Of Sale?
If you don’t want to use the bill of sale above, you could always make your own. Each state has its own rules on what a valid bill of sale needs to have on it, so check with your local authorities to find out what you need to have. But, all bill of sale contracts must have at least the following:
- The Offer – This is the agreement on what will be bought or sold. The year, make, and model, as well as the VIN (serial number), if any, should go here.
- The Amount – This is where the agreed-upon amount will be displayed. If there are any contingencies, like repair work needing to be done, that will go here as well.
- Signatures – This is where both parties will print and sign their names, and date the contract. It’s also a good idea to put the addresses of both parties here.
- Legal Intent – Both parties must be competent when signing. You can not be impaired or underage, stuff like that.
Some states do require a notary to be present when both parties sign. You can have everything else filled out ahead of time. But if that’s the case, a notary needs to watch you both sign the bill of sale. Check with your local court system to see if you need a notary present.
That’s just the basics of what is needed for a legal bill of sale contract. You can type this up in a Word Doc, print it out, and you’re good to go. Even a handwritten bill of sale is a legal contract. So in a pinch, you could just write this all out on a piece of paper.
Process Of Buying Or Selling An ATV: Your Comprehensive Guide
The process of buying or selling an ATV is relatively straightforward, but if you’re new to it, some helpful tips can make a difference.
One of the first steps you should take is to thoroughly clean the ATV from top to bottom. Potential buyers are often drawn to a clean and well-maintained machine, and these simple steps can help increase the chances of a faster sale.
Maintenance
To maximize the value and appeal of the ATV you’re selling, it’s essential to prioritize its working conditions. Before listing it for sale, thoroughly inspect the ATV and ensure it is in good working order. If there are any issues you don’t want to fix, it’s best to sell the ATV “as is” while being transparent about the problems. However, keep in mind that the more repairs and improvements you can address, the higher the potential selling price and the greater the interest from buyers. By taking the time to fix and address any issues, you can enhance the ATV’s value and attract a wider range of potential buyers.
Title And Registration
Before you start putting up ads for the machine, you’ll want to clear the title of any liens it may have on it. This is a good time to get your title and registration info all together to be prepared for the sale.
Place Ads
Put up ads for your ATV. You could try selling to a dealer, but you tend to get more money doing a private sale. I like to use apps like OfferUp, LetGo, or ATV Trader. I’ve also used Craigslist a lot in the past. If you’re a buyer, you’ll want to start looking in these places too.
Negotiate Price
This is the fun part for me, but I can understand why some people hate it. Once buyers start responding to your ads, they will usually have a counteroffer. You will find that a lot of people don’t want to pay the price you advertised. You’ll get the occasional lowballer too, don’t let that bother you. I don’t know how many times I’ve had someone offer me half what I listed the price at.
If you don’t want to do much negotiating, you could always state that your price is firm. That will help weed out some of the lowballers, and let you focus more on serious buyers. You could also add a little to the price you’re willing to sell it at to account for negotiations.
Buyer beware, a lot of sellers add a few bucks to the amount they are willing to take. This is so that even after negotiations, they still get close to the price they wanted. It’s normal and it happens all the time, no one wants to pay full price. Try to have fun with the back and forth, it’s just an expected thing everyone does.
Inspection
The buyer will want to inspect the ATV. You can do it yourself if you don’t want to hire a certified mechanic to do the inspection. Check the ATV for rust or cracks in the frame. Check the welded areas of the frame for cracks also. After having a look at the tire tread, wheels, and suspension, you should check the air box.
Remove the seat and the air intake cover. If there’s dirt and water in the air intake box, it most likely got into the engine at some point. Put your hand near the engine to see how warm it is. The ATV might be hard to start and doesn’t run well until the engine is warmed up. The seller could hide this from you by having the engine running for a while before you show up.
Now it’s time for a test drive. Take it easy since it’s not yours yet. You don’t want to piss off the seller by beating on the machine just to end up not buying it. All you’re looking for is a smooth ride with the handling to your liking, and of course, the engine is running nicely.
Fill Out the Bill Of Sale
When both parties agree on a price, you can then fill out the bill of sale. You can use the template I gave above, or make your own like we talked about above. Once the payment has been made, you can transfer the title over to the buyer. This is usually done by signing the ‘Assignment’ or ‘Transfer By Owner’ section of the title. If there is no title, the bill of sale can be used to order a new title in most states.
The new owner will have to reapply for a new title in their name. Either with the bill of sale or the title signed by the seller. Then, if your state requires it, you can register the ATV in your name.
There you go, time to enjoy your new ATV. Check out the Recommended Gear section of this site for all the proper gear needed to ride safely.
Conclusion
When buying or selling an ATV, having a bill of sale is crucial to protect yourself and establish a record of the transaction. The bill of sale should include important details such as buyer and seller information, ATV description, purchase price, and signatures of both parties. While a title is typically required for new ATVs, a bill of sale becomes essential when the title is unavailable or to safeguard the seller’s interests. Additionally, prioritizing ATV’s maintenance and addressing any repairs or improvements can increase its value and attract more potential buyers.
Thanks so much for reading to the end!