We all are aware of the fact that the internet has greatly influenced people’s mindset and Habits in multiple ways and one of them is that it has completely changed the way of shopping for every internet consumer. It has surely opened a door of vast choices for people by introducing online shopping. In the early days, distance and money transfer had a great effect in their ways but the introduction to online shopping has surely declined their importance in certain ways. We can relate the following sentences not only with merchandise, fashion accessories, and electrical appliances but with the purchase of motorcycles also. With internet access, a buyer can view a vast variety of motorcycles available for sale that are sometimes far away from them in different states.
Though online shopping is an easy and convenient way of shopping, it sometimes becomes risky when it comes to purchasing products that are quite far away. The risk increases when you are purchasing a costly item, say a motorcycle because the amount is too big to waste.
Also Read: How to Measure Car’s Value by Kelley Blue Book Calculator
It is also true that the market is full of fraud and scammers who vanish away after taking your precious money and it is very hard to find them. We here can accuse the Internet of being a convenient and easy way for fraudsters to execute their work and that is the reason why online heist is becoming so popular despite having tight and active cybersecurity.
In this blog, we have come up with the top tips using which you can safely and securely purchase your favorite motorcycle out of the state. We make sure that you get a better, safer, and more convenient delivery of your motorbike without taking any kind of risk.
Read the full article below to understand all the factors required to make a safe, worthy, and high-quality purchase from out of the state.
Make a full query
Never hesitate while going for purchase because questions help you be clear about what you want and what you are getting. Make sure you make a conversation with the dealer through voice call. If they are not willing to co-operate on a phone call and ask you to communicate via text messages only, alert! There’s a great chance to be something wrong. We suggest you cease your communication right at that point and move ahead.
If the seller is ready for a phone-call conversation, it’s great. Communicate and ask the question we have collected out for you. These questions are collected by our research team and will surely help you get a better deal.
Ask how many times has the bike changed hands?
First, ask the seller if he is the actual owner of the bike. If he replies in the negative, ask him how many people have used the motorcycle before him. Make sure to ask the time and place of purchase of the motorcycle.
Has the motorcycle ever been subject to any accident case or drop?
If the bike contains any kind of damage, make sure to ask the seller when and where the damage has been done and what its intensity is. Also, ask him if the bike has ever been involved in an accident or drop case. It is always better if you get clear photos or videos of the bike to make sure its exteriors are fine at least.
We suggest you purchase a VIN report from different companies that provide motorcycle history. Additional charges may apply but it is well worth buying.
Does the seller own the bike and have its title? Are there any lies/installments on the title?
Ask the seller if he has paid off the motorcycle completely, if he has done so, he is most likely to have the bike’s title. If he is still paying the installments, you’ll be required to pay off the bill and then take the bike’s title directly from the company.
How many times has the bike sent for servicing or maintenance?
We all know the role of servicing and maintenance in the proper service of a bike. Ask the seller if he has sent the bike for regular maintenance or not. If yes, you can request to view the maintenance bills that he would have got from the maintenance company. Make sure what kind of maintenance has been done to the bike as it conveys the overall performance and maintenance of the bike.
Hire a dealership to inspect the bike for you
We understand that it is quite hard for you to see the bike yourself and take a test drive of it to be satisfied and bring it home because going to another state has many hurdles. For this, we have a fair solution for you, you can take the help of the dealerships available in the seller’s area or state to inspect the bike you want to purchase and give you a brief note of it. Hiring a dealership is a quite easy and trusted way to get your bike inspected without taking the trouble to travel to another state.
We suggest you hire a dealership directly online instead of asking the seller to arrange it. This will not only increase your satisfaction and strengthen your relationship with the dealer but can reduce your extra paying charges also.
Make sure to choose the best dealership available by checking their previous work reviews on Google, Facebook, or other social media platforms.
Ask for the entire necessary and important document
It is very important that you ask the seller for all the documents and details that are necessary. You can know what documents you’ll need to purchase and register your selected motorcycle from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in the seller’s state.
We have, however, tried to list the important documents that you’ll need to successfully purchase and register the motorcycle you are going for. We may miss out on some documents if there is an update in the registering process.
The list includes a bill of sale, a written proof in which it is mentioned that the bike’s title has been signed over you, the motorcycle’s VIN, and the current odometer of the motorbike. Once you submit all these documents, you’ll be granted an alternate registration that you’ll have to convert into permanent registration in your home state.
There is also an option to ship the motorcycle and do registration at your local DMV. For this, you’ll have to contact your local DMV and provide them some specific documents they ask for.
Please note that you do not have to take any of these steps if you are purchasing a bike through a dealership, it’s all their duty and you just have to receive your bike.
Take help from an Escrow service
Escrow service has surely turned out as one of the safest ways for online shopping as it saves a fair amount of your money as well as takes care of its security. If you do not use an escrow service, you might have to pay a greater amount to purchase the same motorcycle that you can get at a fair discount using an escrow service.
Escrow services require an additional fee that depends on the total amount of your deal. On average, the escrow fee is about 10% of the total amount.
Hire a Broker for better service
Brokers are becoming quite popular when people are purchasing automobiles across the state line. Brokers represent sellers and pursue them to make the deal within a fair range. Please note that professional brokers have a fixed price and they do not charge in the percentage of the total deal amount.
Make sure you hire a broker who offers you a fair and fixed charge before even knowing the total amount you are willing to pay. If any of them is willing to first know your budget and then tell you his charges, it’s a red flag for you and you should quit that deal right away.
Get a Shipping company
Mostly, if you are purchasing a motorcycle from out of state, you are unable to visit that state to get your motorcycle back home. For this, there are a number of shipping companies in the market to bring your motorbike right to your doorsteps.
High-quality shipping companies contain all the tools and equipment to deliver your bike safely to your home. Make sure you check the shipping company details carefully before hiring them.
Shipping companies charge an additional fee that is fair enough to get your bike at your home with assuring security and safety. We suggest you at least ask the seller to split it with you as most of the sellers are humble enough to split the shipping cost with you.
Conclusion
With the help of the tips and steps mentioned in the article above, you can purchase your favorite motorcycle out of state with full safety and security. Buying a motorcycle online out of state can be one of the best and cheapest ways to get quality and rare bikes.
Follow each and every important step to safely get your bike right at your doorsteps.
