|
|
Post by rockynv on Mar 22, 2015 9:04:40 GMT -5
I have bought scooters only from hearing and seeing the owner riding them. I can inspect tires, brakes, forks, CVT's and engines for general condition on the stand. Yes its a whole different world now with Craigs list scammers and such. You also have to consider that while you still own the vehicle you are ultimately responsible for any damages that anyone that you allow to ride/drive it does and you will especially be left holding the bag if they are uninsured. You may be able to get out of paying their speeding ticket or red light infraction without any other immediate costs if there aren't any damages however you can still end up with points on your insurance and see the cost double.
I can't afford the liability so I will take a hit on the selling price if need be to protect myself from the exposure. An no driving it home on my registration plate either.
Sale will be "as is" and I will register the sale cancellation of title as soon as the DMV office is open preferably that same day. My brother did not register a sale or cancel the title once and found that the vehicle was used in a drug related crime for which they came after him to pay the thousands of dollars in impound fees. The buyer said it had been stolen before they had registered or insured it so they did not bother reporting it. An attorneys services were then required to straighten it all out.
|
|
|
|
Post by oldchopperguy on Mar 22, 2015 13:10:32 GMT -5
I have bought scooters only from hearing and seeing the owner riding them. I can inspect tires, brakes, forks, CVT's and engines for general condition on the stand. Yes its a whole different world now with Craigs list scammers and such. You also have to consider that while you still own the vehicle you are ultimately responsible for any damages that anyone that you allow to ride/drive it does and you will especially be left holding the bag if they are uninsured. You may be able to get out of paying their speeding ticket or red light infraction without any other immediate costs if there aren't any damages however you can still end up with points on your insurance and see the cost double. I can't afford the liability so I will take a hit on the selling price if need be to protect myself from the exposure. An no driving it home on my registration plate either. Sale will be "as is" and I will register the sale cancellation of title as soon as the DMV office is open preferably that same day. My brother did not register a sale or cancel the title once and found that the vehicle was used in a drug related crime for which they came after him to pay the thousands of dollars in impound fees. The buyer said it had been stolen before they had registered or insured it so they did not bother reporting it. An attorneys services were then required to straighten it all out. Good point about the PLATE...
Unfortunately, here in Texas, the PLATE goes WITH the vehicle, NOT the owner. The plate stays registered to the VEHICLE and only becomes linked to the new buyer when (and if...) he/she EVER spends the money and does the paperwork to make the vehicle legally his or hers... Golly-dang, Bubba... Why should I spend MY beer money on a title and plates, when them plates is still good fer another 4 months? Duh...
As people will do, the new "owner" often just drives the vehicle for months, with the car, plate AND insurance still in YOUR name. A very bad idea... The only thing you have control over is cancelling your insurance, which is a must! Even THAT is somewhat "dicey" though. Since the vehicle is still YOURS until it gets re-registered, titled and plated, the new "owner" is simply "borrowing" your now uninsured vehicle. You're STILL somewhat responsible for what a complete stranger does with YOUR vehicle.
THAT SUCKS. But Texas law-enforcement is pretty understanding about this long-standing practice.
Some years ago, I traded in an aging Cadillac on an less-aging Mercury... The dealers seldom EVER re-title trade-ins to the dealership, depending on the new buyer to do it in their name, some day, when they "get 'round to it".
Long story made short, 6 months after trading the Caddy, local police show up on my doorstep with a warrant, an attitude and demanding to know "where I be hidin' the Cadillac?". The Caddy, STILL in my name, had over 100 traffic warrants, and had a BOLO warrant for use in an armed-robbery and murder of a liquor-store clerk.
I had cancelled my insurance the same day I traded the car in. (Which actually was ONE MORE violation against the car!) However, there's not much you can do about the TITLE and PLATES remaining in YOUR name until the lazy idiot new owner does what he should do. And, local "boyz" are VERY slow to re-title and re-license the vehicle, since the plate is still good. Doing things "right" costs money... AND, make the new owner RESPONSIBLE...
The police were sure they "had their man" when they arrived at my run-down trailer. But they were pretty decent when I explained the story, and showed them the sales receipt for the Caddy, along with the Merc, and its title.
Since then, things have changed some. New technology put scanners on most police cars which scan hundreds of plates on traffic per minute. The officer INSTANTLY gets an alert if any car in view has out-of-date PLATES, or STATE INSPECTION, or lack of INSURANCE, is reported STOLEN or even if it's up for repo... Yup, ya can't get away wid nuttin' anymore... LOL! Dey gonna git ya...
So, if you cancel your insurance when you sell your vehicle (warn the buyer he/she will be riding home on his/her own insurance) at least the plate will bring about an immediate traffic stop, forcing the buyer to inform the officer of the new ownership, and allowing you to tell your side of the story... Hopefully baked up with a title YOU already signed over to the new buyer.
It's one of the few little things I don't like about Texas... The rest is so good though that I can get over it... LOL!
Ride safe, and "watch your six" legally...
Leo in Texas
|
|
|
|
Post by rockynv on Mar 25, 2015 4:20:53 GMT -5
Thankfully in Florida there is a tear off on the title to register the sale of the titled vehicle and a standard form for the transaction so you bring both into the DMV and get a receipt so its in the system that you have surrendered title of the vehicle listing the new owner. That way if they do not title the vehicle and continue driving it the police know right away unless you let things slide. Florida thankfully got a handle on this many years ago. You can even choose to E-Title your vehicle and then for a $10 fee have the DMV print out the title when your ready to sell it so there is little chance of loosing a title now.
|
|
Freshman Rider
Currently Offline
2005 Honda Reflex and 2006 Yamaha Majesty
Posts: 61
Likes: 3
Joined: Mar 3, 2013 17:56:59 GMT -5
|
Post by bobshaw on Mar 27, 2015 16:14:39 GMT -5
I was, sort of in your situation with a Tao Tao 150. Although I have a Honda Reflex at home in Georgia, here in Florida, while snowbirding, I was riding the Tao Tao, which was ok for around town riding, but, when I got out on the road, people would "blow me off the road" even though I was doing 50+ mph. After having experience with the 250 cc Reflex, I decided to go bigger for the wide-open roads here in Central Florida and went with a 400 cc Yamaha Majesty. I have to say it was a world of difference. I actually feel much safer on the Majesty even than I do on the Reflex. So far, I have not found the maneuverability around town to be an issue. Once I test-drove the Majesty, I was sold. Whille my wife was decidedly not happy, I am still smiling.
The 400 cc is not as heavy and bulky as the 650 maxi scooters, but, is still a good stable road machine. IMHO
|
|
|
|
Post by SylvreKat on Mar 28, 2015 7:28:27 GMT -5
Talking plates-- When I took the old Taurus' plate in (sigh  ) for a tax refund, she wanted to know who bought him, their address, etc etc. Really? Why does the state care who I sold my wonderful old car to? What's that got to do with them returning the remainder of my taxes to me? I probably got mentioned over lunch--"Had a real dumb one this morn. All she knew was he was 22-years-old named Andrew. Oh, and he maybe lives somewhere around 151st and Ridgeview." If they want us to give them this kind of info, then they should tell us when we look on the DMV site. Instead they say no bill of sale or anything needed, just sign the back of the title and he's theirs now. SIGH  >'Kat |
|
|
|
Post by keikara on Mar 28, 2015 10:59:32 GMT -5
Here in Arizona the plate stays with the owner, and you can either write in on the registration that it was sold and mail it or do it on their website. As far as test rides, most people here I have noticed require cash in hand before the test ride. Saw one who wanted $500.00 on a $2500.00 bike to test ride if you layed the bike down he got to keep the $500.00 unless you still were going to buy it lol. Also most will require to see a valid DL with a motorcycle endorsement, but that may depend on if your state requires the endorsement.
|
|
|
|
Post by scooter on Mar 28, 2015 14:09:39 GMT -5
How do you guys normally arrange test drives with a private seller? Since I'm also trying to sell my scooter, I was thinking of I take their car keys and a picture of their license and they can take it for a ride. What do you think? The shop I bought it from, also offered to let me do the sale/test-drive there. My method is "You give me the money and if you drop it you own it.", but Rocky brought up some liability issues too. That's something to think about. |
|
|
|
Post by SylvreKat on Mar 29, 2015 7:16:32 GMT -5
...but Rocky brought up some liability issues too. That's something to think about. That's why I suggested having a page they sign that makes THEM responsible. Watching Judge Judy does teach you some things. She'll ask if the suer has proof of whatever. You can have saved texts, or a recording of your conversation, or that glorious piece of paper with the other's signature. All will put liability on the buyer/crasher instead of you. Depending on how you word things, of course. >'Kat |
|
Freshman Rider
Currently Offline
Posts: 62 
Likes: 2
Joined: Jan 4, 2014 16:32:44 GMT -5
|
Post by 2wheelfun on Mar 30, 2015 1:10:00 GMT -5
In states like TX you keep the plate period. Just say the plate has meaning like a personalized plate. If your plates are stolen there's no issue of issuing new plates to a vehicle. What if you have 6 mos of good registration left on the plate? Don't you want that credited to your new vehicle? Tell buyer that's just the way it is. As far as selling the scoot they need full coverage ins on their current car/scoot, not just liability to cover a test ride. If no ins they can't ride legally anyways, endorsement too if applicable. If you have current ins it covers test rides, ever buy a car at a dealer? How does that work?
|
|
|
|
Post by rockynv on Mar 30, 2015 3:57:02 GMT -5
In states like TX you keep the plate period. Just say the plate has meaning like a personalized plate. If your plates are stolen there's no issue of issuing new plates to a vehicle. What if you have 6 mos of good registration left on the plate? Don't you want that credited to your new vehicle? Tell buyer that's just the way it is. As far as selling the scoot they need full coverage ins on their current car/scoot, not just liability to cover a test ride. If no ins they can't ride legally anyways, endorsement too if applicable. If you have current ins it covers test rides, ever buy a car at a dealer? How does that work? You have to disclose that before the test ride and the dealer will take photo copies of every document. A word of caution though as too many here have fake insurance documents and drivers licenses so you have to be cautious even when someone does present those documents. Clear Cell Phone Pictures which are emailed to myself are taken of any such transactions including the people, licenses, insurances and any signed documents. |
|
