When buying a private-party motorcycle, arm yourself against scammers with the right knowledge and tools to close the deal safely.
DealNow gives you self-serve technology for safe, quick bike transactions. Find a motorcycle anywhere—finish strong with DealNow.
We’ll help you dodge motorcycle scams, spot seller red flags, and show you the safest way to buy your dream bike.
Scammers hide behind fake personas. If you verify the seller’s identity, you’ll avoid many scams. Pair ID verification with the other advice in this article and you’ll avoid close to 100% of them.
It can be awkward to ask for a seller’s ID when initially shopping for motorcycles; they may think you’re a scammer trying to steal their identity. Instead, you should use an identity verification service. Yet few bike marketplaces verify the identity of their users.
When you buy via DealNow, we verify the seller’s identity so you know you’re not dealing with an alias. Both parties undergo verification during account creation, so you can start your purchase with confidence.
A motorcycle history report can uncover scams, misrepresentations, and valuable insights into the bike’s past. Scammers rely on buyers skipping this important step. To get a motorcycle history report, you’ll need the bike’s vehicle identification number (VIN). Walk away from sellers who make excuses to avoid sharing the VIN.
A typical motorcycle history report includes:
When you buy a motorcycle with DealNow, you’ll be able to order a motorcycle history report from your dashboard with a couple of clicks.
A thorough inspection is your best weapon against seller misrepresentation scams. The seller should be happy to accommodate an inspection and test drive. Pick a well-lit public place and meet during the day.
Besides comparing the bike to its listing, pay attention to the following:
Even if you’re a motorcycle enthusiast, you should have a professional mechanic check the bike. They will catch things you might miss.
When you use DealNow, you’ll have the option to order a professional motorcycle inspection directly through the DealNow app.
If you are buying a motorcycle long-distance—for example, if the bike is in another state—DealNow streamlines the remote inspection process. Your inspector acts as your agent on the ground to help you make an informed decision and finish the purchase. You can even order motorcycle transportation.
The motorcycle should have a clean title in the seller’s name, valid registration, all maintenance records, and title information that matches the history report and physical VIN on the frame.
The maintenance records and motorcycle history should tell a coherent story about the bike.
Look for discrepancies and discuss them with the seller. Require the seller to address any title inaccuracies before proceeding with the sale.
DealNow offers an optional title check so you can confirm that the motorcycle’s title is clean and that the seller is the bike’s legal owner. Our platform also provides a secure place to store and share important documents, making the paperwork process seamless and transparent.
Private-party transactions have an inherent trust issue. You don’t know the seller well enough to send payment without a guarantee, and the seller doesn’t know you well enough to sign over the title without getting paid. You’re stuck in a catch-22.
Some people turn to escrow services. Escrow companies hold your money until the terms of the sale have been met. Escrow solves the catch-22, but it is inconvenient, time-consuming, and expensive.
A better way to overcome the catch-22 is with a bill of sale. It’s a legally binding document that records the transaction details. Both parties sign and countersign two bills of sale before exchanging money. In case the seller is a scammer, you have a legal defense that will hold up in court.
DealNow digitizes this step and makes it simple and stress-free. You and the seller sign the digital bill of sale in the DealNow app, and then you send payment. Not only is this faster than printing out copies, but if the seller is a criminal, your copy is saved on the cloud, protecting it from theft, loss, and destruction. Once the bill of sale is signed by both parties, you’ve got the green light to send payment.
Some scammers want to take your money without ever giving you the bike (if they even have a bike for sale at all). They have different devious ways of getting payment from you, including fake escrow scams (covered below). DealNow protects you from seller payment scams in the following ways:
With DealNow, you get a bike and get the deal done. No funny business.
We’ve talked about the steps you can take to avoid getting scammed. Now, let’s look at the most common scams fraudsters use against motorcycle buyers.
Some sellers lie about the motorcycle’s condition or features:
Misrepresentation scams are the most common type of fraud in motorcycle transactions. Never buy a motorcycle without a vehicle history report and a thorough inspection.
Scammers create convincing ads for motorcycles they don’t own. Using urgency (“my deployment starts next week”) or too-good-to-be-true prices, they push for deposits before viewing. The moment money changes hands, they disappear.
Thieves mask stolen motorcycles by copying VINs from legally registered bikes. By matching the stolen bike to a similar legitimate model, they can sell it to unsuspecting buyers. When police discover the fraud, you lose the motorcycle and your money.
Watch out for sellers insisting on specific escrow services. These fraudulent companies appear legitimate but are actually part of the scam. Your money goes to the fake escrow service and vanishes—along with any chance of getting your funds back.
When shopping for a motorcycle, watch for these warning signs.
One or two red flags might indicate an inexperienced seller. But when multiple warning signs crop up, walk away. There are plenty of legitimate bikes for sale.
Imagine a transaction platform that protects you from scams without sacrificing convenience or speed. We created DealNow to be the ultimate transaction solution for safe high-value vehicle transactions.
After you’ve used DealNow, you’ll never want to buy any other way.
DealNow is the safest and most convenient payment method for motorcycle purchases. It combines instant transfers with escrow-like safeguards, protecting both buyers and sellers. Unlike cash transactions, which carry inherent risks, or checks that can be forged, DealNow gives you secure, verified transfers for bikes of any value.
Buying from a private seller is often better and cheaper than a dealership. Here’s why:
Bottom line? Private sales make your motorcycle budget go further.
The best time to purchase a motorcycle is during the “off-season”—November through February. Cold weather reduces demand, pushing prices down. Many riders, especially in northern states, prefer to sell rather than store their bikes through winter.
Online marketplaces are trustworthy if you verify the seller’s identity. Most sites don’t have built-in features for this, so you’ll need some outside help. DealNow requires buyers and sellers to verify their identities during account creation. Once you find a bike you like, bring the purchase to DealNow to know you’re dealing with a vetted seller.
Facebook Marketplace is popular for motorcycle listings because it’s free and reaches many potential buyers, but it lacks built-in protections against fraud. Scammers can create fake profiles and listings, then disappear after taking your money. If you find a nice bike on Facebook Marketplace, protect yourself by:
The “unbelievable price” scam is particularly common. Fraudsters list an attractive motorcycle well below market value, then create urgency with stories about military deployment or financial trouble. They push for quick payment or deposits before you can inspect the bike. When motorcycle prices seem too good to be true, they usually are. Protect yourself by never sending money before seeing the bike in person (or having an inspector verify it if you are buying a motorcycle long distance) and verifying the seller’s identity.
Cycle Trader is one of the more reputable motorcycle listing sites. Unlike free marketplaces, it charges sellers to list bikes, which deters some scammers. For maximum security, use Cycle Trader to find your bike, then complete the purchase through DealNow’s secure platform. DealNow connects verified buyers and sellers and facilitates no-limits payments instantly through a mobile app.
DealNow is the easiest way to close your own vehicle deal, anytime. It’s the safe and simple way to avoid fraud, sign documents, and instantly transact, all in one app.
