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Why sell your motorcycle to motoworks?

If you’re looking to sell your motorcycle or scooter, you’ve got options beyond trading in or selling your motorcycle privately. Getting your motorcycle appraised at Motoworks is quick and easy! Each year we buy over 200 motorcycles and scooters and we are always looking for more.

We’ve heard from customers that private motorcycle sales can take longer than selling a motorcycle to Motoworks. Big corporate websites don’t take into consideration what makes your motorcycle special because they don’t know motorcycles the way we know motorcycles. We’ve heard plenty of stories from sellers that express how much more difficult it is to do a private sale including dealing with folks who just stop responding and others that are just looking for a “test ride.”  All told, it can take a lot of time — sometimes weeks or even months — to sell a motorcycle on your own.

And, if you’re still making payments on your motorcycle or scooter while you’re trying to sell it, you could pay a lot while you’re finding the right buyer.

 

So, why sell your motorcycle or scooter to Motoworks Chicago?

  • We are Chicago’s leading motorcycle and scooter shop.  We are always looking for used motorcycles.
  • We’ll cut you a check the moment we get the motorcycle.
  • We accept trade ins, but if you’re not looking for a new motorcycle that’s ok too. We’ll still buy your motorcycle.
  • Motorcycle doesn’t run? Don’t want to leave home to sell it? No problem, we’ll pick it up.

Some tips if you are still considering a private sale.

Often times, if you don’t mind waiting a bit longer for the right buyer, you will get a larger sale price through a private sale.  Here are a few tips from edmunds.com on how to do so safely.

  • Vet callers thoroughly. When Steve Goddard, former president of the California Association of Realtors, takes a call from someone he’s never met, he makes sure the caller is serious about buying a property and isn’t trying to lure him into a trap to rob him. “I ask them lots of questions about what they are looking for and what their needs are,” he says. “The more I engage them in conversation, the more you get a feel for them.”
  • Don’t go to a meeting alone. It’s that simple, says Rico Fernandez, a lieutenant with the Long Beach Police Department in California. “Take someone with you. People are less apt to harm you if there is someone else there.”
  • Refuse any unusual requests, such as driving the would-be buyer to another location. Often, such a request is framed in terms of getting the money or arranging a loan to finish the sale. Instead, tell the buyer to make arrangements on his own and call you when he’s ready to conclude the sale.
  • Meet prospective buyers during the day in a public area such as the parking lot of a mall. Park the motorcycle or scooter in a high-traffic area where people can see you.
  • If the sum is large enough, arrange to meet the buyer at the person’s bank, to either witness a cash withdrawal or verify funds on a cashier’s check you’re being given. Keep in mind that some digital payments like Paypal and Venmo are reversible and others aren’t but are used in other types of scams where you are asked to send back funds after an accidental “overpayment”.  Avoid fraud by avoiding these types of payments unless you know the person.
  • Only schedule a test rides with serious buyers that you are able to reach by phone and have a valid motorcycle license. Invite questions when you talk with them. This strategy helps prevent you from showing the motorcycle to someone who isn’t really interested or someone you’d rather not deal with.
  • Evaluating callers requires a combination of intuition and experience. If you’re not comfortable meeting with potential buyers under any circumstances, you should consider other options such as having a friend help or selling to a dealership.  It’s quicker and the peace of mind is priceless.
  • Once the deal is complete and the motorcycle is out of your hands, immediately file a “release of liability” form with the DMV. Then, if the motorcycle is used in a crime or gets a parking ticket, you won’t be held responsible.

If you’ve tried to do a private sale and it wasn’t your cup of tea, that’s alright.  It can be a draining process even for those of us who do it for a living  : )

Reach out to us, there is no sense in hanging on to a motorcycle that you are ready to sell or trade-in.  The sooner you call us the sooner we can be there to pick her up check in hand. Let us take care of all the paperwork.

To get an appraisal fill out the sell your motorcycle form found here:  https://www.motoworkschicago.com/sell-your-bike or email me directly at Chris@motoworkschicago.com

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While great effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this site, errors can occur. Please verify all pricing information with a customer service representative. This is easily done by calling us or visiting us at the dealership.