Private Party Sales

I have been in the market for a used ATV and am now considering the purchase of one from a private party. Now, my concern is a clean transaction. How does the transaction occur? I give him the cash and he gives me a portion of the existing title signing ownership over to me? Is there a serial number on the title so I can match it to the one on the machine?

I have never purchased a motor vehicle from a private party so I do not know the procedure nor do I know the pitfalls. My biggest fear is purchasing a stolen machine or something else unforeseen resulting in me losing my cash.

How does this work?

If you are worried about a clean title, have him meet you at the courthouse where you can both do the paper work right in front of the county recorder.

This is like most things, there are a few items you need, but trust your gut over anything else. If the deal seems to good to be true, it most likely is. If the guy seems shady, say “awe the wife would kill me if I brought this home” and leave.

As far as the paper work, Huntindave hit it spot on. If that is not an option, have him write you a bill of sale, sign the title over, also get any registration paperwork that he has. Once you have this, just bring the paperwork to the DMV and tell them you want to transfer ownership.

That is all that went into it when I bought mine, if anyone knows any other important steps, please feel free to add.

Another note, OHV (off highway vehicles) do not need to be titled in MN, but they do need to be registered.

http://www.dmv.org/mn-minnesota/other-types-of-vehicles.php
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/licenses/ohv/index.html

Same here in Wisconsin, there should be a registration card with owners name, check against his drivers licence. Also see if he has the manufacturers certificate of origin. If by chance this vehicle was ever titled then that will not exist, but then a title will. Bottom line is all paperwork should jive, if this guy won’t show his own I’d at time of sale that is a major red flag.

If I were to sell a quad or sled today you would get the signed registration card. Maybe a hand written and signed receipt. That’s all I have ever given or received with this type of transaction. Take it to the state and transfer.

A registration card and bill of sale is all that is needed in Mn. Most of the time they do not even ask for a bill of sale when at the DMV transferring registration.

When I sold a boat last year, I handed over the registration and trailer title (boat was not titled). I had typed up a bill of sale stating the price as well as serial numbers and a description of what was included in the sale. Also on the bill of sale, I added both my and the buyer’s name, address, DL #, and signatures, and had a copy of the bill of sale for both myself and the buyer.

I assume everything was kosher as I never heard anything after the sale, and he must have transferred ownership as I didn’t receive the registration renewal.

A boat and trailer can be more complicated than an ATV.

If the ATV was registered in MN (registered with the DNR) and the registration is current, you only need the registration card.

However! Verify that the registration card is in the name of the person you that you are buying it from AND make sure that person is the one who signs your bill of sale. Make them print out their complete name, address, and phone number and then sign it.

Check the registration card carefully and make sure there is not a box that says “subject to security agreement” with an X by it. That means there is a loan out on the ATV. If this is the case, DANGER! They must, must, must be able to provide documentation from the lender that the loan has been paid off. No doc = no sale. That simple.

In this case, I would ONLY buy the ATV if the seller will go with you to the DMV to transfer the registration and only after this would I pay them the cash. Do not buy anything based on the seller’s word that the loan is paid. They will NOT transfer registration if there is a security agreement.

Grouse