Buyer/seller agreement? URGENT!

Hi everyone and thanks for reading this.

I am buying a bike today (in 2 hours...). It is a private sale and I have no idea what to ask the seller for (paperwork-wise). What should be included with the bike? V5? Service history? What other documents?

Should I insist that the seller signs a paper stating that all he claims is true (no accident damage, mileage, condition etc.)?

Also is there some kind of seller/buyer agreement required in UK? Receipt? Give me a clue, please... Quick!

as far as im aware private sales are not the same as dealer sales in respect of the seller being honest about a bikes history..giving a bike a good looking over as when buying private you dont have the comeback if anything goes wrong.
yes..make sure all the details on the v5 match up i.e address and chasis and engine no.'s etc.
always ask the seller for a receipt of sale...which they will often write the words SOLD AS SEEN

hope this helps

[timwilky]

I hope you have done a HPI up front?.

as above, SOLD AS SEEN being the words that protect the seller, HPI is also a well spent £30 to put your mind at rest. good luck!

Yep, got HPI (clear).

I came from Poland, where there are rules what the agreement should say, there are forms available on the net to fill in. This simplifies life.

Anything like it in UK? Or we just write something on the piece of paper?

pm sent

[timwilky]

Caveat Emptor. There are no formal agreements. If you have any doubts, walk away.


Most vendors will issue you a reciept marked up "Sold as seen", they make no claims about history, milage etc. For a private sale, your only recourse to law is to sue the vendor, if the vehicle is not as described.

However, generally it is not worth persuing a claim as the vendor will at that popint have no assets etc.