How to Buy Used Scooters

Vespa brand scooter

Motorized scooters cannot be bought and sold as easily as bicycles or other nonmotorized modes of transportation. Scooters are governed by the Department of Motor Vehicles, just as automobiles or motorcycles are, and there are specific steps you must take when buying a used scooter. If you ignore these, you could inadvertently break your state's scooter laws.

Things You'll Need

• Motorcycle or scooter learner's permit
• Scooter title

Instructions

1. Get a learner's permit as recommended by Motor-Scooters-Guide.com. Before you even think about buying a scooter, you must be legally authorized to drive one. In some states, dedicated scooter or moped licenses don't exist and you'll need a motorcycle license. If you already hold a regular driver's license, your scooter learner's permit typically requires a written test. The permit allows you to operate a scooter under certain restricted conditions for practice purposes. After practicing with your learner's permit, you can schedule a road test for your full, nonrestricted scooter license. To learn more about specific licensing laws and traffic rules in your state, consult the state-by-state guide at Motor-Scooters-Guide.com or go to your state's official DMV website as found at DMVList.com (see Resources).

2. Look at Kelley Blue Book values for the scooter make and model you're considering. The Kelley Blue Book will provide price estimates for used scooters based on mileage, condition and other factors. Armed with these estimates, you'll be able to tell if you're getting a good deal. Details for scooters are found on the motorcycle page of the Kelley Blue Book's online database (see Resources).

3. Consider mileage even if only an estimate is available. Even though some scooters are not equipped with odometers, mileage is important as it heavily influences a recommended Kelley Blue Book price. If the seller is unsure about mileage, ask simple questions about how often the scooter was used and how far the motorist rode the scooter every day.

4. Inspect the scooter's title and make sure the Vehicle Identification Number, or VIN, matches on both the title and the scooter. As with other motor vehicles, scooters must be titled, and scooters without a title might be stolen ones. If the seller is unable to furnish a title, don't even consider the product. If buying online, ask for a fax of the title and a snapshot of the scooter's VIN.

5. Take the scooter for the test drive. Just as with a car, you don't want to buy a scooter until you've tried it out. Make sure the steering is responsive and the brakes work well during the test run. Bring your learner's permit with you for a test drive to avoid being ticketed for driving the scooter without a license.

6. Request an inspection even if you're not concerned about the scooter's condition; damage can sometimes be hidden from plain view, so an inspection by a professional mechanic is always a good idea.

References

• Motor-Scooters-Guide.com -- "Scooter Licensing"

Resources

• Motor-Scooters-Guide.com -- "State by State Scooter Licensing Laws"
• DMVList.com -- "DMV Sites in all 50 States"
• Kelley Blue Book -- "Motorcycle"
• BuyMyScooter.com -- "Buy or Sell New or Used Scooters"