How To Buy a Used Two-Wheeler

While buying an already used bike, the buyer needs to thoroughly analyze the condition of the vehicle, the genuineness of the seller, age of the vehicle, insurance linked with the vehicle etc. The most crucial part of buying a used vehicle is that the buyer verifies all the documents necessary for the completion of ownership transfer. You'll be needing the following documents for the proper transfer of the vehicle.

Registration Certificate (RC)

It is the responsibility of the seller to provide you the RC book of the concerned vehicle. A buyer should ensure that the information in the RC aligns with the seller's identity.

You should check for the following things in the RC before buying the vehicle:

• You must check for the vehicle number and stamp demonstrating the payment of duty. The seller's name should also be correctly mentioned in the RC.

• If the vehicle was bought through bank financing, the RC book must have the bank's seal on it.

• The buyer will be required to fill up Form 35 and submit it to the RTO. The form should be stamped and attested by the bank. They'll also need a NOC from the bank validating that there are no unpaid installments and the loan amount has been paid in entirety by the previous owner.

• You should remember that the RTO will be charging a small fee for clearing off the credit section.

Two Wheeler Insurance Paper

Getting your two-wheeler insured is mandatory in India. Without insurance, the vehicle can't be registered in the RTO. However, the paperwork and procedure to get the insurance paper gets more complicated when you want to buy a used car. We're here to help you!

You should follow the steps described below to get the insurance papers for your bike:

• Acquire the insurance papers from the seller

• The insurance company will then transfer the active policy to your name. If the insurance policy has expired, you can apply for a new insurance policy after furnishing new documents linked with the vehicle.

• Since there are many insurance providing companies in India, the vehicle owner can compare the premium rates in different companies and choose the insurance which suits them.

But wait, you must remember these points linked to Insurance Paper before buying the vehicle!

• The vehicle's seller must have Form No. 29, Form No. 28 and Form No. 30 that the purchaser will be required to submit to the RTO.

  • Form No. 28 is the NOC. Three photocopies of the NOC also must be produced by the seller if the buyer wants to use the vehicle in a different state for more than a year. This form isn’t relevant if you plan on using the vehicle in the same state.
  • Form 29 is an intimation of transfer of ownership of the vehicle. Two photocopies of Form 29 must be submitted to the RTO as well.
  • Form 30 is a report of the transfer of ownership of the vehicle. A duplicate copy of the Form will be required.

• The seller of the vehicle should also provide the details and documents linked with the total road tax paid. The same should be submitted to the RTO.

Pollution Under Control (PUC) Certificate

It is obligatory for the buyer to submit a PUC Certificate for the vehicles that are older than six months. If the previous owner of the two-wheeler didn't have the PUC, it should be acquired by the new owner.

• The buyer should also submit their address proof along with two passport sized photographs to RTO for completing the procedure of vehicle ownership transfer.

• If you're buying the vehicle, then you should acquire a receipt of sale from the seller avoid facing any problems in the future.

• You must submit the documents described above in the local RTO for successfully acquiring the legal claim of the vehicle.

• There is a high risk involved in buying any used vehicle. The only way to minimize this risk is to get as much information about the bike as possible from the owner beforehand.

Follow these tips described below to make the correct choice:

• Do adequate research linked to pricing before buying the vehicle. You can find the prices quoted by the various seller through different websites. After finding out the prices, you should set up a budget and then approach the seller.

• You can find out a lot about the vehicle's condition by asking the right questions to the previous owner. Here's a set of questions you can ask the seller to help you out through the process:

• Did you buy the vehicle when it was new or was it used before?

• Do you wholly own the bike or are you still paying the installments? (Please note that buying a vehicle that is still being financed by a bank is more complicated. If you wish to avoid the hassles of visiting the bank and completing all the formalities, you should avoid buying the vehicle)

• Have you dropped the bike or been in any accidents while riding the bike before?

• How often did you service the bike? Do you have any records of servicing?

• Where do you give the bike for servicing?

• Is it the original paint on the bike or it has been painted over?

• Why are you selling the bike?

• Do a thorough inspection of the Bike. The quality of a used bike usually depends on how well it has been maintained. Some sellers might lie about the bike's condition, which is the main reason why you must do a thorough inspection before buying the vehicle.

• Go for a test ride. The last step would be to take the vehicle for a test drive. You can gauge the condition of the vehicle only after taking it for a ride. Check the gear, brakes, suspension, seat and control of the vehicle to judge its condition correctly.