Buyer's guide

Buying a used motorbike without buying a stolen one

Stolen bikes are often sold quickly and cheaply online. If police find you've bought one, it's taken back and you lose your money. These checks take about 15 minutes.

Before you go

1. Ask for the rego and VIN up front. A genuine seller won't mind. If they refuse, walk away.
2. Check the rego on EzyReg. It's free and shows the vehicle the plate belongs to and whether it's registered. The make and model should match the ad.
3. Run a PPSR check on the VIN. It costs a small fee and shows if the bike is listed as stolen, written off, or still has money owing on it. Keep the certificate.
4. Search the rego and VIN on RideWatch using the box above. Owners often list here before a bike shows up anywhere else.

At the inspection

1. Meet at the seller's home, not a carpark or servo. Check the address matches their licence or the rego papers.
2. Find the VIN yourself. On most bikes it's stamped on the right side of the steering head, the tube at the front of the frame where the forks attach. There's usually a frame plate nearby too. Make sure it matches what they told you.
3. Check the engine number on the crankcase. It should look factory-stamped, with no grinding or re-stamping.
4. Ask for both keys and see that they both start the bike.
5. Look at the paperwork: rego papers in the seller's name, service history, and the original purchase receipt if they have it.

Red flags

• The VIN or engine number is scratched, ground off, painted over or covered by a sticker.
• The ignition is damaged, has been replaced, or there's only one key, or none.
• Fresh rattle-can paint, or plastics that don't match the frame colour.
• No plates, a plate that doesn't match the bike on EzyReg, or the seller "lost" the rego papers.
• A price well under market, a seller in a hurry, cash only, or a meeting place that isn't their home.
• Dirt bikes with no paperwork at all. They're the most stolen and the hardest to trace.

If something's not right

Don't confront the seller and don't hand over money. Leave, then call the Police Assistance Line on 131 444 with the ad, the seller's details and where you saw the bike. If you think it's stolen but don't know whose it is, report it as a suspicious bike and we'll check it against every stolen listing.