If you're looking to purchase a motorcycle at a great price, buying one with a salvage title may be an advantageous option. Before making a large purchasing decision, however, it is always important to have all the details before allowing yourself to get blinded by the low price tag. While there are many benefits to purchasing a salvage motorcycle, there are also several additional challenges that may emerge throughout the process that you need to be aware of. To help you make an informed purchasing decision, we have composed this quick and simple guide on what you need to know when buying a salvage motorcycle.
What a Salvage Motorcycle Is
The first thing you need to know when buying a salvage motorcycle is what exactly that is. Essentially, a salvage motorcycle is a vehicle that has been issued a salvage title by an insurance agency. They generally assign salvage titles to vehicles that have experienced substantial damage to the point where repair costs exceed roughly 70 percent of their value.
The Benefits
Let's start with the positives. There are many potential advantages to purchasing a motorcycle with a salvage title over one with a clean title. Namely, salvage title vehicles typically cost far less than vehicles with a clean or repaired title. As such, if you're looking to purchase a motorcycle on a budget, a salvage title model can be a great option. Or, if you've had your eye on a luxury or vintage model that is typically outside your price range, purchasing salvaged can make typically expensive models more financially feasible.
In addition to their lower price tag, motorcycles with salvage titles also offer the added benefit of increased fulfillment. If you enjoy working on vehicles, you understand the sense of accomplishment and pride that comes from repairing and driving a vehicle that was previously unsuitable for the road.
The Potential Challenges
- Conducting repairs: An obvious challenge that accompanies purchasing a salvage motorcycle is that it will likely require substantial repairs. Before making a purchase, try to determine the extent of the repairs necessary, and figure out whether you want to conduct them yourself or hire a professional mechanic.
- Sourcing repair parts: To conduct the necessary repairs, you must first acquire the necessary repair parts. Before purchasing the motorcycle, it is a good idea to find out how accessible the repair parts for the model are. If you are purchasing a limited edition or vintage motorcycle, finding the parts you need may prove to be a significant challenge.
- Getting a legal title change: Motorcycles that have a salvage title are not legal to drive on the road. For a salvage motorcycle to become roadworthy, the owner must conduct necessary repairs, get it professionally inspected, and request a legal title change from their state's title department.
If you're interested in purchasing a motorcycle with a salvage title, check out our extensive inventory at The AE of Miami. We offer a wide range of salvage motorcycles for sale that we can ship anywhere in the United States. To learn more about our competitively priced vehicles, contact us today.