How to buy a used tractor

[z4racer]

I am considering buying a used tractor that I found on craigslist. Having never bought a tractor how do I protect my self and prove the purchase if I use a cashiers check? Do tractors have titles or registrations? If tractors have titles but this tractor still holds a note what paperwork should I require to make sure the transaction is legit.

 

[newbury]

There are many threads posting many points of view on this.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/buying-pricing-comparisons/145631-selling-tractor-advice.html

Mine is evident in many.
I bought mine off CL in April.
I believe it is a total GAMBLE.
Be prepared to throw all the money away.

Bring a reliable witness (a Supreme Court judge),be prepared to pay in cash or gold, A lot of posters say they would only take CASH. Thus you need an armed guard if your carrying heavy amounts of cash.
Only deal locally.

I did none of that.

Good luck, and compare to Barlow's.

 

[Turbys_1700]

I just made my first purchase off of Craig's List and everything went well...
Got an excellent air compressor for a song...
I called the seller and got the info on the unit...
Once I saw it I knew that it was a bargain...

If I was in your shoes I would talk to the seller...
Get a feel for his knowledge of the tractor...
Ask about the background, use, ect...
If you then think the unit is for you, set up a time to go look at it...
Take an experienced person with you that knows tractors in and out...
Get their opinion on the unit...
Either make and offer or run...

It's pretty simple...
Most folk are honest...
Some are not...
It's a crap shoot...
But you can make it an "educated crap shoot"...

 

[greggh]

I agree. I think that the most important is to buy local. I seem to see most of the scams are not local and do not give a city as a location on CL. The unfortunate issue on ebay is that they might have stolen someone's identity. However you find that they are not local when you say you live down the road and want to go by check it out.

 

[shane]

Hadn't heard anybody say it, but what about making a video of the transaction?

 

[440roadrunner]

Hadn't heard anybody say it, but what about making a video of the transaction?

I'm no lawyer, nor do I play one on TV, but in many states this would be illegal without the consent of the second party. OF course if they refuse, you might want to NOT buy that particular equipment

 

[Guywire]

I recently bought a tractor off of CraigsList. I got lucky as my mechanic wasn't available to check it out until after I bought it (he thought it was a very good deal for what I was after).

Because it was so cheap, no registration and a cash only deal, I printed out a Bill of Sale found on the web (one of the sites would be Bill of Sale Form for Motor Vehicles - DMV.ORG) and had the seller sign it (I also gave him a copy of it for his CYA). Also, I got lucky that the seller was willing (for a modest amount) to deliver the tractor, so we swapped tractor for money in my driveway. It also turned out that we had some friends in common.

One of the many downsides to CL is that many of our thieves now use it to off load stolen merchandise (much like they used swap meets in the past). CL is very much a caveat emptor ("buyer beware") situation.

Roy

 

[flusher]

I am considering buying a used tractor that I found on craigslist. Having never bought a tractor how do I protect my self and prove the purchase if I use a cashiers check? Do tractors have titles or registrations? If tractors have titles but this tractor still holds a note what paperwork should I require to make sure the transaction is legit.

No titles or registrations for tractors that I know of.

Here's a simple BOS form. If the Seller refuses to sign this, then walk away.

BILL OF SALE



I,__________, of [name of Seller] , in the County

of_________________, State of________, in consideration of

________________Dollars, ($__________), to be paid by ____

_______________, the receipt of which

is hereby acknowledged, do hereby grant, sell, transfer and

deliver unto ______________________ the following:

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

[Description]



To have and to hold the same to____________ and his heirs,

executors, administrators, successors and assign, to their

use forever.



And I hereby covenant with the grantee that I am the lawful

owner of said goods; That they are free from all

encumbrances; That I have good right to sell the same as

aforesaid; And that I will warrant and defend the same

against the lawful claims and demands of all persons.



In witness, whereof, I__________________ , hereunto set my

hand, this ___ day of_______________20__.


Seller's signature.




Buyer's Signature




Last Jan I bought a 1951 Minneapolis Moline BF tractor I found on CL. Cash deal. For a tractor this old there's about zero probability that it being financed. So I just use a simple BOS that states the cash price. I sign, Seller signs, we both write in our CA driver's license #s on the BOS.