There is nothing cooler than a Vespa. Supremely versatile, it's the perfect thing to drive around in a small town or on a resort island when you just need to get from A to B. In those situations, cars can be clunky and over rated. But, since the Vespa has somewhat of a niche market, it can be kind of hard to sell. Here are a few tips on how to do it!
Take inventory of your Vespa. What is the year and model? How many miles does it have on it? Is their any damage that's occurred? Paint scratches, scratched rims, anything that takes away value from the Vespa. Conversely, what work have you had done? Did you add new brakes, get a new paint job, refurbish the seat? You get the general idea!
Estimate it's value. The standard which most vehicles go by is Kelly's Blue book. This can be found at KBB.com. Take the time to peruse the site and enter as much info as you can about the Vespa. This will give you three different prices. What it's worth if you are selling it, what it's worth if you trade it in, and what a dealer might sell it for. Depending the avenue you choose, set your price or expectations accordingly.
Advertise. If you've decided to trade it in, this step won't be necessary. Simply take it to your local Vespa or motorbike dealer and tell them you wish to sell it. See what they offer and if it is close to the Kelly Blue Book value. If it isn't either, re-evaluate your estimate or keep looking for another dealership. But if you are selling the Vespa, take the time to advertise online. You could place ads in the paper, but truthfully that is a dying medium. Way more eyeballs will see your ad at a much cheaper cost on the web. List on sites like bikesales.com or even ebay. Also send an email to all of your family and friends. Who knows, maybe one of them has been hoping you sell your Vespa all along? The point is get the word out as much as possible.
Meet with the potential buyer. Once you get interest from a buyer, make arrangements to meet. Preferably in a public location if you do not know the person. Keep the meeting friendly as you remind him of the price, tell him the work you have had done to the Vespa. Let him take it for a test drive. Be sure to hold some piece of collateral, because with a Vespa the person could simply take off. Also make sure they wear a helmet while test driving as they are required in most states.
Make the sale and exchange papers. Most states require Vespas to be registered, so when you make the sale be sure you properly exchange papers in accordance with your state's guideline. Be sure to give a receipt and keep a copy of the terms of sale. Terms of sale include the price and work, if any, you agreed to perform. Also you will need the terms of sale for tax purposes at the end of the year. Congratulations, you just learned how to sell your Vespa!
