Completing the paperwork

So you've bought a bike. What now?

Payment

The safest way to pay is bank cheque. Most banks can make up a bank cheque within 10 minutes. Take this when you go to pick up the bike, along with an LTSA MR13 (change of ownership) form that you can get from any post office.

Insurance

You should arrange to have the car insured from the moment you pay for it. You can get a car insurance quote, buy and manage your policies, and make claims all 100% online with Trade Me Insurance.

Change of ownership

When you pick up the bike you should watch the seller fill in the bottom portion of their certificate of registration with your details. They then post it to the Transport Registry Centre. You must fill out an LTSA MR13 form and pay the $9.20 change of ownership fee. You should receive your new registration certificate in the mail within a week.

Get a warranty

Even if you're not buying from a dealer you can buy a mechanical warranty and reduce the risk of expensive breakdowns.

Receipt

To protect both yourself and the seller you should make two signed copies of a receipt that identifies the parties, the vehicle, the amount paid and the exact time. This removes any doubt as to your ownership claim and who's responsible for what and from when.

Feedback

If you've bought the bike via auction you should place feedback on the seller.

For more information on vehicle change of ownership, visit the LTSA website.