Buying a Scooter on a Budget

If you’re looking to buy your first scooter, or maybe a small ride-around to go alongside the family car, then you’ll probably have a fixed budget in mind. This budget may not be as large as you’d like so you’ll probably want to find a reliable scooter that doesn’t break the bank.

Before you even start looking for a scooter though you should work out exactly what your budget is. Make sure you account for a crash helmet, protective clothing, tax, insurance and at least a few weeks worth of fuel. Many people forget these important little extras and find they can’t ride their scooter even after they’ve found and bought it!

So, once you have a price range in mind for your scooter where do you start looking?

Newspaper classified sections - Most local newspapers have a section where people advertise things they want to sell, including scooters and other forms of transport. This is a great place to start looking for your budget scooter as the majority of the scooters being sold will be in your local area. Make a note of the ones you can afford and phone for appointments to view them.

Car and motorbike magazines – this type of magazine often has a ‘for sale’ section where scooters of all types and sizes can be bought. Generally speaking the scooters for sale in motorbike magazines are top quality and so they may be a little bit pricey for some.

Used scooter dealers – not every area has this type of business but most of the main cities do. You can get some very nice second hand scooters from dealers for bargain prices – often because they have taken the scooters in as a part exchange and need to sell them on again. Often if you explain to a used scooter dealer that you have a fixed budget they can show you models that most suit your needs for the price you specify.

On the internet – there are numerous websites where scooters are advertised but not all are worth looking at. You can get some great bargains on auction sites but be aware that you probably won’t be able to see the scooter before you buy, and so you’ll have to take the seller’s word that it is actually in the condition they say it is.

Choosing your budget scooter

Depending on the size of your budget you may be quite restricted with regards to the type of scooter you can look at. Brand new models are probably a bit to expensive although most of the large manufacturers and dealers offer payment plans that last several years. If you want to own your scooter outright though then a second hand model is more suitable.

So, let’s say you have conducted a search and you’ve found a number of scooters that suit your needs and are within budget. What next?

Firstly when you go to see the scooters that interest you try to take someone with you who knows a quality machine from one fit for the scrap yard. A second hand scooter can look in very good condition from the outside but the engine could be in poor condition – a factor that you may not pick up on if you don’t know exactly what to look for.

Ask if you can take the scooter for a test drive, or alternatively ask if you can ride pillion while the owner drives. Either way you’ll be able to see how well the scooter moves and if there are any clunks, bangs or other weird noises when on the road.

When you are completely satisfied that the scooter you’re looking at is the one for you, try to negotiate on the price. Mention that you are due to look at a few after this one that are a little bit cheaper, but that you are interested. Even if the seller doesn’t lower the price it will still be within your budget, otherwise you wouldn’t be looking at it!

So, you’ve found a scooter you like that you can comfortably afford. Now all you need to do is tax it (if indeed it needs tax), insure it and get your helmet on…oh and have loads of fun showing it off to the world.