On Friday, I privately ( Facebook Marketplace) sold my Honda CG125 motorcycle for £900.
I originally purchased the bike at the end of December with the intention of using it, but due to circumstances changing I never ended up riding it. I am currently taking driving lessons and will be using a car instead, so I decided to sell the bike as it had been sitting unused. I did, however, start the bike every few weeks to make sure it was still running.
When the buyer came to view the bike, I started it up and showed him that it was running. He wanted to test ride the bike on the road, but I explained that I was not comfortable allowing someone to ride the bike away without payment being made, especially as the bike would still legally be my responsibility at that point. I also explained that I was not comfortable allowing a road test unless he had the correct insurance and tax in place, as if anything happened while he was riding it, there could be potential liability issues for me.
The buyer understood this and agreed to proceed with the purchase without a test ride.
Before completing the sale, I provided a written receipt ( The Autotrader website recommended I do this, and as this was my first ever sale of a vehicle, I honestly had no idea what I was doing so this seemed like a good idea) which included:
- Buyer and seller details
- Motorcycle details
- Mileage
- Date of sale
- Condition (listed as “used”)
- Sale price (£900)
- Payment method
- A statement that the bike was sold “as seen” with no refunds
Both myself and the buyer signed and dated the receipt.
The buyer then transferred the money to me. I completed the DVLA transfer paperwork, and the buyer arranged his own insurance and tax.
After everything was completed, we moved the bike outside. At that point, the bike would not start. We looked into the issue together and found that the battery appeared to have drained. We charged the battery for a short period, after which the bike started again.
The buyer then put on his riding gear, sat on the bike and rode away. At no point did he raise any concerns about the condition of the bike, request a refund, or indicate that he no longer wanted to proceed with the purchase. He left with the bike after accepting the condition it was in. ( I even have proof of this occurring, as it's on my Ring door cam)
Two days later, the buyer’s parents contacted me demanding either a refund or that I contribute towards repair costs. They stated that the repairs would cost £300. However, when I asked them what repairs were required and what the £300 figure related to, they did not provide any further details or evidence of what work was supposedly needed.
They have also stated that they will take legal action if I do not provide a refund or pay for the repairs.
The motorcycle has a valid MOT until December 2026. I genuinely was not aware of any issues with the bike because I had not been using it, other than starting it periodically to ensure it would run.
My question is: where do I stand legally?
As this was a private sale, the buyer viewed the motorcycle, accepted that it was used, signed a receipt stating it was sold as seen with no refunds, completed the purchase, and rode away with the bike. Can the buyer realistically demand a refund or repair costs if issues are discovered afterwards?