Need Advice on Purchasing My First Tractor

[VortecZ71]

Hi guys, at some point within the next few months I'll be purchasing a used Deere. I've been looking mostly at Craigslist (let me know if there are other places I should be looking). I'll probably end up buying from a private party and paying in cash. What kind of documentation do you use to make the sale legal? I want to make sure to protect myself. Should I just use a generic bill of sale form on the internet? Also, when purchased new, do tractors come with any kind of title or proof of ownership?

I'd also appreciate any other advice you guys think is helpful. Thanks, Chris

 

[jeff9366]

1. I've been looking mostly at Craigslist (let me know if there are other places I should be looking). I'll probably end up buying from a private party.

2. What kind of documentation do you use to make the sale legal? Should I just use a generic bill of sale form on the internet?

3. Also, when purchased new, do tractors come with any kind of title or proof of ownership?

1. EBay auctions a lot of tractors. You can limit search to a selected radius from your home.

Look under BUSINESS & INDUSTRIAL > HEAVY EQUIPMENT > TRACTORS.

For buyers and sellers there is much less scam listings and buyer protection on eBay.

tractorhouse.com is another on-line tractor auction site.

2. Bill of Sale is fine. If the tractor was financed you have to determine that loan was paid off completely, otherwise the tractor remains collateral of finance agency and can be repossessed, even if you pay seller in cash.

3. No title nor proof of ownership. Bill of Sales is it. (Stolen tractors are sometimes sold on-line. Proceed with caution, especially out-of-state.)

 

[arlen4720]

If it's a john deere, take the serial number to any john deere dealer, and they can tell you if the loan was paid off....if it was financed through Deere Financial. Most of the time it is through deere because of the 0% interest. They can also tell you the service history.