Bicycle sales contract: template, infos & tips

Used bicycles and especially e-bikes often still have a high value. This makes it all the more important to sign a written contract of sale. This way you can prove that the bike belongs to you and that you did not steal it. In addition, a contract will help you if you discover defects after the purchase or if you are the seller and the buyer complains about defects.

But first things first.

Verbal vs. written: Different types of sales contracts

No private seller of a second-hand bicycle or e-bike has to draw up a written contract of sale. A contract is always concluded when a bicycle is purchased. If there is no written document, it is a verbal contract. This is just as valid as the written version, but it has one serious disadvantage: it is much more difficult to prove. It is also more difficult to prove the rights and obligations of the persons involved.

This brings us to the advantages of a written bill of sale.

Why a written bicycle bill of sale is better for a used bicycle

If you’re lucky, you’ll never have to think about it again after you’ve bought your bike. But in the following situations, a written sale form bicycle bill is a great help:

• In case of defects: If a used bicycle has defects that the seller has not pointed out to you, you may be entitled to a warranty. A private seller can exclude the warranty: What many people don’t know is that they are still liable for defects that they have deliberately concealed or knowingly made false statements about. A written contract of sale will help you enforce your rights.
• If the bike was stolen: Many people have accidentally bought a stolen bike or e-bike. By presenting a contract, you can prove that you are not the thief. Unfortunately, you have to return the bike in any case.
• If your bike is stolen: If your bike or e-bike is stolen, you have to prove to the police that it is your bike. Without a purchase contract, this is anything but easy.

Speaking of theft – you’d better be prepared!

Today in 2023, the average selling price of an e-bike is about 3,200 euros. No wonder that not only casual thieves but highly professional gangs formed long ago to make quick and easy cash out of their e-bike loot.

Most of the time, new or used stolen e-bikes end up on the black market, either disassembled into individual parts or whole, abroad or in dodgy corners of your city. A bicycle lock alone will not prevent professional criminals from stealing your bike, no matter how secure it is. Unfortunately, any mechanical lock can be broken within a few minutes with an angle grinder.

Tip: Read our 7 expert tips on how to properly protect your e-bike from theft and how to make sure you get it back in case of an emergency.

Tip: Do you actually know what to do if your bike is stolen? We have summarised the three most important immediate measures in this article.

As you can see, there are many good reasons to insist on a written sale form if you want to buy a used bicycle. If the discounted price of the bike is loo low at a flea market or on online marketplaces, you should become sceptical.

This happened to a PowUnity customer in Copenhagen. One day, his e-bike worth seven thousand euros was stolen. However, he had equipped the e-bike with the BikeTrax GPS tracker and was able to see the live location immediately. The stolen e-bike was practically driving towards him in Copenhagen when he wanted to secure it with the police – and who was driving this e-bike?

A young, innocent girl who had bought the e-bike for a measly 500 euros at the flea market an hour earlier. She had to get off, of course, because the owner was able to prove his bill of sale for the bike on his mobile phone display in the digital BikePass of the PowUnity app.

Both the seller and you as a potential buyer benefit from such a sale form. For example, the seller can prove that the interested buyer was aware of certain serious defects at the time of purchase – provided they have drawn up the bicycle bill correctly.

These contents belong in the contract

A sale form for a bicycle does not have to be a page-long read. But it should contain the following contents in addition to the date, the seller’s and the buyer’s signature, in case questions arise later:

Personal details of the buyer and seller

The contract should start with the personal details of former and new owner to the contract. In addition to name and address, this includes the identity card or passport number and the issuing authority.

Details of the bicycle

The more detailed the bicycle’s characteristics are, the easier it will be for you to prove the rightful ownership belongs to you in the event of theft. For example, the brand, model, frame colour and frame serial number.

Information about defects

Finally, the seller should explicitly state in the contract of sale that the bicycle is his or her property and give details of any serious defects (for example, a broken frame). At the same time, we recommend excluding the full legal warranty for defects.

Then all that is missing is the price and signatures – and the document is ready.

Have the bicycle bill of sale digitally at hand – in the PowUnity app

Having a written sale form and finding it when you need it are two different things. With the BikePass in the PowUnity app, you always have the proof of legal purchase for your bike with you. This means you don’t have to rummage through drawers or search through folders when you need it, just pull out your mobile phone.

Note: You can fill out your bike ID digitally in the PowUnity app or create it analogue – no matter how you do it, you should definitely create it before the bike is stolen. In this article you will find information on what must be included in the bike pass and how to create it digitally in the PowUnity app.

In the PowUnity app, for example, you can enter all the important data about your bike in addition to the purchase contract and even add pictures of the bike. In the event of theft, the PowUnity app and the BikeTrax GPS tracker give you a trace back to your bike, you can send the current location and information about the bike to the police in the vicinity with one click and nothing stands in the way of the manhunt.