Do Riding Mowers Have Titles? How to ID a Lawn Mower

Riding mowers are bought and sold daily, but without a title, there are a few challenges. Titles allow you to claim ownership of a vehicle, so how are you supposed to do so without one? There are a couple of ways that you can identify a riding mower.

Riding mowers don’t have titles, but you can identify them with serial numbers, model numbers, or sales paperwork. The transaction receipt will show your name, the date of sale, the model and serial numbers, and other identifiable information. Never get a riding mower without any of these details.

Throughout this article, you’ll also learn the following info about riding mower titles:

• How you can ID a lawn mower without a title
• Sales tips to get the most for your riding mower in a timely manner
• What to do if someone takes your riding mower without you knowing it

What Do You Use for Riding Mower Identification?

Riding mowers don’t have titles. However, for easy identification, you can use their serial and model numbers. The sales receipt given to you contains details of the riding lawnmower. It includes the serial and model number. Locating the serial number on your machine is easy. It’s at the top-right corner of the product identification tag.

The model number comprises eleven characters printed on the left side of the product identification label. The identification label of the product is under the seat pan of the riding lawnmower. It often starts with the following numbers 13, 14, 17, or 53.

For reference, follow Cub Cadet’s guide to locating the model or serial number on your lawn care gadgets and machines.

How to Sell a Mower without a Title? 

To get the best value for your used lawn mower, follow the following steps.

Clean the Mower

Cleaning your mower before selling it is a value addition method. Use an air compressor with a vacuum or blowing nozzle to blow off the grass, debris, and oil gunk from your mower. The deck, frame, and engine can be cleaned using a small stiff brush.

For this process, you will need a cleaning solution and a pressure washer to clean off the grease and dirt to give your mower a fresh look. Replace the oil filter, air cleaner blades, the oil, and fill the tires with the recommended amount of air. You should lift the mower to clean the underside as well.

Fix Your Mower

After cleaning, fixes may need to be done depending on the condition of the mower. It may include touching up the paint. There’s a high chance that your mower has faded if it’s several years old. The fiberglass may have oxidized, and the deck and frame may have scratches.

In case of visible scratches, use sandpaper to clean areas where the paint has faded before painting. Clean the underside of the deck and spray the fiberglass with wax or paint. To give your mower that shiny look, use some car wax while painting it. Check the headlights, too.

Take Quality Photos

Great photos go a long way in showcasing your mower and ensuring that it gets noticed by potential clients. Use a good camera to capture a variety of angles in a well-lit area.

Take pictures of all four sides along with pictures inside the hood and include your lawnmower’s name brand if it’s a known one. Due to listing and shipping arrangements, you will need to measure your lawnmower.

Understand the Market

It’s essential to price your mower within the right market condition. Try to understand the market value of your product. Research and find out the price of recently sold lawnmowers in your area. You could try Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, eBay, and similar sites.

Pricing your mower way below the prevailing market rates may seem like a great marketing strategy. It may be counter-effective since some potential customers might assume that your mower has defects or is of low quality.

It’s advisable to set your price range to a fair market value that’s low enough to get people interested yet high enough to be able to negotiate. Are you thinking about getting a riding mower?

Where Can You Sell the Mower?

The most common way of selling your lawnmower is posting it online and listing it on local classified bidding sites. eBay, Craigslist, and Amazon are great sites for online selling.

However, you should be aware of the cons and never let your equipment leave your property before receiving payment. Another way of selling your mower is taking it to the dealer who sold you the equipment to see if they are willing to return it.

You may have to part with a decent refund, though. This method should only be used if you want to get rid of the lawn mower as soon as possible.

Wait for the Buyer

Wait until you get a buyer and only dispatch the mower to the customer when you have received the full amount. Accepting a variety of means of payment increases your chances of selling the equipment.

Sell to a customer within your locality (if possible) and ensure that you select a cost-effective means of shipping. 

You should provide evidence of ownership of the equipment like the original invoice or bill of sale as evidence that the equipment has been paid for and not stolen.

Documentation of the Sale

Provide a form that indicates your full legal name and address and that of the buyer. The bill of sale should show the agreed-upon sales price. Make sure to disclose in writing if there are any liens and the amount owed to the equipment in detail. Also, consider writing a bill of sale with an ‘as is’ agreement so they can’t claim that you sold them junk.

What to Do if Your Riding Mower is Stolen

Lawn equipment is susceptible to theft. It’s important to store away your lawn mower gear, such as keys or remotes, in a secure place when you’re not around.

You can also secure your lawn equipment with chains and padlocks or bolt it on a heavy piece of wood.

Installing a GPS tracking device on your riding mower can also help you monitor its location in case of theft. A loud alarm should be integrated into some of the models to alert you when someone tries to move the equipment.

Lastly, have the seller note your item’s serial number or have it registered online via post mail. Your mower may get stolen despite these measures; you should have a homeowner’s insurance policy with coverage for lawn equipment. The following are ways to retrieve your riding mower if it’s stolen:

1. Report It to the Police: Report the stolen mower to the law so that they can help you find it. You will have to submit the serial number of your mower to help the police identify it. Also, keep a few pictures on-hand in case this happens.
2. GPS Tracking Options: If you have installed a GPS tracking device, it will help you know exactly where your machine is. You can then inform the police to help them recover it.
3. Inform Your Insurance Company: If you have insured your lawn equipment with a reputable insurance company, you can report it stolen. The company will replace it or figure out the value of the stolen property. You should provide the policy documents to them, and they will process your claim.

Erie Insurance has a few extra tips about protecting your mower from being stolen.

Wrapping It Up

Now that you know why you don’t necessarily need a title for your riding mower, you’re ready to deal with transactions. Never get a mower without a model and serial number. On that note, make sure you get a bill of sale so the owner can’t claim that you took it.

Here’s a quick recap:

• Riding mowers typically don’t have titles.
• Model and serial numbers are often used for identification.
• Consider getting a GPS device to track your lawn mower.
• Get insurance on your heavy-duty, high-end lawn care equipment.