Legal Services for Collectors of Rare Vehicles in Northwest Florida

Collectors of rare and collectible vehicles, whether muscle cars, classic cars, vintage motorcycles, or rare and exotic vehicles are passionate about their vehicles. Northwest Florida is a magnet for collectors of rare and collectible vehicles, and Pensacola is home to many classic car clubs and organizations. Book soothing for a few minutes with a video of rare cars or motorcycles expertly navigating the many scenic drives in Pensacola and you will understand why collectors and enthusiasts gather in northwest Florida, including Pensacola FL.

Given the prevalence of collectors and enthusiasts in our area we provide many important legal services to collectors and enthusiasts. Buying and selling classic cars, vintage motorcycles, and other rare vehicles has challenges, including nuances in contract language to waiver rights, calculating the proper purchase price, and financing issues.

Contracts and Financing Issues for Rare Cars

The services we provide for vehicle collectors include assistance with purchase agreements and the sales agreements and finance agreements. We also assist with contracts for customizations and body work, as well as appraisals and valuations. We understand the various forms of purchase agreements and sales agreements, and can assist buyers and sellers with evaluating if an agreement is a purchase agreement or a sales agreement, and how to best use the various terms in the agreements to your benefit.

In order to properly value a classic car for sale we review several resources. The resources we utilize are based on the vehicle, including if there is a book value. For example, classic motorcycles do not feature in most automobile guides and therefore a collector or enthusiast should rely on collecting the information below and then requesting an appraisal from a certified appraiser.

Some common sources for motorcycle values include Kelley Blue Book Motorcycle Pricing Guide, NADA, Haggerty, Hemmings, Motorcycle Classics, and Hagerty Valuation Tools. We have identified a common issue for collectors when utilizing these sources, including most guides list prices for motorcycles when new, but do not assess the value of a motorcycle today. The cost of a new version of a motorcycle is not a good assessment of the value of a classic or antique motorcycle that has some of its parts manufactured overseas and in different years.

The mistakes we identify in attempting to value a classic motorcycle is not properly assessing the year, make, model, and items that devalue the motorcycle such as damage and upgrades. For example, a motorcycle with visible rust is not worth the same as a motorcycle in the same condition that was properly cleaned and restored. This is often the most common mistake when buying or selling old motorcycles. The second most common mistake is not properly inspecting the motorcycle for mechanical or other issues that may be costly to fix such as brakes, clutch, or transmission.

Classic cars, rare motorcycles, and vintage motorcycles may also all require registration with the state of Florida. If you purchased a rare or collectible vehicle and are not sure if you need to register the vehicle or what license plates to use, contact us to assist you or to help you request a specialty license plate. We have helped many collectors and enthusiasts with vanity plates, specialty plates, and comprehensive legal services for northwest Florida vehicle collectors.