Tearing up trails or taking your rig out hunting are some of the best ways to enjoy owning an ATV. With price tags on the fastest, newest, and most advanced models running north of $20,000, the majority of riders prefer to buy used. If you know what you’re looking for, you can find a great deal, but if you don’t—you might be stuck with a lemon.
On the flip-side, as a seller, it’s important to know what your used atv is worth. This in-depth guide to used ATVs from High Lifter will help you make informed decisions when buying or selling your four wheeler.
Used ATV prices
On average, you can expect to sell or purchase used ATVs for between $3,500 – $7,000 according to Kelly Blue Book value.
Considering the value of any vehicle instantly drops as soon as you take it off the lot, most people assume that the used ATV market is ultra-affordable. This isn’t always the case: when people try to understand why used atv prices are so high at times and so low at others, they need to look at the big picture.
What the calculation boils down to are a few key common-sense factors:
- Condition
- Mileage
- Model
- Upgrades
- Accidents
If it’s a popular, dependable model with little to no rust, lower mileage, and upgrades to the suspension and engine performance—you’ve got a high-value used ATV on your hands. You’re more likely to fetch a higher price if the buyer can see how much effort you put into upkeep.
When maintained properly, ATVs can run for 15 years plus. If you can get that kind of longevity out of a vehicle, you can assume the price is going to run higher than others in the used market. Brands known for long-lasting vehicles will always hold their value better.
What is considered high mileage for an ATV?
In the power sports community, a four wheeler is considered high mileage at over 5,000 miles. A regular season of riding will put on about 1,000 miles, so five years’ worth of riding is an industry average.
The value of an ATV depreciates significantly with an increase in miles. Higher mileage means more time has passed, more near-misses have happened, and chances the ATV has missed regular maintenance goes up. Plainly put, the value of higher mileage ATVs is lower because they’re more likely to break down.
At High Lifter, we’ve seen Can-Ams with 10K+ miles on them that run like a dream and others that start sputtering out at 3,000 miles. It varies from model to model, but the best way to guarantee longevity for a used ATV is proper care and maintenance. It’s key to fighting depreciating ATV value.
When do ATVs begin to depreciate?
Between larger and smaller ATVs, depreciation rates are different.A larger (400cc+) engine depreciates the most in the first year. Smaller models around the 250cc mark and below start to lose more value in the second or third year.
Smaller ATV depreciation rates
- Year 1: 27%
- Year 2: 25%
- Year 3: 15%
400-500cc ATV depreciation rates
- Year 1: 23%
- Year 2: 15%
- Year 3 10%
As you can see, the first year takes off around a quarter of the vehicle’s value, large or small, but the larger engines seem to hold their value better over the 3-year mark. If you’re doing the math in your head, thinking, “what’s my ATV worth?”, the answer will depend on where you sell it.Where can you sell an ATV?
Before we look into where you should sell your used ATV, the most important thing you need to do is check local laws and make sure you have all the necessary paperwork for title transfers, registration, and taxes. If you have all of that figured out, the hard part’s over.
There are some tried and true methods for selling an ATV that still work. People find success posting on community bulletin boards or asking around to friends and family. If you think these won’t work, you might try selling your vehicle online.
Selling used ATVs online
Facebook Marketplace is one of the top places to post used ATVs or recreational vehicles. To make it easy, we’re covering the do’s and don’ts of selling an ATV on Facebook Marketplace.
Do:
- Use up-to-date photos from multiple angles—the front, back, left and right sides, under the hood.
- Consider the lighting in photos—can they see the whole thing? Are there too many shadows?
- Practice honesty—detail the make, model, year, mileage, condition, and vehicle history, accidents, parts, or replacements.
- Research and set an educated price you’re comfortable with—checking Kelly Blue book can help.
- Vet your potential buyer—if they’ve got no friends and no pictures, or you feel like it could be a scam, don’t engage.
- Have a meet-up spot picked (that isn’t your house)—with interested parties.
Don’t:
- Use stock photos from the web.—It’s misleading and doesn’t build confidence on the part of the buyer.
- Lie about the condition—They’re going to find out soon enough on a test drive.
- Say “OBO” if you’re not comfortable with lowering the price.
- Mention your address in the post.
- Sell multiple items in the same listing—things get confusing when you’re selling a helmet, an ATV, and a full set of tires, but they only want the tires and the helmet. Save yourself the headache—list the items separately!
Should you buy used?
The decision to buy used for any motor vehicle is a big one. There’s a give and take to both used and new, and you can’t know for sure what’s best for you without seeing both sides.
Pros to buying used ATVs
- More affordable
- Better availability in marketplace
- Increased variety in trims/upgrades
A used ATV is almost always going to be cheaper than new—that’s not news to anybody. What most riders don’t consider, however, is the massive inventory of options available.
Buying new means you only get 1-2 models per year. Buying used means every model that still runs is up for grabs. The offroad community is all about customization, and when you buy used, you can get aftermarket upgrades already added on.
If the used ATV you’re eyeing is missing the upgrades you want like lift kits or snorkel kits, you can find them with High Lifter.
Cons of buying used ATVs
- Lower reliability than new
- Harder to know actual value
- Gaps in vehicle history
With a lower price tag comes some negatives as well. “Wear” parts like wheel bearings, tires, and brakes go belly-up faster than a new ATV’s would. It’s important to know what has been updated, what needs replacement, and what you might want to keep an eye on.
With owner-sellers setting their used ATV’s price, you run the risk of valuation that may not be 100% accurate. They may over-value the ATV, or you might under-value it just as easily.
Finally, you can’t know everything that’s happened to the vehicle. Did it sit through a flood? Did the axle bend trying to uproot a tree stump? Has it been in any accidents? These are things sellers might know but “forget” to disclose. This is why some people prefer to buy new.
Pros of buying new ATVs
- Lowest possible mileage
- Newest technology
- Ability to build to your needs
There’s no better mileage than no mileage. Brand new is always going to be valued higher, because the assumption is you have plenty of time before you’ll need any serious replacements. New ATVs are coming out with better dashes and even sound systems or GPS functionality. You’re simply not going to get high-tech features like this on a 2002 ATV.
Cons of buying New ATVs
- Newer features aren’t proven
- Higher price
- Dealership fees, etc.
Although the newest, shiniest bells and whistles are enticing, there hasn’t been enough time for OEMs and ATV owners to know what features aren’t needed or straight up just don’t even work. The price is going to be significantly higher, obviously, and if you buy new, you have to factor in the additional fees that come with going through a dealership.
Getting your used ATV ready for the trails
Sometimes you need to literally kick the tires and open the hood to see what condition your used ATV is in. It’s important to check all your “wear” parts before you sell or buy so you can make an informed decision.
Here are some good first things to check and replace if necessary:
- Tires—is the tread still good? Do they leak at all?
- Wheels—are they dented? Are they rusting?
- Lights—do they work?
- Belts—is the rubber cracking? Does the engine squeak when starting?
- Suspension—does it sag one way or the other? Are the springs and shocks in good working order?
- Wheel bearings—does the wheel wiggle when you grab it from the top and pull?
- Boosting used ATV value with aftermarket parts
By customizing a used ATV with suspension upgrades, lift kits, performance parts, and other accessories, you can increase its value. Certain aftermarket upgrades like performance tires for mudding, storage racks, and suspension systems are the most popular, under glow light kits and light whips can still be a deciding factor for many.
If you’re buying or selling a used ATV, High Lifter has you covered. Whether it’s performance and aesthetic upgrades to boost value or replacement parts to keep your used ATV running, you’ll find the best selection available on our site. View our full parts and accessories selection here.