Guide
Buying a used bike safely
Before meeting, ask the seller for the frame serial number and check it for free with the destolen check. Be wary of prices far below normal, of sellers in a hurry and of anyone who has no receipt or cannot explain where the bike comes from. Meet in a busy, well-lit place, make sure the engraved number matches, pay only when you have the bike in front of you and put the sale in writing. If it is reported stolen, do not buy it and tell the police: under Spanish law, the owner can claim it back even if you bought it in good faith.
Reviewed in October 2026.
Step by step
Look closely at the listing and the seller
Warning signs include a price far below normal for that make and model, unclear photos or photos taken from the internet, a rush to sell, a newly created profile or one selling many different bikes, and a seller who has no receipt, cannot explain where the bike comes from or will not show it in person.
Ask for the serial number and check it for free
Before meeting, ask for the frame serial number (and, on an e-bike, the motor and battery numbers) and look it up in the destolen check: it is free, needs no account and searches reports from the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police), Bike Index and bikes registered on destolen. If the seller will not give it to you, be wary.
Check a serial number for freeAsk for the receipt or proof of purchase
The original receipt or warranty certificate helps you know where the bike comes from. If the seller has neither, ask where and when they bought it, and be wary of vague answers.
Meet in a public place and inspect the bike
In daylight, in a busy, well-lit place; better if someone goes with you. Take your time checking the brakes, wheels, chain and frame, and make sure the engraved number matches the one you were given and has not been filed off, scratched or covered.
Where is the serial number on a bike?Pay carefully
The safest option is to pay in person once you have the bike in front of you and have done your checks. Do not pay deposits or make bank transfers to someone you do not know, and do not give out your card details. If you are buying remotely, use the platform's shipping with protected payment, where the seller is only paid once you confirm you have received it.
Put the sale in writing
A simple document with the date, both people's details, the make, model, serial number and price, signed by both of you. Keep it with screenshots of the listing and the conversation. Then register the bike: on destolen it is free.
If it is reported stolen, do not buy it
Do not pay or hand over a deposit, and do not confront the seller. Tell the police (in Spain: 112, 091 Policía Nacional or 062 Guardia Civil) and give them the link to the listing and screenshots. If the destolen check shows it as stolen, you can alert the owner from the theft page without seeing their details.
What if I find out after buying it that it was stolen?
Under Spanish law, even if you bought it in good faith, the owner can claim it back: article 464 of the Civil Code lets someone unlawfully deprived of a movable item recover it from whoever holds it. Do not sell or hide it: go to the police with the written sale agreement, proof of payment and screenshots of the listing and the conversation. If you have to give it back, you would have to claim your money from the seller.
Buying something you know is stolen can be the offence of handling stolen goods (receptación, article 298 of the Spanish Criminal Code). According to Spanish Supreme Court case law, certainty is not required: it may be enough that a criminal origin was likely given the circumstances, such as a price far below market value or a clandestine sale. That is why it is worth keeping proof that you bought carefully.
This is general information, not legal advice.
What the check cannot guarantee
A bike that is not reported stolen simply does not appear in the sources the check searches. Many thefts are never reported, or are reported without a serial number, so also look at the seller, the paperwork and the bike in person.
Frequently asked questions
How do I pay for a used bike safely?
In person, once you have it in front of you and have checked the serial number. Remotely, with the platform's shipping with protected payment, where the seller is only paid once you confirm receipt. Avoid bank transfers and deposits to strangers.
What happens if I unknowingly buy a stolen bike?
Under Spanish law, the owner can claim it back even if you bought it in good faith (article 464 of the Civil Code), and you would have to ask the seller for your money. Keep the written sale agreement, proof of payment and screenshots of the listing.
Sources
- Banco de España, banking customer portal: beware of scams on second-hand platforms (in Spanish)
- Zurich: what to consider when buying a used bike (in Spanish)
- Bike Index: How not to buy a stolen bike online
- Mossos d'Esquadra: stolen bicycle search (in Catalan)
- Spanish Civil Code, article 464 (BOE, in Spanish)
- Spanish Criminal Code, article 298 (BOE, in Spanish)
- UNIR Revista: recklessness (dolo eventual) in handling stolen goods (in Spanish)
Have your bike's details ready
Register your bike for free with photos and serial number: if it is stolen, you will have everything at hand to report it and search for it. And before buying a used one, check its serial number.