Checking Bike Ownership

Ask the seller if they have registered it before, and if they can't give you a straight answer or proof of regristration, then that sets off a red flag right away to me.  

Here's some basic checks:

- Bike Register

- Immobilise.com - older site that people used to use

- Has it been tweeted as stolen by @StolenRide or @StolenBikes_UK on twitter?

- Does the seller have a history for it, or is it very vague?

- Does the listing correctly describe the bike in detail, with notes of any modifications made, or does it just say 'Giant bike, with gears' or something like that?

- Is the spelling and grammar correct, or are there spelling mistakes and errors in the advert?

- Background to the photos - is it someone's home, does it look clean and tidy and looked after, or like a mess, in a generic location that's not easily identified?

- Is the seller's town identified on ebay, or does it just say 'uk'?

- Does the buyer offer collection in person from their home, or do they want to exchange it for cash in a back alley?

If all the above is ok, it's probably a proper bargain.

Depending on the age of the bike, the bike manufacture might have records.

Unless it's been registered previously, none.
​I did run a "bargain" through bike register and though it came back not stolen I appreciate it is a very limited check.