Used ATM Machines can save you a bundle in todays ever changing ATM environment, but not all used ATMs are the same. Do your homework before you buy. Here are some tips and guidelines to help you in your quest for buying a used ATM machine.

1. TDES compliant. Triple Des is a form of encryption mandated by the major networks (Visa & MasterCard). Triple Des has been a standard for basically any ATM manufactured after 2005. A good tell is to see where the enter key is on the keyboard. It should be at the top right. Another tell will be the manufacturer build date. There is usually a sticker inside the ATM. If it is prior to 2005- it may not be TDES compliant.

2. ADA Compliant. In 2012 the government mandated that all ATMs be ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant. This means they must have voice guidance (headphone jack) and be wheel chair accessible (customer touch points no higher than 48″). If it doesn’t have a head phone jack, and if the display is higher than 48″- it most likely is not ADA compliant.

3. How old is the ATM? Inside the ATM there is a manufacturer date. Nowadays ATMs are manufactured to last 7 years. ATMs older than 7 years, although they may still work, parts may be hard to come by. As technology improves every day, so do ATMs. Parts get cheaper to make, so the manufacturers are constantly making changes, and they simply may not make the display or keyboard that the older ATM requires due to the fact that a new one is cheaper. A rule of thumb is if its 7 years old or more avoid it.

4. EMV Compliant. EMV is the latest in ATM advances in the United States. By 2016 all ATMs must accept EMV cards. New ATM cards with a smart chip will have to work, so some older ATMs can be upgraded, others will basically be boat anchors….so make sure your make and model is supported before you buy. More info on EMV compliance can be found here.

5. When was the ATM last in use? Why are the selling it? Ask questions and listen to the responses. If the machine hasn’t been used in a few years or they are selling it because they got a new one…ask yourself why.

6. Cleanliness and General Appearance. How does the machine look. Is it beat up and damaged? Is it covered with graffiti and looks like its never been cleaned since day 1? Appearance does matter. Customers prefer to use clean and new looking ATMs versus old messes. Make sure the one you buy looks good.

When buying from a reputable ATM company, generally speaking a quality used ATM is normally several hundred dollars less than a new one. These machines will be fully compliant, and come with a warranty. The $100 – $1000 “craigslist deal” – although sometimes too hard to resist, may come back to haunt you when you go to use it. It may not be compliant, an upgrade may not be available, or it may just be someone’s old headache with internal problems. Whatever the case- you may be wasting your time and money. Just remember, you cant buy a $2000 ATM for $100 bucks. Remember- A deal that is too good to be true is typically a deal that “you get what you pay for”.

A Used ATM with a EMV compliant upgrade kit installed in the field.