To sell a car but don't want to sit in test drive.

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tlmprnpg

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I'm going to sell my 97 corolla. I'm going to sell it myself (e.g Craiglist) but I don't want to sit in the car when potential buyer want to test drive. I'm kind of concern about my safety since I don't know who they are, and don't want to spend time in the test drive.

I'm thinking to just ask to see the driver license. If they never come back, fine! the car is not worth that much. However, my concern is if they hit someone and run away, and people get my license plate. Then I'd be in trouble.

What would you guy do when sell car yourselves? How to avoid riding in the test drive?

Thanks,

Terry.
 
I've never sold a car, always traded. But I'd ask for a DL and make a copy of it on my printer. When they returned with the car, I'd give them the copy of the DL to take with them. I'd also do the same with their insurance card, and maybe make them sign something that says they are responsible for the vehicle while it is on the test drive (like dealers often do), putting start and ending time of the test drive on it and have them and you sign it.
 
There are places that will sell it on consignment. There are 2 used car dealerships here that take consignments.

I sold 3 vehicles and before I took anyone on a test ride I made sure that someone knew who I was taking on a test ride and when I would be back. I would look at their license and give the information to the check in person. I did the driving and I popped the hood and explained some of the features and the maintenance schedule prior to leaving the driveway.
 
Funny: when I bought this car, nobody came along for the test drive on any of the cars I looked at. The seller of this one even told me to 'go ahead and take it for a spin on the highway.'

Then again, we live on an island here with just one major Trans Canada Highway, so if someone steals a car their chances of not getting caught are pretty close to zero.

Here in the city your only car related worry is having it broken into if valuables are in sight or doors left unlocked. Get far enough out of the city, though, and not only are unlocked cars the norm, but so are cars sitting with the key in the ignition and the windows down.

-Spyder
 
Originally Posted By: crazyoildude
why dont you drive the car with the buyer and let hom sit in the passenger seat


+1

Let him hold the wheel for a second to see if it pulls or shimmys.

In a way this is better because the buyer can see if the current owner knows anything about driving or being easy on machinery.

Odds are with it being an economy car private sale, people will mostly interview YOU to see if you're honest-acting. They may not start the car, or move it after it starts. They probably won't open the hood or look underneath.

You could always take your plates off, and say you cancelled the insurance, even if you didn't really.

32.gif


I had my grand marquis up for sale and this guy shows up wanting to use it to deliver newspapers. After the regular 0-55 MPH run he then pulls on a side street and declares he wants to see if it will do "paper duty". So he whips into one driveway, sticks it in reverse, peels out, pulls forward to the next driveway, stops, and peeled out again.
crackmeup2.gif


Guy had a good poker face; I couldn't tell if he liked it, but he didn't make an offer.
frown.gif
 
For a car of that value, I would CL it without a phone number and screen the emails. If you only respond to coherent emails, you'll be fine.

Any decent car for under $2k will have dozens of emails each day from interested parties.
 
Originally Posted By: crazyoildude
why dont you drive the car with the buyer and let hom sit in the passenger seat


Only way I do it when selling a used vehicle to someone privately. Good advice.
01.gif
 
I'd never buy a car from anyone who didn't let me drive it. That tells me you're hiding something, even if you're not. If you don't trust me enough to let me drive it, I'll find another used car out there. There are millions of them.

When I sold my Dakota earlier this year, I rode with the guy who came to buy it, and had no qualms about it. I met him at a supermarket parking lot, and my wife came along in a separate vehicle. We were back in 10 minutes, with the truck sold.
 
I've shopped for more private-sale used cars than I've sold.

I won't buy a car if I can't drive it - period.

When selling, I would go over the car with the buyer and take it out with me driving first. I make sure that it's warmed up properly, answer any questions, they can play with the heater and radio if they want etc... Then we'll switch and I'll let them drive. I let someone know who I'm with, copy down some information and that sort of thing.

When buying, I'll often ask the owner to do the same thing. I can look around the interior, check controls, listen for noises or whatever when I don't also have to concentrate on driving a car I'm not used to. Then when I'm driving it's all about handling, response, vibration etc... and none of the other stuff. I can also get an idea how the person drives and cares for their car, even though they might change their behaviour with a buyer along. If they floor it cold - hmmm.

Not that I've bought and sold a lot of cars, mind you...
 
When I've sold vehicles, I let them test drive it w/o me but leave someone else behind. You know, like their child. They always come back.

P.S.
This might not work if they leave their spouse.
lol.gif
 
Originally Posted By: daves87rs
Sad that we actually have to worry about that...


That "we" doesn't include myself.

I wouldn't worry about such things.
 
Originally Posted By: MarkM66
Originally Posted By: daves87rs
Sad that we actually have to worry about that...


That "we" doesn't include myself.

I wouldn't worry about such things.


Worry about which? An unaccompanied test driver stealing your car (or treating it poorly) or having a test driver kill/injure you while you're riding along?

The former is not nearly as improbable as the latter. The last car I sold privately that I had to give test drives on was a 1992 Porsche. Sorry, no one's taking that out without me riding along (and warming it up thoroughly first).
 
Dude, grow a pair and quit being afraid of the "what if's". If you do not want go for the test drive, just ask to see their drivers license and take down the info and let them take it out.

You sound like you are afraid of the public in general. Just use your better judgement and avoid the "Bevis and Butthead" types and you will be fine.

This business of only you driving and them staying in the passenger seat is one sure way to not sell a car. Nobody of reasonable intelligence is going to buy a car and not test drive it themselves.
 
Originally Posted By: tlmprnpg
If they never come back, fine! the car is not worth that much.


If that's the case, can you just give it to me?
I can use it for a multi-car discount on my insurance policy.
wink.gif


BC.
 
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