Solo test drive or accompanied test drive? (selling car on craigslist)

[BUTCH1]

Everyone in this thread seems to be too paranoid. It's not common that a car gets stolen during a test drive and it's not common that someone gets robbed during test drives. If the car gets wrecked during the test drive then the owners insurance is responsible, but the likelihood of the car being wrecked during a short test drive is very slim. And yes dealers do let you take cars home for the weekend, GM used to advertise the 48 hour test drive.

Yea, there is a lot of paranoia but this kind of shit isn't new, a friend of mine in the '70's had a mint Honda CB750 up for sale, a guy read it in a local paper and asked to come by and have a look-see, he arrives in a nice Mustang and after some discussion asks for permission to take a short test-drive, friend says OK considering he was leaving the Mustang there which was worth a lot more than a Honda 750, well the guy never returned, when my friend went over to the Mustang it had been hot-wired, it was reported stolen the day before. '60's and '70's vintage cars were very simple to hot-wire, so much so that most who valued their cars had a "kill-switch" installed to help out..

 

[QueBert]

Let a potential buyer from CL solo my car, was asking $2,000. He left behind his almost brand new Ducati with the key and insurance papers. I would have been 100% fine with him stealing my car and never coming back.

 

[wabbitslayer]

I sold a car on craigslist last year for the first and ONLY time.

I would rather submit to dry anal gang rape by a dozen wild baboons than repeat that experience. :thumbsdown:

That being said, there is that slight chance that someone test driving a car that is not theirs might want to find out how high the engine can rev, how it reacts when revved to 5k in neutral and then slammed into gear, how well the brakes will hold when throttle is applied, etc....and then tehy walk back to you and say "hell no, i'm not buying it, the POS broke!!!"

OTOH, they could be the absolute worst driver in the whole world and do you really want to be a passenger in the car with a complete schizo driving?

 

[alkemyst]

You can/do/would sell a vehicle via private party no? How would you sell a Jet Skis or a Motorcycle? Turning it on wouldn't likely satisfy the buyer, they're going to want to try it out. You wouldn't buy any of those things w/o trying it, right?


With that logic, can't do anything in life. You don't think dealerships do this? I'm not talking about just a test drive with the salesman in the passenger seat, I'm talking about letting the car go for the person to drive over the weekend to see how they like it. How about rental companies? Obviously you try to screen people the best you can but at the end of the day, you have to take some risks. I honestly don't even care about the vehicle, if it gets stolen, stripped whatever that's fine as long as I get compensated by the insurance company. I'm just looking for some ideas/perspective on how to reduce liability and potential financial losses if things were to go awry.


Here is my perspective on the issue: I'm more worried about somebody threatening me with bodily harm by either driving the vehicle recklessly and or pulling a weapon on me.



I can see the other perspective though which is that by being in the car during the test drive, I "supposedly" have control over the vehicle. In reality though, I'm still at the mercy of the driver not being crazy/idiot. Sure I can try to remove the key from the ignition or put it into neutral but then that could just open a can of worms for liability on myself.

People live in fear and/or simply don't have experience here.

I'd get a copy of their DL and let them take the test drive. I have insurance for losing the vehicle. If they suck at driving and get into an accident or are planning on stealing the car to begin with I'd rather not be on the ride.

Obviously, if someone is sketchy and/or doesn't look like they can afford what I am selling I move on.

Usually I have screened out those types prior to giving them an address.

Autotrader has a service that does this as well. They make sure the buyer knows the terms so you don't get someone asking if they can just give you $100-200 every few weeks until they pay it off or trade you your late model car plus cash for their old hooptie that they think is worth 10x what it is.

 

[SunnyD]

I hereby christen this concept as the "Yolo test drive."

 

[thomsbrain]

Male selling normal car? Ride along.

Female selling normal car? Buyer drives solo.

Selling sports car? Cash in pocket first, then solo.

 

[noobsrevenge]

lol, speaking of dumb :whiste:

and omg i didnt capitalize my first word in the sentence either!!! i is so dumb how do I even manage to work the internets ?

Good thing we have a genuine loser to perform our internet forum spell checking for us.

 

[gorcorps]

and omg i didnt capitalize my first word in the sentence either!!! i is so dumb how do I even manage to work the internets ?

Good thing we have a genuine loser to perform our internet forum spell checking for us.

(It was grammar, not spelling... and now you're just making it worse)

Glad I could brighten your day though, sunshine.

 

[master_shake_]

I had 2 solo test drive recently on CL when i was looking. Both times i pull up in my vehicle which was left behind so im pretty sure they knew i wouldnt be stealing there car and leave mine behind with them.

unless that car was stolen....mind blown ^_^

to the op sit in the back seat gun drawn that'll do it

 

[Rakehellion]

What are the disadvantages of accompanying them? Why would you ever avoid this?

 

[thedarkwolf]

I've done both when I've sold cars and bought cars. What are they going to do? Their car is still at my house.

The only time I"ve had a problem SOLO was when I was looking at a car. I was in a city I don't spend any time in and I took the car up on the interstate just to the next exit to test it and then couldn't for the life of my get back on the interstate . Took me 20 mins to get back on the interstate and I had left my phone in my car so I couldn't call the owner and explain what was going on. By the time I got back to his house he was about to call the cops. Still bought the car.

 

[alkemyst]

(It was grammar, not spelling... and now you're just making it worse)

Glad I could brighten your day though, sunshine.

Grammar Nazi and just based on your posts I hardly think you are really one of great intelligence.

If this makes you feel good, I am not going to stop it though. I'd just recommend a better past time.

I am sure we have posters using Grammar/Spell Checks with each post.

Who the fuck has time for that?!?!

I just post stream of consciousness I sometimes type if as with, the as teh, their as there, whether as weather, but never brakes as breaks , etc. I usually am heavily multi-tasking like tonight. I don't proof-read on AT.

 

[alkemyst]

What are the disadvantages of accompanying them? Why would you ever avoid this?

Disadvantages?

They decide to commit suicide.

They drive horribly and need a new car because they just got out of the hospital for the tenth time and totaled the last of their cars.

They want to commit a crime. (this is a huge grey area...even after the sale. If they never took on ownership and your car is in a crime you could be liable even with a signed bill of sale).

They want to say they gave you cash and you ripped them off.

etc.

You will probably want to snap off a few pics today since it's easy, but if you are insured and they wreck your ride you have legal benefits.

Until title changes hands you can still be liable whether solo or partner drive.

 

[Squisher]

In the early 90s I bought a used Mercury Sable Station wagon from this salesman at Krug Lincoln Mercury in Dearborn Michigan. A couple of years later that same salesman was out on a test drive when the prospective buyer shot and killed him and left him for dead in a parking lot. Afterward a lot of the dealers in the area changed their policy to not have anyone go on test drives, but not all.

 

[Schfifty Five]

I'm getting conflicting opinions on whether it's better to accompany a person on a test drive for a vehicle you're selling or to just let them take the car solo. Yes obviously there is risk the person will damage/destroy/steal the vehicle, however I don't care because I have a $100 deductible on collision and $0 on comprehensive. I've heard "liability" as an issue but the liability shouldn't change whether I'm in the car or not and in fact may be less if I'm not in the vehicle. The vehicle is an automatic pickup truck so I don't think they'll be doing too much damage to the drivetrain while the vehicle is gone. I'd set a time limit for when I expect to have the vehicle back and report it stolen if it's past that time.

Before I let the person out to test drive the vehicle, I'd take a picture of their driver's license and e-mail it to a few people including myself in case anything happens to the vehicle or even myself.

What do you guys think?

Are you absolutely sure that your insurance would cover you in the event you voluntarily let them drive it solo? It doesn't sound like they would in that case.

Also, if you're this scared or worried about riding with someone, you might as well just sell the car to a dealership or something and avoid all the hassle all together. Sure you won't get as much money, but then you wouldn't have to make this thread and spend days wondering what to do?

 

[railer]

This thread seems to be full of a bunch of hysterical old women.

The last two cars I've sold on CL, I've said: Here's the keys - let her rip.
Why? Because I'm not some paranoid loon who thinks the world is out to get me.
In the 1 in a trillion chance that they steal my car....I've got insurance for that.
Just use your judgement and don't worry about it.

 

[alkemyst]

Are you absolutely sure that your insurance would cover you in the event you voluntarily let them drive it solo? It doesn't sound like they would in that case.

Also, if you're this scared or worried about riding with someone, you might as well just sell the car to a dealership or something and avoid all the hassle all together. Sure you won't get as much money, but then you wouldn't have to make this thread and spend days wondering what to do?

Most insurance covers anyone not living with you (if you didn't mention them on the policy).

 

[dabuddha]

Accompanied drive with a pistol pointed at their side while they drive.

 

[mmntech]

Haha, no way I'd let someone test drive a car I was selling solo. Especially around here. They'd be half way to Manitoba by the time you realized they'd jacked it.

I think it all depends on the community you live in. If you do let them go solo or go with them, for the love of god make sure they have a valid license AND the non-owned automobile rider on their insurance policy. Take copies of both. If their insurance doesn't have that rider, you could be on the hook for damage if they get into an accident. Ask to see their actual policy because it's usually not mentioned on the slip. There's a reason why the rental industry is so anal about that stuff.

 

[SSSnail]

This thread seems to be full of a bunch of hysterical old women.

The last two cars I've sold on CL, I've said: Here's the keys - let her rip.
Why? Because I'm not some paranoid loon who thinks the world is out to get me.
In the 1 in a trillion chance that they steal my car....I've got insurance for that.
Just use your judgement and don't worry about it.

Wait, let's qualify first, what did you sell? Because if it's a POS that you're selling, then of course no one would give a shit what happens to it.

Now, I don't think anyone cares if the car is stolen, because then the insurance would cover that. The worst part of it is that you let someone drive by themselves, and they decide to see how deep of a pothole your car can handle while at the rev limit going side way. Then, they give the car back to you.

You know why? Because human beings, that's why.

And ROFL at the idiot that says "what if you're in the car with them and they decide to commit suicide?" The chance of that happening is even less likely than me winning the lottery three times in one week. But the chance of an idiot ruining the car you're selling on CL is much higher.

 

[Ken g6]

Hide a burner phone in the car so you can track it? (I don't know the legality of that.)

 

[Mermaidman]

I recently sold my '06 Miata on CL. Gave potential buyer the key and told him to bring the car back within the hour. He drove the car, and bought it the same day.

Use your judgment. I wouldn't have handed the key to potential buyers who don't pass the smell test.

 

[Paladin3]

I'm getting conflicting opinions on whether it's better to accompany a person on a test drive for a vehicle you're selling or to just let them take the car solo. Yes obviously there is risk the person will damage/destroy/steal the vehicle, however I don't care because I have a $100 deductible on collision and $0 on comprehensive. I've heard "liability" as an issue but the liability shouldn't change whether I'm in the car or not and in fact may be less if I'm not in the vehicle. The vehicle is an automatic pickup truck so I don't think they'll be doing too much damage to the drivetrain while the vehicle is gone. I'd set a time limit for when I expect to have the vehicle back and report it stolen if it's past that time.

Before I let the person out to test drive the vehicle, I'd take a picture of their driver's license and e-mail it to a few people including myself in case anything happens to the vehicle or even myself.

What do you guys think?

I think riding shotgun with an actually gun in your pocket is better protection than snapping a photo of their license. Once or twice around the block is enough of a test ride to decide. Maybe a quick trip out onto the highway to get it up to 60mph, but that's it.

Even if the person is totally legit and not planning to screw you, what if the car is crashed, or towed or any number of calamities happen? You would be on the hook for that and the penalty is too great with zero benefit for letting them get a free car rental.

 

[slag]

You want to give your car to a stranger for an entire weekend? Sign me up, I have lots of crimes I'd like to commit with your license plates.

Also... if you think a dealership would loan you a car for an entire weekend you've never bought a car before.

I think we're being trolled guys. Nobody would be this openly stupid on their own. They're just looking to stir up bullshit

I took home a lincoln LS overnight once, drove it around all day, and took it back the next afternoon. Ended up not getting the car, but dealerships do let you take vehicles overnight.

 

[lupi]

Also... if you think a dealership would loan you a car for an entire weekend you've never bought a car before.

You mean like the last one did for me when I was shopping?