Car sales question: how do you minimize the risk that your potential buyer will.. crash your car (during the test drive.)

[lizpat]

Yeah, that's the question. I'm not seeing too many complaints online about this sort of thing happening, so it seems like pretty low risk but many car buyers are people who haven't driven before, or haven't driven in a while----that's why they are seeking a used car.

Is it mostly a non-concern?

 

[JayhawkRoy]

I' m not a lawyer or insurance agent, but here goes:
1. Go on the test drive.
2. My understanding is that my insurance will cover any driver that I have given permission to drive my vehicle, and my insurance covers them. Have never needed to test this, but I loan vehicles out as needed to family with this understanding.

 

[Elkins45]

Insurance covers it no matter who is driving, so if you have collision you are just out the deductible. If you’re really concerned maybe you make them put down a deposit equal to your deductible…but I know if someone asked me that I wouldn’t do it.

Professional car salesmen usually have you drive a prescribed route that is only right turns, so perhaps go with them and direct the route?

 

[Hall]

If they mention that they've never driven before, I'd lose the sale before allowing them. I mean, they're not going to get lucky on the driving test they took in order to get their license. In fact, if they're showing signs or lack of driving experience when they're getting in and going, I'd probably stop them and tell them to look elsewhere.

Your insurance covers licensed drivers who you give permission to drive so you are covered there.

 

[Kira]

If they mention that they've never driven before, I'd lose the sale before allowing them. I mean, they're not going to get lucky on the driving test they took in order to get their license. In fact, if they're showing signs or lack of driving experience when they're getting in and going, I'd probably stop them and tell them to look elsewhere.

^^This happened with me years ago selling bro's 1989 Mitsubishi Galant sedan with manual transmission.
It became apparent the prospective buyer had never driven a car before.
The hill I lived on was the only reason he got it into gear somewhat competently.

I had to have him stop outright in the middle of a quiet street and took the wheel.
He was a nice, polite guy as was his friend who drove him to me.
I told him he was welcome to try it again ONCE HE LEARNED to drive. I expected to never see him again.
They left and came back the next day with the money and another guy to drive it home.
He didn't live 4 miles away.

 

[eljefino]

Life has risks and showing your clunker comes with that risk. If you don't mind losing money on the sale, show it in your driveway, start it up, but say you're sorry you can't allow test drives as you already cancelled the insurance.

I had one guy show up to look at a Saturn s-series, not having read about the stick shift. He started it in gear with the e-brake on, stalled it, and said "well at least I know it runs" then disappeared.

My description was accurate-- mentioned the transmission type in print, and also included a picture of the steering wheel and shifter.

 

[Kira]

A tradesman who lived 6 miles away wouldn't let me take his old Nissan pickup -with him along- around the block.
I was floored.
He offered no reason...just stood saying, "Nope, nope, nope..", in a rhythmic, goofy manner.
Four of five rounds of offering safety suggestions like he backing out of his driveway onto the street or limiting the drive to the empty roads immediately behind his house, was enough.

The truck took 3 months to vanish.

 

[Hall]

The truck took 3 months to vanish.

I'd hope no one in their right mind would buy it without a test drive. If it disappeared, he might have ended up taking it to a car dealer and sold it (gave it away) to them.

 

[raaizin]

I would lay the ground rules first and size up the buyer. If I didn't like what I saw I would tell them I changed my mind. I was selling a Corvette once. I heard the dad tell the son "you no Uncle so and so had a bad wreck in one of these and mom will be mad if you buy it."
I told them thanks for coming down but the car is no longer for sale.

 

[macarose]

I have owned and operated a dealership for over 20 years. It isn't rocket science but you do have to document and plan a bit if you want to minimize that risk.

First, always get the driver's license before they have the keys. You're only covered if you know exactly who it is and can verify that it is them.

Second, have a predetermined route that minimizes any traffic issues. Three, make sure they stick by that route from beginning to end. No compromises on that.

Finally, I do not allow anyone to drive a stick shift unless they can give me a very thorough answer as to what they had before, what type of stick shift it had, and how do you get it into reverse first gear on that vehicle.

There are a lot of people who are not willing to tell you the truth and want to use your car as practice. I've had some interesting close calls that thankfully never happened because I did the due diligence beforehand.

 

[dishdude]

Price the car competitively - this is the most important factor, it will make your life a lot easier.

Qualify your buyer before you even meet up with them. I advertise online and they need to contact me through email, any incoherent or poorly written messages are ignored. This filters out most idiots and prevents a lot of headaches. No one is entitled to see your car.

 

[JeffKeryk]

This is a key reason I bite the bullet and generally trade in my vehicles. I don't want the hassle of selling.

 

[bullwinkle]

This is a key reason I bite the bullet and generally trade in my vehicles. I don't want the hassle of selling.

Or do it like I do & run them until they’re not worth much and give them away. Or sell them to the U-Pull & Pay.

 

[supton]

This is a key reason I bite the bullet and generally trade in my vehicles. I don't want the hassle of selling.

Unfortunately my last two were towed away from their crash scenes.

But yeah, I prefer trading, at a decently large dealership. Less likely to have paperwork snafus and problems--you pay for it, but in high hopes of less problems. Some year I would like to get where I only go in every 5 years--keep the cars for 10 but alternate between his and hers being upgraded.

 

[brandon9715]

Echoing what others have said, your insurance covers other drivers of the car. The only time you can run into an issue with that is if someone else routinely drives the car and they are not listed as a driver on the policy.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Or do it like I do & run them until they’re not worth much and give them away. Or sell them to the U-Pull & Pay.

We just gave our beloved 2006 TSX to a friend. This car is perfect; 210K and I never even check the oil. In this market, it would have been a quick sale, but we decided to lend a hand... I will continue to service it, which I enjoy.

 

[Kira]

That's one of the beauties of it. YOU decide what YOUR hunk of metal is worth.

 

[Dinoburner]

Have only sold 2 cars over the many years. I give prospective buyers tips on what to look for. Also started the vehicle, shifted foward and reverse and had pulled the plates and said as is as showed. No more tho as there are too many sketchy characters out there now.

 

[Bladecutter]

Yeah, that's the question. I'm not seeing too many complaints online about this sort of thing happening, so it seems like pretty low risk but many car buyers are people who haven't driven before, or haven't driven in a while----that's why they are seeking a used car.

Is it mostly a non-concern?

It's pretty simple:

"If you would like to test drive the car yourself, I will gladly hand you the keys, as long as you hand me my full asking price in cash. If you don't like the car, and you return it in the same condition as the test drive started in within 15 minutes, I will give you all your money back."

Always done it that way with motorcycle and car sales.

 

[Kira]

In the movie 'Clear and Present Danger', Harrison Ford, a State Department officer, approaches a local warlord for his Huey helicopter.
"How much?"
Four million dollars.
"Can I take it for a test flight?"
Certainly, for four million dollars.
"Will you take a check?"