Why do they want your license before a test drive?

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Benzadmiral

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While it's savagely hot already in The Swamp, there's no better time to test the A/C in a car on a test drive. I'm thinking about hitting the local Ford dealer and putting a Mustang through some paces. Now the salesman always wants to make a copy of your driver's license as a precaution against theft. But I recall reading (here?) that they want to swipe your DL and look up your credit before the test drive, and so they'll balk if I bring them a photocopy?

(Of course, if they balk, I walk. But I'm curious.)
 
when I sold cars we did this to know who the dude was, to make sure he HAD a license, and to prevent theft.
we did NOT run credit; can't without a SS#.
 
Originally Posted By: Benzadmiral
While it's savagely hot already in The Swamp, there's no better time to test the A/C in a car on a test drive. I'm thinking about hitting the local Ford dealer and putting a Mustang through some paces. Now the salesman always wants to make a copy of your driver's license as a precaution against theft. But I recall reading (here?) that they want to swipe your DL and look up your credit before the test drive, and so they'll balk if I bring them a photocopy?

(Of course, if they balk, I walk. But I'm curious.)


They are not going to hand you the keys to a new car and say, O by the way!, whats your name!?

They photocopy your ID for three reasons.

One: So they know who is taking their car for a spin.
Two: To ensure you are licensed to drive a car. Think about it. That car dealer has a MAJOR insurance policy. If you crash into a bus stop full of school kids, could you imagine the dealer calling their insurance company saying "we don't know who was driving our car, or if he is licensed to drive a car" LOL!!!
Three: So they have your information. The input all your info into their computers.

See for yourself. Test drive a car, then leave. In a week you will be getting letters from the dealer saying "we miss you" or "come back and make a deal".

A car dealer CAN NOT pull a credit report on you with out a SSN **AND** your PERMISSION. It is against federal LAW to do otherwise.
 
Originally Posted By: rg200amp
Originally Posted By: Benzadmiral
While it's savagely hot already in The Swamp, there's no better time to test the A/C in a car on a test drive. I'm thinking about hitting the local Ford dealer and putting a Mustang through some paces. Now the salesman always wants to make a copy of your driver's license as a precaution against theft. But I recall reading (here?) that they want to swipe your DL and look up your credit before the test drive, and so they'll balk if I bring them a photocopy?

(Of course, if they balk, I walk. But I'm curious.)


They are not going to hand you the keys to a new car and say, O by the way!, whats your name!?

They photocopy your ID for three reasons.

One: So they know who is taking their car for a spin.
Two: To ensure you are licensed to drive a car. Think about it. That car dealer has a MAJOR insurance policy. If you crash into a bus stop full of school kids, could you imagine the dealer calling their insurance company saying "we don't know who was driving our car, or if he is licensed to drive a car" LOL!!!
Three: So they have your information. The input all your info into their computers.

See for yourself. Test drive a car, then leave. In a week you will be getting letters from the dealer saying "we miss you" or "come back and make a deal".

A car dealer CAN NOT pull a credit report on you with out a SSN **AND** your PERMISSION. It is against federal LAW to do otherwise.



Also:
There is nothing that can be had from "swiping" your state ID/DL that cannot be had from reading it.
 
Originally Posted By: mrsilv04
Consumer Reports claims that a car dealer CAN access a credit report on you, from only what is on your driver's license.

http://news.consumerreports.org/money/20...alesperson.html

misleading.
from the article:
The credit report access keys on the license are your name, address, and date of birth, all of which are essentially public information. The driver’s license number itself is not relevant, since the credit bureaus don’t use that as an identifier.

Car dealers commonly ask for and photocopy your driver’s license before they’ll let you take one of their cars out for a test drive, says Charles Cyrill, a spokesman for the National Automobile Dealers Association. If you encounter this situation and are worried that your privacy may be compromised, explicitly tell the salesperson that you are not authorizing use of your license to pull your credit report.
so, it's not the license itself, but just the public info about you.

but like I said, we NEVER did this at the dealer I worked for. the salesman held the photocopy, never gave it to the manager.
 
Sold cars for three months - we never ran a credit check off the DL#, you can't. In three months I had three people try to test drive a car that didn't have a license, and four others that had expired licenses.
 
Originally Posted By: mpvue
If you encounter this situation and are worried that your privacy may be compromised, explicitly tell the salesperson that you are not authorizing use of your license to pull your credit report.

Unless you get his promise to not pull your credit report in writing, I'd say that just telling him not to do it would be fairly useless.
 
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: mpvue
If you encounter this situation and are worried that your privacy may be compromised, explicitly tell the salesperson that you are not authorizing use of your license to pull your credit report.

Unless you get his promise to not pull your credit report in writing, I'd say that just telling him not to do it would be fairly useless.


By FEDERAL law, NO one can pull your credit report with out your consent. IF you ever have your credit pulled without your permission, immediately file a compliant with the Federal Trade Commission. Then it is up to you if you want to get a lawyer and take the dealer to court.
 
You guys are all worried about car dealers following the law?

Boy, I needed a good laugh this morning!

Thank you!!!
 
It is nothing sinister. Despite Consumer Reports best effort to play into the public perception that buying a car is akin to a journey to OZ, modern regulation carries steep penalties for its violation. Credit cannot be run without signed authorization. The collection of a copy of your license is primary to ensure the safety of the employee and to limit theft. Visit a reputable dealer and use common sense and enjoy your new vehicle.
 
Copying your license is the start of their fight for power and authority over you.

I would not be surprised if your chair at the desk were two inches shorter than the salesman's.

I would show them (but not hand them) the license then invite the salesman can come along for a ride. Don't be rude about it, just explain you don't want your identity stolen. Not exactly factual, but understandable. Some salesmen have not heard of every dealer scam-- many have been on the job for weeks. They leave the operations nitty gritty for the "closer."

32.gif
If you really want your identity stolen, medical offices are the place for that. They're always faxing ALL your info for referrals, sometimes misdialing the machines. Old papers are always getting abandoned and not properly shredded.
 
Are you actually in the market to buy a Mustang or are you just wanting to "put it through the paces".
As a car dealer I can tell you very simply that people who refuse to provide a valid DL NEVER drive our vehicles. I could care less if the have a pocket full of cash to spend or not. No DL, no test drive. Simple really.
So the likelihood of the dealer caring if some goof walks in and doesn't want to provide the required information is slim to none.
Anyone serious about buying a vehicle and not wasting a salespersons time will provide what is requested. All other can move along.
 
I've test driven a lot of cars at many different dealerships over the years and am a hawk when it comes to reviewing my credit reports. I've never seen a credit inquiry (hard or soft) as a result of handing over a license at a dealership.

If dealerships were doing this, it would be very easy to call them out on it.
 
mpvue is correct just in case something happens,they cant run credit check from that,they make photo copy and keep for a while.
 
No, no -- I understand that they need a record of my DL, to make sure I have one! Naturally they shouldn't let me test drive a car, even with the salesman along, without seeing that I am licensed.

My question was, would they insist on their own photocopy, or would they simply take mine? Of course I'd let the salesman see that my DL and the copy are the same. It's merely I'd heard some (probably Internet) stuff about their using my DL to check my credit.

My credit is excellent; I had it run recently. I just don't want them getting any ideas.

No, I'm not in the market yet, and might not be for a while. But I want to test drive a couple of cars, and check out the dealership's attitude toward customers while I'm at it. If that's wasting a salesman's time, then he's in the wrong business, no?
 
Originally Posted By: mpvue
from the article:
The credit report access keys on the license are your name, address, and date of birth, all of which are essentially public information. The driver’s license number itself is not relevant, since the credit bureaus don’t use that as an identifier.


they are wrong on that as well. the 3 credit bureaus use the d/l as an index into your CLU report (underwriting loss) and can glean info on how much you crash stuff or claim losses.
 
Dealers want to make sure the driver is actually a licensed driver. I have no issues with this, and I am not convinced that they are able to run credit reports without my authorization.

Also, I have had a number of test drives where they did not ask for my license. This was mostly at high-line dealerships.

Beware though, that the dealer's insurance policy may not cover you. I say that because the Autowest Acura dealer in my area has now started requiring proof of insurance for all test drives due to a recent crash by their customer.
 
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