Used Car Tips

There you have it: your used car(s) on the market. In no time, you will have the first buyers walking around and they will be asking for your permission to test drive your used car. So picture this: you are looking at this total stranger, coming out of you don’t know where, having his or her pockets full (or maybe NOT) and demanding that you let him or her just drive away for some half an hour (generally, they will be asking for 20 minutes or so to test drive) – in your car. Yes, it is good to keep in mind this one thought: “I am letting this potential buyer just go away in my car. Am I sure about this?”

1. Check your gut

So, the very first strategy to use – have a “talk” with your gut feelings. Remember that YOU are selling the car, therefore YOU are its owner – and YOU would be losing your car and money invested in it if you hand it over to the wrong person.

2. Analyze prospective clients

Take a good look at any potential buyer – whoever is knocking on your door and then eagerly attacking the issue of test driving.

3. Have the power to say NO

You can simply reject his or her demand, if the potential buyer is too hasty, in a rather unjustified manner – you are not bound to sell your used car right away, as it is your property.

4. Don’t give the keys too easily

Besides, keep those car keys in your hand if there’s something too odd about the potential buyer. He or she may be pushing their luck – which is likely to generate emotions in them. Are their hands trembling? Are their voices hesitant? On the other hand, stay also cautious if they are overconfident or come with some ambiguous reason for quickly test driving your used car. The matter is as simple as that – if you do not trust the guy, just hang on to those car keys. As long as you keep them, you have not given your consent to the test drive, so the car should be safe.

5. Check the buyer’s driving license

However, you cannot keep rejecting just everyone. Remember that there are also more tangible things at hand that can make you feel safer. For instance, check the buyer’s driving license: the photo on it, the data on it, and its validity.

6. Check the driving license of whoever decides to test drive the car

If necessary, check the driver’s license of anyone accompanying your buyer. You can never know who will actually be driving your car in your absence. In view of that, double or triple your effort and ask and check the driver’s license(s) of the buyer’s buddy (ies) / associate(s).

7. Agree to join the buyer in the test drive

Of course, this is not necessary if you are going to be present. Some buyers will agree with the idea of you joining them, so only asking for the license of the one who will actually do the driving should be enough.

8. Make a copy of the documents

Ok, now that you have seen the driver’s license(s), make sure you have some way of retaining the information on it (them). The best approach is to make a copy of such documents. It is a fast and sure manner of keeping identity data at hand. In case anything goes wrong, you will at least have a proof of the test driver’s identity. So hurry up to the closest corner store – usually they have a photocopier – and have it photocopied.

9. Don’t give the car to unlicensed buyers

Even better, if you have a photocopier yourself, this will go even faster. Once you have such information in hand, you can hand over more confidently your car keys to the person(s) requiring a test drive.

10. Have the car insured

Another thing is to have your car insured for situations of unaccompanied (by you) test drives. You cannot just guess what is going to happen. Even if a test drive requires about 20-30 minutes, remember that many things can happen during such time. Just to be on the safe side, an unaccompanied test drive cover is an additional way of letting more easily someone else drive your car.

11. Ask for the buyer’s insurance

You may even ask the buyer’s insurance for such a situation – there are buyers who insure themselves for test drive circumstances, as they also want to be on the safe side.

12. Check the insurance policy thoroughly

Back to you, check all details on your insurance policy. Re-read them carefully and see just how safe you and your car are.

13. Consult your insurance agent

If you do not have the time for that, ask for advice from your insurance agent – he or she will provide the necessary information without you wasting time to read it yourself. Unfortunately, private used cars sellers do not usually insure their cars for such situations.

14. Join the buyer for a test drive

If the potential buyer agrees to you joining him or her on the ride, you have less trouble to handle – just check the driver’s license and things should be OK. In fact, they should be wonderful for your transaction, because during an accompanied test drive you will be able to offer details to the potential buyer on the assets (the fortes) of your car.

15. Be aware

Ultimately, trust your judgment. If you don’t feel completely comfortable about selling your car to certain buyers, you don’t have to go through with the deal.

16. Get in the buyer’s shoes

Get in the buyer’s shoes for a few minutes and think about what details you would look for in a car that you want to buy.

17. Focus on the strongest points of the car

Next, think about what your used car can actually provide and then point it out to the potential buyer. It should sound safe for you, for the buyer and for the transaction.

18. Don’t leave valuable things in the car during the test drive

If the buyer does not want you to go together with him or her during the test drive, make sure you don’t leave anything valuable in the car. When you are not actually with them, the buyers will be inspecting thoroughly the car and something of value forgotten by you in there might just disappear without you even being aware of it.

19. Carefully choose the meeting place

Well, how about the place of meeting the potential buyer? As a private seller, you may feel somewhat uncomfortable with meeting a stranger in an unknown place. So, if possible, set a meeting in a place that is familiar to you.

20. Don’t give all your personal details

On the other hand, when you place the ad, refrain from giving details of your home address. If a thief reads your ad, you are practically bare in front of him or her.

21. Be accompanied by a friend or relative

When meeting the potential buyer, if a friend or a relative can come with you, it is even better. They will be there to provide both support and advice in selling your car