If a potential buyer has picked your car from the used car deals, they probably want to go for a test drive. You are certainly not an auto dealership so you may have never had the experience of handing over your keys to a total stranger and let them drive your car. As daunting as it may seem, you have to let them drive. After all, they are interested in buying your car.
Used car deals can be pretty interesting for even a seller. You never know what kind of buyer you are dealing with. Fortunately, there are some tips that will help you prepare for the test drive request in advance. Let’s have a look:
1. Make sure you remove all valuable items from your car before meeting the potential buyer. Follow this rule especially when you are taking your car to a used car deals show.
2. Never meet the potential buyer at your home. Don’t even agree on meeting the potential buyer at his home. Pick a public spot for the meeting.
3. If possible, ask a friend or family member to join you. This will make you feel secure and the potential buyer will know too that you are not alone.
Set Rules for the test drive
Before you let the buyer get behind the wheels of your car, you have to set some ground rules. This is particularly true if the potential buyer wants to go for a drive alone. It would be fair for you to ensure he returns with your car safely. There are some ways you can make it safe. Such as:
- Ask the buyer to give you a copy of his driver’s license. If he doesn’t agree on that, then at least get his driver’s license number, his phone number and address. These days, it is common for a person to hold his driver’s license and take a picture. You can ask the potential buyer to hold his driver license and take his picture from your Smartphone. This is meant to provide you an additional layer of protection, especially if you are going to let him drive solo.
- Whether it is a local road or a highway, you must agree on the route the buyer takes for the test drive. If possible, start or end the drive near a police station. If the buyer has any wrong agenda, he will probably back off before getting started.
- There should be a curfew for the test run. If you are allowing the buyer to drive solo, it is recommended to set a shorter deadline. In that case, 15 minutes are enough. However, if you are accompanying them, you can let them drive for 30 minutes. There shouldn’t be any exception in the curfew. It can take less than 15 minutes for someone to strip the valuable parts of your car so you have to be extra careful.
- Make sure you check your auto insurance coverage. Some policies don’t provide any coverage when someone else is driving your car. If that’s so, then you will have a genuine reason to disapprove driving solo.
If you want to be sure your car is safe, you should accompany the buyer. That’s the only way you will feel comfortable. This will be a great opportunity for the potential buyer to ask more questions about the car. You can even point out the best features of the car during the ride. Use this as an opportunity for a sales pitch.
Get ready to close the deal
If the potential buyer likes everything and he is satisfied with the test drive, then you can move further with the deal and negotiate the price. Remember, if the buyer gives you a check immediately, get his driver’s license number and complete contact details on file until the check is clear.
Of course, there might be lots of potential buyers out there who are interested in buying your car, but if you are selling for the first time, you have to be extra careful because the used car deals can be tricky. If you are not that good at reading people, then make sure you take someone with you who is. Why? Because the potential buyer is a total stranger and you never know who you are dealing with.
Note: The purpose of sharing this information was not to scare you, but to prepare you. So, don’t worry, just take precautions and follow the tips above and the test drive will go great.