Meeting someone to sell your car

Toon--soldier

Hi im selling my car at the mo and i got a call from someone from dublin who is interested in seeing it we agreed to meet in athlone(im in galway) just wondering is there anything i should be careful about?

beam99

Dont take a bankdraft off him, thare are a lot of bad ones goin around.

Turner

If he can get a bank draft he can get cash.

Insist on cash and check the notes.

Toon--soldier

beam99 wrote: »

Dont take a bankdraft off him, thare are a lot of bad ones goin around.

thanks heard about those alright but from what i hear theres a lot of fake notes out there aswell. I just dont want to end up pennyless and with no motor!

Tea drinker

What's the best way to get paid then? Cash?

Can the 2 of them not go to a bank and have the draft lodgment made there and then? I know it doesn't go through straight away, but they could check it I suppose.

F-Stop

If you can bring a friend rather than going alone (though that's probably a given as you'll need some way to get home afterall). Bring a 'good' 50 euro note (i.e. one that came from an atm or a trusted source and you can compare to any you are offered - there are some dodgy ones around apparently but the size isn't right so use it for comparison). I wouldn't accept any higher denomination than 50 euro.

Also, don't fret too much. It will more than likely be fine and the person totally legit. However, if it smells bad it probably stinks.

klaus23

If you're uneasy, agree to go to a local branch of your bank and lodge everything there and then. If the bank are happy, hand over the keys.

CharlieCroker

Agree with the above. obviously dont let them test drive your car alone.
If they are driving it be sure they're insured.
Don't be pressured into doing anything you don't want to, If your not comfortable with the deal or the situation, walk away.
Finally, meet them somewhere that there's plenty of people like Tesco's or somewhere like that and ask to see some ID if your unsure

unkel

When you agree to a deal, go into a local bank. The bank will be able to verify the cash / draft

Edit - klaus23 beat me to it

Toon--soldier

klaus23 wrote: »

If you're uneasy, agree to go to a local branch of your bank and lodge everything there and then. If the bank are happy, hand over the keys.

Sounds like the best idea, I dont want to sound like a complete idiot when i say this but would the bank try and charge vat if they knew the money was from the sale of a car?

Hotwheels

Basic stuff really...

Meet in a public place..get there early so you can see them arrive..

Take note of car they came in i.e make model etc

bring someone with you

If they want a test drive, make sure they (you do it, phone their company, don't fall for any bull like "I got special insurance policey") transfer their insurance on to the car...otherwise don't let them drive it an inch!

Don't hand over keys (for test drive) until you are sitting in passenger seat..

Ask for licence...

As mentioned: watch for bad bank draft, cash is better

As in any private car sale you should not hand over the keys until bank is happy with cheque etc. And hand in the logbook erm..cert yourself to tax office. That way you can cancel your ownership, yerself...

Bottom line is, if it don't feel right, drive home...

Good luck with the sale..:)

Toon--soldier

Hotwheels wrote: »

Basic stuff really...

Meet in a public place..get there early so you can see them arrive..

Take note of car they came in i.e make model etc

bring someone with you

If they want a test drive, make sure they (you do it, phone their company, don't fall for any bull like "I got special insurance policey") transfer their insurance on to the car...otherwise don't let them drive it an inch!

Don't hand over keys (for test drive) until you are sitting in passenger seat..

Ask for licence...

As mentioned: watch for bad bank draft, cash is better

As in any private car sale you should not hand over the keys until bank is happy with cheque etc. And hand in the logbook erm..cert yourself to tax office. That way you can cancel your ownership, yerself...

Bottom line is, if it don't feel right, drive home...

Good luck with the sale..:)

Thanks for the info

If i hand in the cert how does he register to be the new owner?

klaus23

Toon--soldier wrote: »

Sounds like the best idea, I dont want to sound like a complete idiot when i say this but would the bank try and charge vat if they knew the money was from the sale of a car?

Not at all.

Hotwheels has it pretty much nailed really. Also, don't let them haggle you down. You bent over already by agreeing to meet them in Athlone and if they're coming that far, chances are they brought the asking price.

99% of the time there'll be nothing dodgy, just use your wits.

Toon--soldier wrote: »

If i hand in the cert how does he register to be the new owner?

Have a quick look at the cert, the new owner details are on the back. Never, ever give the cert to the new owner, that's up to you to send off.

One thing nobody mentioned yet - particularly if it's a performance car - is to sign a receipt each with the time and date of sale. That way if he gets canned by a GATSO van testing the top end pace on the way home, you've got proof that you had sold the car prior to that.

Matt Simis

People here always trump cash over Bank Drafts. Have you ever been paid in 100s (or worse 50s), try counting 130 EUR100 notes, making sure they are legit, while keeping another eye on the buyer, your car, passing opportunistic scumbags, the wind, the rain etc. :rolleyes:

Come on guys, drafts were invented for a reason. If you are selling a EUR2k car then do cash by all means, but sell something really worth worrying about and cash is a pain in the ass and presents its own security risks. Its also way riskier for the buyer.. would you travel across the country with a pocket bursting with cash to meet a stranger, somewhere you arent familar with?

Draft, plus photo of buyer, plus photo of Passport/ID, plus photo of buyers car (they got there in). Get Draft number and issuing branch beforehand and give the branch a call. Dont expect real people (ie not people discussing best practice on a forum) to traipse all over the place on your whim with wallets exploding with cash.

allthedoyles

Many corner shops have counterfeit money detectors ......bring the cash there ..........ask for agreement to do this

Toon--soldier

allthedoyles wrote: »

Many corner shops have counterfeit money detectors ......bring the cash there ..........ask for agreement to do this

ya but like matt simis said i cant really bring a couple of grand into corner shop. those scanner things are blacklights as far as i know might just try and get one myself

galwaytt

Forget draft - period. BTDT, got burned, don't do it.

Meet at the bank, he can do a bank transfer directly to your account - no drafts or cash (if it's a big amount)

Don't go alone
Be early
Be alert

As others said.

rn

Toon--soldier wrote: »

Thanks for the info

If i hand in the cert how does he register to be the new owner?

Ya this is a very important one for a First Time Seller. You get his name and address off him when you hand him the keys and you complete the registration docs and you post them off to the dept of environment. They will then post out new registration docs to the buyer a couple of weeks down the road. Take a photo copy of the registration before you send it away just incase he is involved in an accident or is done for speeding. You will can use it as proof to absolve all your responsiblity.

If you give them the keys and the cert, and they don't send it in - the car remains in your name and you are liable for everything - so Always keep the certificate of ownership!

Danbo!

If you are accepting cash, go to a stationary shop first and buy a note checking pen. They're only a couple of quid. When handed the wad of cash, fan it out, like a hand of playing cards, and draw a line across all the notes. The line won't show up if the money is real. If its fake, you'll see a line from the pen. Just make sure you hit every note.

mumblin deaf ro

This thread is very useful but really puts me off ever selling a car privately.

L-M

mumblin deaf ro wrote: »

This thread is very useful but really puts me off ever selling a car privately.

Lol, it can be a bit of a pain alright.

Hotwheels

mumblin deaf ro wrote: »

This thread is very useful but really puts me off ever selling a car privately.

Its a good thread, Nothing lasts quite like the sour taste of being conned!
now if you'll excuse me "Er indoors is calling"

DriveSkill

One other point is try and ensure the buyer is genuine and not a prankster! I know of at least one case where someone travelled a few hours to meet a 'prospective buyer' only to find no-one there and all they got were abusive txts afterwards about been taken for a fool.

If you havent met the buyer before then try and get their details - get a landline number not a mobile, get an address if you can. Take note of how they've handled the negotiations or questions. Someone ringing up and saying 'its exactly the car I want and I'll pay what you are asking' is not for real!! Unless it's a specialist car you'd have to question why someone from Dublin would buy in Galway - I'd be wary if you are selling a family H/B for example. If it is a more specialist or sporty car then you should get some idea from the type of questions they ask whether they are genuine or not.

Good luck with the sale!