Selling a used car. Need some advice.

[handoverfist]

Did some searching online and found some info, but wanted to make sure everything was kosher.

Found a buyer interested and they are asking for the VIN number so they can add the car to their insurance, so that they can drive it home. They also stated they are driving from 3 hours away to come get the vehicle. I know the VIN is posted on the dash and is needed for car fax.

I have the title in hand and will have a statement of transaction. The car is registered in Texas and has TX plates. I'm selling the vehicle in New York.

Is there anything I should be wary of or anything I am missing? Thanks

 

[CPA]

hmmmm, most states and insurance companies give you a grace period when buying a car.

 

[feralkid]

Give them the VIN, sell the car.

Nothing sounds fishy about their request.

 

[slag]

Nothing fishy here. Give them what they are asking for. As a prospective buyer of a vehicle, I always ask for the VIN as well.

 

[waggy]

Give them the VIN, sell the car.

Nothing sounds fishy about their request.

/shis

BUT as CPA said he has a grace period. IF you give him the paperwork and a bill of sale he is covered.

 

[Raizinman]

There are many reason why the VIN is required:

1) CarFAX
2) Check for Flood Vehicle
3) Check for salvage Vehicle
4) Check NHTSA for recalls
5) Check specifications of car from VIN

If you are serious about selling, give the potential buyer the VIN.

NOTE: This should be listed in the Garage section, not the OFF TOPIC.

 

[deadlyapp]

To those saying that he is covered on insurance with a bill of sale, I'd be surprised if that is true. Possibly his insurance will cover the vehicle proactively if there was an incident.

Another reason for needing the VIN may be to get a temporary registration for the vehicle since in some states the plates are removed during sale. He'll likely also need to smog the vehicle and have it inspected before he can register it to himself.

 

[nakedfrog]

To those saying that he is covered on insurance with a bill of sale, I'd be surprised if that is true. Possibly his insurance will cover the vehicle proactively if there was an incident.

Another reason for needing the VIN may be to get a temporary registration for the vehicle since in some states the plates are removed during sale. He'll likely also need to smog the vehicle and have it inspected before he can register it to himself.

I know I have a rider with my insurance company that automatically covers me for 48 hours after I buy a vehicle.

 

[TwiceOver]

In my state we keep the plates, so there is a second form which is basically a "Dealer's Plate" license plate that they have to stick to the back window.

I sold my car, we both signed the paperwork, she gave me money and good to go. And that car was involved in a LOT of bullshit after me, and nobody ever called or anything so the process must have been done right.

That poor car, I should have kept it.

 

[DrPizza]

hmmmm, most states and insurance companies give you a grace period when buying a car.

Not NY. You need proof of insurance before you can register the vehicle. You need to register the vehicle to get plates for the vehicle. OP: buyer keeps their plates in NY. When you purchase a vehicle, get insurance, and register the vehicle, you get a 10-day temporary inspection sticker to put inside the windshield. This is about the only thing that's routinely exploited in NY - if there's a NY inspection sticker in the window that's not expired, many people don't get the car re-inspected. (Inspections are good for 1 year. A lot can go wrong with something like brakes in 1 year, so that seems to be a reasonable window.) However, since your car is from Texas with Texas plates, I doubt you have a current NYS inspection sticker in the windshield.

FWIW, I can't remember if it's 10 days or 30 days - but if you've moved to NY, you don't have very long before you have to get a NY license. If you've lived in NY for 40 days, and get pulled over for a speeding ticket, and the trooper realizes you've been a NY resident for more than 30 days (He'll ask for your current address), you're likely to get another ticket on top of the speeding ticket. If you lie about your current address to get out of that ticket... well, good luck; I wouldn't advise doing that. Heck, in NY, if you slide off a snow covered road, into a ditch on the other side of the road, and a NYS trooper is first on the scene, there's a pretty good job that you'll have a ticket for failure to remain right, and a ticket for speed not reasonable or prudent for road conditions. I'm okay with that - around here, it's relatively rare to get into an accident with an uninsured motorist.

 

[Thump553]

hmmmm, most states and insurance companies give you a grace period when buying a car.

Certainly not in CT or WI, the two states I'm most familiar with. Sometimes insurance policies permit a limited grace period for coverage for a REPLACEMENT vehicle (when you sold or disposed of the insured vehicle) but the general rule of thumb is that an insurer is not going to issue insurance retroactively-the possibility for fraud is enormous.

I don't see anything unusual about the buyer's request. After all, as OP pointed out, anyone can get the VIN of any car just by looking through the dash.

 

[TheGardener]

I find it interesting that a buyer has not inspected or driven the car, or better yet have a mechanic inspect the car. Or maybe that is what you meant, when you said that he is interested in the car. But I can understand the buyer not making the long trip without checking out the car via the VIN number. So ya, this should be given out.

The statement of transaction must be a fancy name for bill of sale. It should be clear that the car is being sold as is and with no warranty. My first preference is to ask for cash. Otherwise only a cashier's or certified check. If you live in Texas where the car is registered, you might want to verify that the check is not counterfeit, before signing the title over.

NY state may have other requirements. Found this page which may be of service to you.

http://www.dmv.org/ny-new-york/buy-sell/selling-your-car/paper-work-when-selling-a-car.php

 

[Banana]

My first preference is to ask for cash. Otherwise only a cashier's or certified check. If you live in Texas where the car is registered, you might want to verify that the check is not counterfeit, before signing the title over.

I recommend going to a bank and actually get a freshly printed cashier's check at the time of sale. I'd never accept a cashier's check that a buyer brings with him. Sure it's inconvenient, but too easy to have fake check.

And in response to the original question - Yes, give the VIN. If a seller refuses to provide the VIN, I would be suspicious.

 

[angminas]

VIN number?