How should I go about selling this car?
March 31, 2017 12:10 PM Subscribe
My father passed away and my mother wants me to sell his car. I don't have a clue what I'm supposed to do, how do I go about selling his car?
Initially, my mother doesn't drive and didn't want to sell my father's car. She's come around to the idea that it's probably best to sell the car. However, my uncle (the executor) cancelled the insurance policy (which made sense at the time) for the car. Will this affect the sale of the car? What if the person who wants to buy it will take it on a test drive?
It's a 10 year old car with 200K mileage on it, so I don't think it would sell for more than 1.5K-2K.
Where do I begin with selling it? Do I have to take it to a mechanic first to make sure it's in good condition (how do I drive it to a mechanic, it has no insurance!? Tow it?).
I haven't the slightest clue what I need to do or even where to research what to do. I mean, at this point I'm so stressed out by the idea of selling a car that I'd rather just let it sit in our garage and sell it to a junk yard one day. Is it even worth selling it?
Also, the car is not a car I can easily drive. So keeping it isn't really an option. My uncle is busy with other stuff with the estate and expects me to sell it myself.
Initially, my mother doesn't drive and didn't want to sell my father's car. She's come around to the idea that it's probably best to sell the car. However, my uncle (the executor) cancelled the insurance policy (which made sense at the time) for the car. Will this affect the sale of the car? What if the person who wants to buy it will take it on a test drive?
It's a 10 year old car with 200K mileage on it, so I don't think it would sell for more than 1.5K-2K.
Where do I begin with selling it? Do I have to take it to a mechanic first to make sure it's in good condition (how do I drive it to a mechanic, it has no insurance!? Tow it?).
I haven't the slightest clue what I need to do or even where to research what to do. I mean, at this point I'm so stressed out by the idea of selling a car that I'd rather just let it sit in our garage and sell it to a junk yard one day. Is it even worth selling it?
Also, the car is not a car I can easily drive. So keeping it isn't really an option. My uncle is busy with other stuff with the estate and expects me to sell it myself.
Well, I would suggest going to CarMax. They'll buy your car even if you're not buying one from them. (They have built a really nice side business auctioning off traded in cars to dealers, and apparently it's going so well that, here in the states anyway, they're actually running TV ads to make sure you know they're interested whether you're buying a new car or not.) We are in the process of buying a new car and took our old one there and got a considerably better cash offer than the trade offer we had from the dealer.
But. a) You're in Canada. A quick google search reveals there is something called CarMax Canada, but it's not clear to me whether it's the same outfit as US CarMax, and I can't say whether they will also buy cars without it being part of a purchase.
and b) The car has 200,000 miles on it. As you point out, its resale value is very small and I'm not sure CarMax or any other dealer is going to want to mess with it.
For a car with that many miles, I don't see a way to sell it besides putting it on Craigslist and hoping for the best. One thing to consider: would it be possible or desirable to donate the car somewhere and write off the value?
posted by Naberius at 12:23 PM on March 31, 2017 [2 favorites]
But. a) You're in Canada. A quick google search reveals there is something called CarMax Canada, but it's not clear to me whether it's the same outfit as US CarMax, and I can't say whether they will also buy cars without it being part of a purchase.
and b) The car has 200,000 miles on it. As you point out, its resale value is very small and I'm not sure CarMax or any other dealer is going to want to mess with it.
For a car with that many miles, I don't see a way to sell it besides putting it on Craigslist and hoping for the best. One thing to consider: would it be possible or desirable to donate the car somewhere and write off the value?
posted by Naberius at 12:23 PM on March 31, 2017 [2 favorites]
Don't drive the car.
Post the make/model/year/mileage and any other details you know on craigslist.
Remark that the car can't be test driven due to not having insurance.
Not even you can drive the car (to a mechanic or anywhere off the property).
Not having insurance makes it extremely dangerous for you (and the estate).
The car can be started for test, just not driven.
You could buy temporary insurance if you thought it's necessary to drive it.
Donating is also a great idea, they'd come and pick it up, and the estate gets a tax write off.
posted by artdrectr at 12:32 PM on March 31, 2017 [1 favorite]
Post the make/model/year/mileage and any other details you know on craigslist.
Remark that the car can't be test driven due to not having insurance.
Not even you can drive the car (to a mechanic or anywhere off the property).
Not having insurance makes it extremely dangerous for you (and the estate).
The car can be started for test, just not driven.
You could buy temporary insurance if you thought it's necessary to drive it.
Donating is also a great idea, they'd come and pick it up, and the estate gets a tax write off.
posted by artdrectr at 12:32 PM on March 31, 2017 [1 favorite]
Before you get caught up in insurance questions, your most pressing questions is whose name is on the title of ownership. If only your father is listed on the title, you may have to get the title changed to your mother's or your name by showing that it was part of an inheritance. I'm not familiar with Canadian law, but a change of title will likely trigger a need to re-register the car with new ownership info and you can get a very short-term policy for insurance based on that. Given the paperwork and bureaucracy aspect, it might very well be worth donating for a tax deduction.
125,000 miles/200,000 KM is a relatively high-mileage car. I wouldn't pay for a mechanic's check prior to selling. The buyer can do that if they wish.
posted by quince at 12:36 PM on March 31, 2017 [4 favorites]
125,000 miles/200,000 KM is a relatively high-mileage car. I wouldn't pay for a mechanic's check prior to selling. The buyer can do that if they wish.
posted by quince at 12:36 PM on March 31, 2017 [4 favorites]
Every car I've ever bought or sold has been via Craigslist.
Question #1 though is the title and whose car it really is. You can't sell a car that isn't yours.
Once that's cleared up, take lots of pictures, get as many details about maintenance as you can glean, be honest in your description and state that you are selling the car as-is, and put it on Craigslist/local equivalent for whatever the Blue Book value is.
posted by soren_lorensen at 12:43 PM on March 31, 2017 [1 favorite]
Question #1 though is the title and whose car it really is. You can't sell a car that isn't yours.
Once that's cleared up, take lots of pictures, get as many details about maintenance as you can glean, be honest in your description and state that you are selling the car as-is, and put it on Craigslist/local equivalent for whatever the Blue Book value is.
posted by soren_lorensen at 12:43 PM on March 31, 2017 [1 favorite]
In Ontario. I sold my mum's car through autotrader.ca. I went to the local car licensing office and got the used car package. It walks you through how to do it. Cash only. The day you pass to new owner, there's a bunch of paperwork to sign. Once that's done the buyer goes back to he registration office and gets the plates. Make sure you take your plates off the car.
posted by Ftsqg at 1:04 PM on March 31, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Ftsqg at 1:04 PM on March 31, 2017 [2 favorites]
In Michigan, they won't sell you insurance unless the car is in your name. If you sell it, make sure you know who you are selling it to (get good identification) in case they have an accident with it (or rob a liquor store in it).
posted by H21 at 1:23 PM on March 31, 2017
posted by H21 at 1:23 PM on March 31, 2017
Ok, assuming Alberta insurance is somewhat the same as BCs (but maybe not, i dunno), I would just spend an hour or so cleaning the interior and washing it, look up values on craigslist and autotrader, and list it on craigslist (and maybe kijiji if it's big in AB like it is out east) for something a little less than the other similar listings. If a potential buyer wants to drive it for any reason (test drive, take it to a mechanic) you can get single day insurance -- at least in BC. They pay for the insurance although you'll have to buy it and it'll be in your name, so go with them for test drives, etc. In BC day-use insurance is just a piece of paper you put in the back window, so if its the same in AB take the plates off now if they didn't already take them back when the insurance was cancelled.
posted by cgg at 1:32 PM on March 31, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by cgg at 1:32 PM on March 31, 2017 [1 favorite]
Every car I've ever bought or sold has been via Craigslist.
Question #1 though is the title and whose car it really is. You can't sell a car that isn't yours.
Once that's cleared up, take lots of pictures, get as many details about maintenance as you can glean, be honest in your description and state that you are selling the car as-is, and put it on Craigslist/local equivalent for whatever the Blue Book value is.
This. So much. We've bought and sold A LOT of cars for #reasons in the last few years, and one thing I can tell you is there are so many shady people out there trying to sell a car that they do not have the title to. Or they want us to pay off the balance and then they'll "mail you the title" when they get it from the bank in a few months. Nope. I've watched enough Judge Judy to know that if you don't have the title in hand, in your own name, then you don't own the car.
So get the title in your name first. Here I would go with my mother to Triple A and have her sign the title over to me (assuming that her name is on the title, and not just your father's name; if your father's name is the only one on the title then your uncle is going to need to work on this as part of the estate).
Now, insurance is a separate issue and I'm not sure I would buy a car that I couldn't test drive, but that's because I'm looking for a driveable car. You may find someone who wants to buy it for parts, or you may find someone who knows enough about cars that they would be willing to buy it just based on the way the engine runs. Just be really specific about it in your ad.
posted by vignettist at 4:30 PM on March 31, 2017 [1 favorite]
Question #1 though is the title and whose car it really is. You can't sell a car that isn't yours.
Once that's cleared up, take lots of pictures, get as many details about maintenance as you can glean, be honest in your description and state that you are selling the car as-is, and put it on Craigslist/local equivalent for whatever the Blue Book value is.
This. So much. We've bought and sold A LOT of cars for #reasons in the last few years, and one thing I can tell you is there are so many shady people out there trying to sell a car that they do not have the title to. Or they want us to pay off the balance and then they'll "mail you the title" when they get it from the bank in a few months. Nope. I've watched enough Judge Judy to know that if you don't have the title in hand, in your own name, then you don't own the car.
So get the title in your name first. Here I would go with my mother to Triple A and have her sign the title over to me (assuming that her name is on the title, and not just your father's name; if your father's name is the only one on the title then your uncle is going to need to work on this as part of the estate).
Now, insurance is a separate issue and I'm not sure I would buy a car that I couldn't test drive, but that's because I'm looking for a driveable car. You may find someone who wants to buy it for parts, or you may find someone who knows enough about cars that they would be willing to buy it just based on the way the engine runs. Just be really specific about it in your ad.
posted by vignettist at 4:30 PM on March 31, 2017 [1 favorite]
Is it 200k miles or kilometers? With 200k miles, unless the car is something very fancy and desirable, it's not worth much. 200k kilometers on the other hand would make it worth more, especially if it's a type of car known to last a long time. Good luck getting this all sorted out and condolences on the death of your father.
posted by mareli at 4:51 PM on March 31, 2017
posted by mareli at 4:51 PM on March 31, 2017
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posted by VirginiaPlain at 12:14 PM on March 31, 2017