What to do if buyer damages car during test drive?

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May 25, 2025 at 7:36 pm #2248 Reply
Peyton
Interesting story… I had trailered this 2010 g37 189k to Daytona fl roughly 2 1/2hrs, I get there 4 guys check it out steering the purchaser in the wrong direction already, keep in mind I only wanted $3400 they offered $3k, I brought my good scanner to show them any codes or issues which it had no check engine lights etc, they weren’t comfortable using mine, so I drove it to Autozone. Then no codes came back engine wise for it. His friend wanted to drive it, keep in mind we test drove it for over 45 minutes driving spiritually. I let him drive it back Then he gets in it and uses slap mode brings it down to 1st gear at 6500 rpm’s many times one more time later he then guns it then it explodes now it won’t start etc. They won’t pay for any damage of it, of course. What would y’all do? I was ticked and couldn’t do anything about it. Feel like they were in it just to break it.
May 25, 2025 at 7:36 pm #2249 Reply
Joey
I stopped reading after you said, trailered it 2.5 hrs for guys to look at.
I wouldn’t drive across town for a “buyer”.
This isn’t door dash, you come to me.
May 25, 2025 at 7:37 pm #2250 Reply
Bill
If they’re not interested in coming to you to buy it then move on tell them to call carvana
May 25, 2025 at 7:37 pm #2251 Reply
Bill
I’d remind my wife where the bond money was.
May 25, 2025 at 7:37 pm #2252 Reply
Petro
You allowed the buyer to dictate the interaction, and now you’re SOL – I don’t even let my buyers test drive it until they show me their ID and money. I drive it first, if u like it – MAYBE you can drive it. LOL at driving to autozone for a new scanner, you need to completely change up your strategy.
May 25, 2025 at 7:37 pm #2253 Reply
Petro
Seems like there were several learning experiences to be had from this one situation.
May 25, 2025 at 7:38 pm #2254 Reply
Kade
Test drove for 45min? I would’ve told them to park it after 10 min. Unfortunately, if it broke and nothing was signed it’s on you.
May 25, 2025 at 7:38 pm #2255 Reply
Aidan
Sounds like the transmission broke in gear and if they won’t buy the car or pay for it, I would take them to claim court for the damage.
May 25, 2025 at 7:38 pm #2256 Reply
Tyrell
I don’t allow a test drive without cash in hand and if you’re not coming to meet me at the local tag shop 10 minutes from my house then you’re not a serious enough buyer for me to move a foot out the door, let alone drive the car to you.

Also, I make it very clear you must have cash in hand to test drive and I will be in the car with you.

If you destroy my car, then you’ve bought it because my car insurance does not cover any accidents you cause.

So typically I’ll end up driving the car with the buyers as passengers to minimize any potential damage or accidents, and it works out for me and them.

They usually end up buying.
May 25, 2025 at 7:39 pm #2257 Reply
Taylor
If this is a serious post, you have to be intuitive. When I sell cars, if I sense potential “buyers” are trouble, I get rid of them. Forget about getting them to pay for the damage. You’ll have to eat it and chalk it up to experience. I do feel bad for you, tho!!
May 25, 2025 at 7:39 pm #2258 Reply
Blade
Yeah, that is definitely your fault. I don’t even let people drive it at first I drive it myself and then if they’re interested, then they can drive it with cash in my hand also going all around and driving to AutoZone and everything else absolutely not but if they offered 3K I would’ve just taken that and walked off with it.
May 25, 2025 at 7:39 pm #2259 Reply
Peyton
A serious buyer will come to you. I never go over 30 miles for a buyer. That way can tell how serious they are. Flipped a dump truck and the buyer drove 6 hours one way here and gave what was asked no questions. And always have a paper that more or less says you break it, you buy it for test drives.
May 25, 2025 at 7:40 pm #2260 Reply
Chris
Lost me at ‘trailered 2.5 hours’.
If they can’t come to you, they’re not that invested in owning it.
And then. one slap shift down hitting redline and they’d be out of the car and walking.
Shouldn’t be that hard to sell a $3500 car, never be that desperate.
May 25, 2025 at 7:40 pm #2261 Reply
Joseph
And to top it off, you look like a VQ kid, who owns these cars personally, who knows that car community and the people in it and how they act… Sorry but this one’s all on you bro.
May 25, 2025 at 7:40 pm #2262 Reply
Matthew
As a buyer, if a seller was willing to drive it 2.5 hrs just to show me the car, I’d say no thanks. That shows desperation to get rid of something quick, and that scares buyers off. Secondly, NEVER let a buyer drive your car without all his cash in MY HAND!
May 25, 2025 at 7:40 pm #2263 Reply
Ryan
It sounds like you are new or an extremely nice guy. Flipping has really opened my eyes to how people are. I’m still nice, but I don’t let other people tell me how the deal is gonna go. You didn’t have a ton of money into this one, so you can part it out/sell whole and at least break even. Better to learn on an 1100 car than a 10k car.
May 25, 2025 at 7:41 pm #2264 Reply
Jairmy
I don’t meet anybody anywhere without a deposit, they seem to care a little more when they already have money into it. Interesting enough I had one same year customer was gone in it 30 mins at AZ checking the codes after I told him I had a scanner lol
May 25, 2025 at 7:41 pm #2265 Reply
Jeremy
First off, you don’t take a car like that to someone for them to “look” at it. If it blows up on a test drive or whatever you’re out, that’s how business works. I’m curious how much profit was in this car for you to trailer it that far? Figuring load times etc you have at least 6 hrs round trip into this job not to mention fuel. What’s your time worth?
May 25, 2025 at 7:41 pm #2266 Reply
Alec
Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do. This is a very expensive lesson why you don’t let people test drive a car without having the cash in your hands.

At the very least, take them for a ride in it. If they’re being super difficult about that, then they’re probably not clients you want to deal with anyway.
May 25, 2025 at 7:41 pm #2267 Reply
Mansa
Sad many have to pick up on I’m not really trying to buy vibes. When I’m selling a vehicle and people start with all the extra ish. I just kill it always remember a real buyer is looking to have a good running vehicle and will check for that. All the extra let’s go here and there always ends with a well let me think about it, I will get back to you. Last always protect your vehicle don’t let people just do anything to YOUR vehicle cause it ends this way.
May 25, 2025 at 7:42 pm #2268 Reply
Tyrell
Traveling to show a car to a random stranger is insane!! I’ve done it for only family and friends or loyal customers. At least get a Non-Refundable deposit if you gonna deal with strangers
May 25, 2025 at 7:42 pm #2269 Reply
Sam
We wouldn’t have driven 45 minutes. More like “4 to 5” minutes, and he definitely wouldn’t have been red lining it. I would’ve lost it. Drawing a line and telling a buyer “no” doesn’t make you a bad seller. People are idiots, and I don’t like dealing with idiots.
May 25, 2025 at 7:42 pm #2270 Reply
James
You delivered a car and let people take it for a joyride with you in the car.

A court will tell you that you have no claim, you permitted them to drive. You sound like a nice guy, but in this business people will take advantage of that, from mechanics to potential buyers.

At the very least, you should expose these people that did this: phone number, name, and picture. They are probably telling this story laughing about, and maybe do this regularly to unsuspecting people. Who goes for a 45-minute test drive
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What to do if buyer damages car during test drive?

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