Hi Guys, I am planning on selling my white 2002 Nissan Maxima GLE. We have three cars and just don't need her anymore (sniffle). I have never bought or sold a car anywhere except a dealership. I want to sell it myself so I don't get taken to the cleaners by CarMax. I plan to put an ad on Cars.com. When I actually get down to selling it what steps do I need to take? Get a cashier's check from the seller and then just sign the back of the title? What do I need to do to ensure the title gets out of my name (so that if they get into an accident I am not liable for it. Also what do you all do when people want to take it to a shop to get looked at? Do you go with them? Ask for the details of the shop? I ask because I have heard of people test driving cars and swapping parts out with their car etc. I have had all the work done on it at one shop. They would be willing to pull a report for me if I asked. Is it a good thing to volunteer this info to people or just keep that quiet. When someone comes over to test drive it do you just get a copy of their license and valid insurance. Do you ride with them? What if someone comes back a week later saying this or that about the car? Thanks!
Go to your county's tax assessor's web site. There, you should find all the instructions and paperwork you'll need to protect yourself and the buyer. I've twice sold a car privately. Both times, I created a document that discussed that the car was sold "as is" with no warranty. You can have them sign that and it wouldn't hurt to get it notarized. There is also a document that you fill out on your own that lets the state know you sold the car just in case the buyer doesn't get the title transferred in a reasonable amount of time. I would also take the license plates when you sell it and make sure to remove toll tags if you have them. Yes, you ride with them for the test drive. It's up to you if you want to go to the shop with them if they ask.
Forgot to mention that I sold both of mine off craigslist. It's free. You just have to remember to repost it every other day or so or it will get lost 15 pages deep.
