How do you handle cash / title when selling a vehicle privately?

When I sold my truck last year, the only known mechanical flaw it had was that the gas gauge was flakey. It would occasionally work, but most of the time showed lower than empty. I told them about this, and said we made sure to fill it up often, using the trip odometer to keep track of how many miles since the last fillup.

Got a call a couple weeks later from the buyer stating that the fuel pump had died after running it out of gas. Not sure what he was hoping I'd do, but I simply gave him the part number for a replacement fuel pump, and let him know that it took me about 3 hours the last time I replaced it. Didn't hear from him again after that.

A week after that, got a call from Golden PD who had found the vehicle abandoned on the side of the road. I emailed them a copy of the bill of sale with the buyers name, never heard from them again either.

Back about 25 years ago my older brother made the mistake of selling a vehicle and leaving the license plates on. Then he started getting parking tickets from all over the state.

He was finally able to sort it out but it was a lesson well learned. Always remove the plate, no matter what the buyer says. Always, always, always.

I used the blinker.com app to sell my last vehicle last year, and another one the year before. I loved the whole experience.

Starts you off with showing you how to take the series of pics, description, verifying that its actually your vehicle, all that. Then guides you on selling price, etc.

The the app posts your ad, and even copies the ad onto craigslist. But doesn't list your direct contact on craigslist, it sends buyers to the app, so you're not dealing with idiots and tire kickers.

The buyer sees the vehicle, fills out their info (validate their drivers license, insurance, etc) and can only contact you through the app to schedule a test drive. If they want it and need a loan, they get it through blinker, that's how they make their money is the loan.

So the buyer wants your ride, they submit an offer, and once you accept, the app walks you through the final process. If the buyer has cash, that's cool. If it's in their bank account or through the loan, even better, because blinker is the one to send you the $ direct into your bank. The app does things like makes sure you remove the license plates, signs the title IN THE CORRECT SPOT, all those last minute things, even makes the actual bill of sale and the handover of the keys. The money is in your bank account the next morning if it wasn't a cash deal. There's all sorts of protections for the seller too in case they wreck on test drive, etc.

It was seamless and the best car selling experience I've ever had.

Before they drive it away, yes, have your plates off and have the insurance cancelled.

Remember, Bill of Sale IS required in Colorado. If in an emissions area, the vehicle has to pass emissions.

Other than secured funds, the requirements are all listed here: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dmv/buying-and-selling

If I buy a vehicle and the previous owner leaves the plates on it I figure they?re hinting that it?s cool for me to burn up miles on the toll roads until I get my own plates.

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Originally Posted by ray1970

If I buy a vehicle and the previous owner leaves the plates on it I figure they?re hinting that it?s cool for me to burn up miles on the toll roads until I get my own plates.

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Probably. Cost my Dad about $200 plus collection costs when he left the plates on his Silverado.