Exactly what information do they write down when they make a "copy" of your dr. license? Do they do a credit check, background? Or simply ONLY for insurance liability purposes.
I am looking to buy a luxury car and I want to test drive 4 different manufacturers but dont want credit checked everytime. (will they let me drive a $50k car? im a young male but i have $$ lol). is there any way I test drive for more than 5 min. (maybe like an hour or so? ).
2007-12-12 10:08:55 · 7 answers · asked by M.P. 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Buying & Selling
First of all, would you give someone your car without knowing who who they were? That is a good way to have a vehicle stolen!!!! Secondly, they need to know that you actually have a driver's license before they can legally let you drive a vehicle. If you do not have a license and I allow you to drive, I can be charged criminally with allowing an unlicensed driver to drive!!
The dealer will want to know that you can buy the car. They can not run a credit report without your permission, but they will expect you to answer some basic questions!
Usually the test drive is going to be short! The salesman is not going to spend an hour riding around with you, he will let you (if you qualify) take the car out on a drive that will let you see how it handles. Usually this is about 10-15 minutes!!
2007-12-12 10:29:54 · answer #1 · answered by fire4511 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
well they first want to make sure you have a license and when they right or make copies they are prolly just gettin a copy of you license number incase you dont come back or if you wreck it or whatever. Now about for longer test drives I know some places will let you but that is if you are really interested.. but if its a new car they are prolly wanting to keep the milage down. If you are interested in a car and want to drive it longer just ask. I know there are places not sure which ones that actually let you drive it for a day. and i think in order to do a credit check they have to have your permission. I hope this helpts. And goodluck!!!
2007-12-12 10:14:07 · answer #2 · answered by anioheveteric 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
umm....I'm 16 and I had to give them my driver's license when I test drove my Lexus SC 430 coupe.....they just took the card, made a copy, and handed it back to me. They didn't do any background checks or anything, so I'm pretty sure it's just simply for liability purposes...in case ya crash the car..lol. And yeah, I drove around for like 15 min.....ask the dealers.....and I think an hour is a bit too long.
2007-12-12 10:14:44 · answer #3 · answered by Coolio A 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
They are not running your credit. They are getting it for insurance and follow up reasons.
2007-12-12 10:58:51 · answer #4 · answered by bigybb 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
To make sure you're legal, that if somethinng happens they can find you or their insurance people can.
2007-12-12 10:12:37 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
What a fabulous question! You are correct in being concerned that your credit not be continually checked because, as many are UNAWARE, every time a company, a person, a landlord, or whoever checks your credit report...it actually works to LOWER your credit score. Sounds unfair - Personally, I think it is! It is wrong to assume that just because your credit is being checked, you are in some sort of "credit bind" or are being investigated as a possible "non-credit-worthy" individual.
BUT, there is good news behind all of this hoopla. The actual reason a Dealer is asking for a copy of your license has to do with the fact that you will be much less likely to drive off with their expensive inventory - never to be seen again! Also, it would be illegal for a dealer to allow an unlicensed person to knowingly enter the public highways driving a vehicle; the same is true for a dealer allowing a person to drive a vehicle when, in fact, his license has been suspended or revoked!
And, there is one more reason. It's a pretty good way to make certain that the person testing their merchandise is at least 18 years of age. A dealer working with me would have NO DOUBT that I've not seen 18 for a whole long time (!) but some minors can appear older than they actually are.
I appreciate your concern and, due to that fact, I do not think that it would be a bad idea to have a paper signed by the Dealer that looks something like this:
Date:
I, ________, (name of dealer) have made a photocopy of the driver's license of Sam Smith prior to his test drive of a:
(brief description, year, make, model of car being test driven).
The purpose of making such copy is solely for liability reasons. No credit check will be performed by myself or any other employee of this dealership based upon the information gathered from Mr. Smith's driver's license.
In the event that Mr. Smith should wish to purchase a vehicle and seeks financing from this dealership, a separate consent form allowing a credit check will be executed at that time.
Signed: _________ (name of Dealer)
Date: __________
Witness: Samuel Smith
Date: _________ (same as appears above)
I am a retired attorney and no longer represent clients; so in offering this "draft" I am not holding myself out at your attorney - this advice is based solely upon common sense. I would type up a master of this "form" and photocopy enough for the dealerships you'll be visiting. When you pass that out, you will immediately establish your maturity and ability to "take charge" of the situation.
IF, ON THE OFFHAND CHANCE, a dealer refuses to sign, thank him kindly, (showing NO TEMPER OR SIGN OF ANOYANCE!) turn around and walk out. I doubt you'll get 3 steps in, before he'll have a sudden change of heart about signing. HE KNOWS, JUST LIKE YOU DO, that you can take your business elsewhere in a New York minute, if the situation so requires. REMEMBER, YOU employ the dealer, he does not employ you. YOU are in charge of the purchase, he is not. HE is at your mercy, you are not at his.
One more tip that has proven so helpful for many friends:
1. Test your 4 vehicles. LEAVE EACH dealership MAKING NO DEALS WHATSOEVER!!
2. If you haven't done your homework, get on the Kellye's Blue Book website (http://www.kbb.com) where, for new and used cars, the average value of a vehicle is listed.
3. Click on "New Car Pricing" which is on the left-hand column of options
4. Select Make and Model and press "enter"
5. Print that page
6. Select "Pricing" option next and press "enter"
7. Choose from available "trims" - "enter" again
8. At the top (next to the cool picture) you will see 3 financial numbers:
MSRP, Invoice and New Car Blue Book Value
[The following definitions of these 3 numbers were taken directly from the KBB site]:
a. The MSRP, or Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price, is the price set by the manufacturer. The MSRP price shown for this vehicle includes destination charges and minimum required equipment. MSRP, destination charges and minimum required equipment appear as separate prices on the manufacturer's window sticker. A dealer, however, can choose to sell a vehicle above or below its listed MSRP.
b. Invoice
Invoice price, or dealer invoice, is the price an auto manufacturer charges its franchise dealers for a new vehicle. The invoice price shown for this vehicle includes destination charges and minimum required equipment.
c. New Car Blue Book Value
KBB's New Car Blue Book Value reports what people are really paying for a vehicle. Based on actual new-vehicle transactions received from auto dealers across the U.S., this value is adjusted regularly as market conditions change.
Print this page and study these numbers CAREFULLY.
9. Now click on "Price with options" and select any special options you desire - the program will recalculate the 3 numbers above to match your specifics. Print again.
10. As an example, I picked a 2007 Ford Crown Victoria and then added LX trim which brought the three numbers to:
a) Kelley Blue Book Price: 27,618.00
b) Invoice: 27,345.00
c) MSRP: 29,055.00
11. I've also noted that the "Destination Charge" which is already added into the Invoice and the MSRP is $825.
12. At this point I go ahead and get my own copies of my credit report which we are all entitled to do (from the 3 main reporting agencies)
13. Assuming my credit is acceptable, it's time to do some math. We start with the invoice price minus the destination charge: 27,345 - 825 = 26,520
14, We do the same thing with the MSRP:
29,055 - 825 = 28,230
15. Now we approach the dealership with a sleek folder which contains the copies we've made off the Kelly Blue Book pages, our credit report and the magic numbers. Wearing a business suit, we approach a salesperson and ask if we can please see the Supervisor on Duty. [at this point the salesperson will probably think we're going to try to sell something to the Supervisor, like new business cards or brochures, or whatever]... BUT INSTEAD....
16. When approached by the Supervisor, all you have to say is, hello, Mr. Johnson, my name is Samuel Smith and I'm prepared to purchase a 2007 Ford Crown Victoria LX - I've seen 3 in your lot. I know that you paid 27520 as the invoice price of the car. Sir, I know you're in business to make money, but I'm making it very easy for you. You don't have to "sell" me anything. I know exactly what I want - but I also know you have to make a living. So since I've prepared a packet for you containing my credit information and have already arranged my financing I'm prepared to offer you...
17. NOW YOU TAKE THE INVOICE PRICE AND ADD ON EXACTLY $500. ($27,020)
18. He'll be taken aback that you're so prepared and you've made him an offer. [opposite of the whole "now, folks, what can I do to put you in that beautiful Crown Vic this afternoon" approach...]
19. He'll probably mention the destination charge. All you say is, "well, from where I'm standing, the car is approximately 750 feet from where we're standing. I don't believe a so-called 'destination charge' is necessary."
20. He may then mention that there is a "processing charge." All you say is "Sir, about 10 minutes ago I offered you a profit of $500 - by my calculation that's an hourly fee of $3000. I think at the rate I'm compensating you, you can fill out the paperwork at no charge."
21. All the time you keep standing because it's going to come in very handy right about NOW...
22. He'll come up with more and more reasons why your offer is unacceptable. Let him speak for no more than about 90 seconds. Interrupt him politely and say, "Sir, I just hate to waste any more of your time. I hope you have a wonderful afternoon." And START WALKING...
23. If he doesn't chase you down and accept your offer you'll be the first I've heard of. [of course you do this between the 29th and 31st of the month - when those ole' quotas are coming due!!]
24. Likely, you'll make the deal you want - and remember two things - EVERYTHING IS NEGOTIABLE AND YOU WILL NEVER MAKE A MISTAKE BY WALKING AWAY. You can always come back if seriously desperate - but you don't want to have buyer's remorse if you pay an excessive price for a car that doesn't merit it.
I wish you the very best as you test drive these cars and hope that you'll find the exact model for your needs - AT A FAIR WIN-WIN PRICE!!
Barb
2007-12-12 16:18:07 · answer #6 · answered by Barbara C 2 · 0⤊ 4⤋
i have never been asked that before and i have test drove quite a few!
2007-12-12 10:14:32 · answer #7 · answered by ~~eddie m~~~ 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋