Never assume that just because someone is a senior citizen, they should stop driving. There are some cases where this assumption would be right but there are other cases in which it could lead to disastrous consequences.
If an aging loved one has started having problems with their ability to drive safely, then it might be time for them to give up the vehicle and refrain from operating any type of motorized transportation altogether.
For those who want help selling off an elderly family member’s car (or any senior citizens selling cars) as well as getting rid of all sensitive personal information stored within its confines such as medical records or bank statements, this blog post is definitely a perfect guide.
Check the Vehicle Yourself
When you buy a car, it’s important to do your homework and analyze the vehicle thoroughly–especially if this is going to be one of parents ‘vehicles or any other senior citizens selling their vehicles. When testing out new cars for sale in an auto dealership or online, make sure you walk around first before taking any test drives so that you can look at potential rust spots or body damage on all sides.
Make sure not just how fast it accelerates from 0-60 mph when driving but also about handling by checking its breaking capabilities as well as evaluating things like power steering responsiveness while turning corners with sharp turns (or curves). Check anything that might need repairs such as leaks near fluid levels through gauges; check windows inside/outside are clean and intact without scratches; evaluate headlights etc.
Estimating the Vehicle’s Worth
If you want to make sure that your senior loved one is getting the most for their vehicle when they go into negotiations, it’s important to get a good idea of what theirs car or truck might be worth.
Unfortunately, many buyers are unscrupulous and will offer less than what it should cost just because they know older people can’t do any research themselves so don’t ask them how much other cars in similar condition have sold for recently. Try these Internet sites in this regard:
Autotrader.com – This website is the perfect place for those looking to buy a car. Potential buyers can look up vehicles by location, trim, mileage and year of manufacture; determining which one has features that they are most interested in – new or used!
Kelley Blue Book – The Kelley Blue Book is one of the most popular websites for determining a car’s worth. You can look up vehicles by various criteria, including make and trim as well as location or year range to determine its true value at any given moment in time.
Inspection by an Expert
The next step is to take the senior citizen’s car to a trusted mechanic so they can give it the “once over” by inspecting all of its mechanical systems. If it is cost effective for them to do repairs on any problems that come up during this inspection process (or if you would like them doing some work), get those done too! Car buyers can get turned off if the vehicle is found with squeaky brakes, worn tires, burned out bulbs or any such similar conditions.
Get All Vehicle History and Related Documents
Your mom (or the senior citizen) has been driving for years, so you can trust him/her with any car maintenance needs. She’s done a good job of keeping records and making sure everything is up to date.
You should ask the senior citizen about all the records he/she has kept over the past few decades so that potential buyers will have an easier time trusting it’ll be worth their while. They might also want to see these documents:
- Vehicle history report
- Title (if that senior citizen) owns it
- Any kind of accident and collision records
- A list of any existing liens or loans on it
- Warranty proof, as if the vehicle is still under warranty, this will further increase its worth. So, the prospective buyer must be aware of it.
- Records of maintenance which convey the fact that the senior citizens selling their vehicle have been regular in performing scheduled maintenance work.
Clean Up the Vehicle
Nobody likes to test drive a dirty vehicle. Cleaning it before you sell or trade in your car is important if you want the next owner to enjoy driving it as much as they can. Make the vehicle shine with a good washing and fresh wax job, so it looks best on the lot, vacuum out the interior and shampoo carpets for superior comfort.
Don’t forget detailing products that clean off fingerprints from surfaces like door handles; elbow grease may be helpful when scrubbing stubborn stains such as spilled coffee grounds around floor mats too! You should also have auto body shops detail any scratches or dents that occurred during use by adding new paint for an all-around beautiful finish.
Have All Sale Documents
Next, you should assist the senior citizen in gathering all the information and documentation that will be necessary when they sell their car. This includes:
- Vehicle’s title of ownership that must be handed over to the new owner when deal is finalized.
- Details about what kind of mileage has been put on the vehicle over time (both miles per gallon and total miles)
- A proof of purchase if this is helpful for identifying its value
- Current registration card of vehicle
- Bill of sale
- Proof stating vehicle’s safety or smog inspection (if applicable)
Get Ready for Vehicle Selling
Your senior loved one will soon be able to list their car for sale. This process includes an inspection by a trusted mechanic, as well as washing and detailing the interior and exterior of the vehicle.
You should also help your elderly relative take accurate photos of key details such as seats, dashboard, carpets or trunk before listing it on vehicles’ websites (or in person). If you need more advice about this task from someone who knows what they’re talking about- reach out.
Finalize the Selling Process
When the senior citizen and the buyer agree on a fair price, Trusted Sale (a platform) makes it easy to manage the transaction. The buyer will pay through their secure platform — which we know is super important for online transactions!
They’ll deposit money the senior citizen’s account electronically then issue them with an official bill of sale. Plus, they offer financing options that make this option even more viable for cash-strapped buyers who don’t have all kinds of resources just lying around waiting to buy something like this.
When you’ve just signed over the title and handed off you’re the senior citizen’s vehicle keys, it’ll be time to remove their personal stuff from inside. Make sure everything is cleared out of the car before handing it off to a new owner! Your senior will need help with this task so feel free to lend them an arm if they’re feeling too tired or overwhelmed. Once that’s done, take some pictures together as a momento for future memories–you can also send these photos in emails for those who couldn’t make the sale.
Conclusion
We hope this blog post has been helpful in providing you with some great tips to help an older family member (or any senior citizen) sell their car. As a parting piece of advice, we recommend that before you begin the selling process, take time to do research on market prices for cars and find out what your vehicle is worth.
It’s also important not to neglect maintenance or repairs as they can affect how much people are willing to pay for your vehicle. Are there any other questions about helping senior citizens selling cars? Leave us a comment below so we can address them.
