Interesting Offer

[legion]

I've been trying to help an acquaintance sell his 968. It looks like it's been sold. The buyer is from Arkansas.

The seller asked me, as a favor, to give the car a final look over to insure that he has not overlooked some defect.

The seller put me in contact with the buyer. He has given me a list of items he wants me to give my opinion on.

The original plan was for the seller to drive his trailer from Little Rock to Bloomington, what I gather is an 8 hour drive one way. He threw out yesterday that he'd be willing to pay me to drive the car to Little Rock (the car is here in Bloomington) and pay for a flight back to Bloomington. I'm giving it some thought, but am hesitant.

One of my concerns is liability. My car insurance covers me when buying a car for the first 30 days--but I'm not buying this car. The seller's insurance would not cover the trip. Would the buyer's? I don't want to be liable for any damage to the vehicle during transport. Who's insurance would be responsible for my trip?

Of course, I need to check with my team at work on my anticipated workload for next week...

[jyl]

You could get a written waiver of any responsibility for damage to the car, from buyer and seller, if you think it's worth your while.

Now, what about your liability when you run over a little kid during the 8-hour drive? Normally your own liability insurance should (might?) cover you, but in this case you could be technically driving the car for hire which might raise other issues. Check with your insurance agent.

[legion]

Thanks!

I was going to call first thing on Monday. I'm also wondering if there are any other issues I should be aware of.

[Dantilla]

Whoever has the car titled must carry insurance. I recently sold the 912. As soon as I signed over the title, my insurance was invalid. My insurance company won't insure a car that I don't own.

Your liability will most likely cover you, but not the car. Kinda like a rental car, "non-owned" in insurance policy speak.

[Icemaster]

It varies from state to state, but if IIRC, the insurance follows the car, not the driver. In the state I live, technically, until the deal is consummated and the new owner takes posession, the seller's insurance should cover you as their insurance extends to permissable use i.e "loan" of the car. In short, if I loan you my 911 to drive, my insurance is what covers teh car during that period.

Call you're agent, and get a waiver from both of them, gets you off the hook and avoids any potential nastiness.

Only other issue would be if you got pulled over, searched and the drug dog found a few pounds of grass, RPGs, or chinese immigrants snuck away somewhere. Or the car broke down.

[skipdup]

This is all very interesting to me... Years ago I asked my insurance agent the question about when I drive someone else's car... He told me my insurance follows me, not the car.

Maybe it's a state-by-state thing?