Can Selling a Car Yourself Get Dangerous?

(Photo Credit: Pexels)

A danger we don't talk about enough when one tries to sell a car on their own would be the physical threat present selling to a stranger.

The dark side of selling a car is often associated with threats such as scams or misrepresentation (of a vehicle put up for sale). It's concerning that the physical threat is rarely a focal point of consideration when one deliberates whether to get a third party's help when trying to sell their car.

It's not like it doesn't happen either. Earlier this year, a 33-year-old man was assaulted at Taman Bukit Indah by 5 individuals during a car sale after a dispute over the car's selling price. The group then proceeded to steal the man's car while fleeing the scene. The assailants, who were aged between 21 to 56 were caught 5 days later around Taman Seri Setia. The victim's car has also been found.

This is just one of many reported and unreported cases that occur all over Malaysia. Meeting up with a stranger always poses a risk and it only gets riskier when you're meeting up with a group of them. Without a mediator or a third-party present, things can get heated easily, especially since a car sale is bound to involve levels of negotiation that may push boundaries or test one's patience.

So what can you do?

(Photo Credit: Pexels)

Well, always try to agree on a price before you meet up for the car viewing if possible. Don't hide any flaws the vehicle might have to avoid any need for face-to-face renegotiation. Don't go to the viewing alone and ensure a non-secluded location is set. Let others know of your whereabouts and give them a rough estimate of when you'll be coming back so that they would have a better sense of when something has gone wrong.

Alternatively, you could also opt to not sell your car on your own. Seek a reputable and trusted platform to sell your vehicle to reduce the abovementioned dangers on top of all the other benefits it provides. It's always better to be safe than sorry!

Read more: The Geely Panda Mini EV: Cute, Chic, City Car Coming Soon?