Friend, Family, or Someone Else?

[OneFinger]

Joel's thread on helping the ex-boyfriend has raised some questions about a dilemma in my personal life. The question I have is basically should I help out a friend, family or neither.

 

Here's the situation. I've just purchased a new truck and need to sell my old one. (It's a 1989 with lots of body cancer but is mechanically sound with new tires.)

 

My best friend (non-sexual relationship) is retired and on a fixed income. He wants to buy the truck as a second vehicle and to provide a means of transportation for his boyfriend who is relocating to the area.

 

My niece and her husband also want the truck (she's a stay-at-home Mom with a new baby). They are a one-car family so while hubby's at work, she's isolated. The truck would give her husband a way to get to work and leave the car for her during the day.

 

Both are willing to pay cash for the truck and would benefit from having it.

 

I've also been approached about selling it to the son of a co-worker.

 

So do I sell it to family, my best friend, or a third-party?

[+ Lucky]

Family always comes first...unless you are estranged, of course.

[Guest zipperzone]

>Family always comes first...unless you are estranged, of

>course.

 

I agree with Lucky - why can't your best friend's boyfriend but his own transportation?

[VaHawk]

Never a good idea to sell to family or friends. Ever see the classic episodes of I Love Lucy where the washing machine and tv are sold to Fred & Ethel?

 

16 yo truck, which won't bring that much monetarily? Sell to who??? How about DONATE to the person who most needs it, which in this case, seems to be your niece! No money exchanged, so no possibility of ill feelings in dealing with relatives/friends.

[Flower]

>So do I sell it to family, my best friend, or a third-party?

Obvioulsy selling too cheap, so hold an auction and sell to highest bidder }(

[flguy]

It's frightening to think I agree with Vahawk, but it's true. The truck is really worth nothing, so GIVE it to the niece. The only reason I would give it to the friend is if the niece and husband are very well off, which seems unlikely. Who is the most needy? Can either one easily afford to purchase a second vehicle? Family comes first.

[Guest ChgoBoy]

NEVER lend money to friends, sleep with your ex (until 6 months elapses...lol) and NEVER, but never sell your used vehicle to a family member. Somehow, all these things are a guaranteed backfire. Remember, no good deed goes unpunished.

[+ Charlie]

I learned my lesson many years ago when my father sold his car to my partner. The car immediately turned out to have problems, and I was caught in the middle. Suppose you sell it to your friend, and something happens to his bf while driving it? Sell it to a stranger, or give it to your niece.

[eastbayguy]

>NEVER lend money to friends, sleep with your ex (until 6

>months elapses...lol) and NEVER, but never sell your used

>vehicle to a family member. Somehow, all these things are a

>guaranteed backfire. Remember, no good deed goes unpunished.

 

Amen, brother.

 

Did you meet EBG's grandmother at some point in your life? "No good deed goes unpunished" was one of her favorite sayings. Yet, throughout her life, she was the consumate doer of good deeds. Very few backfired because she was so polished at doing them.

 

I'd have to agree with those saying don't sell it for $$$s to anyone you want to remain on good terms with. If nothing else, list it on Craig's List or Ebay.

 

--EBG

 

P. S. Ebay is one of EBG's favorites. EBG likes things with "E" in them.

[joel304]

Sell the car to your niece for $1, with no assurances (written) as to the condition of the vehicle. It is important to change ownership under any circumstance to avoid any liability on your part. Should you "give" the car to anyone without proper filings, you may get sued should any liability issues arise in the future.

[eastbayguy]

So, OneFinger, with all this free advice, are you sorry you asked yet?

 

:+

 

--EBG

[Boston Guy]

I agree with the others above: family comes first.

 

Your neice is a young mother who has no way to take her child to a doctor or a hospital in case of sickness or other emergency. Sell the car to her for $1. Tell your friend that you gave it to them because they needed your help.

 

BG

[taylorky]

hmmmmm first year stuff.

 

i agree with joel transfer to family with some consideration

 

good or bad, family really is most important.

[joel304]

>hmmmmm first year stuff.

 

 

Honey, are you kidding? I can barely remember the Bill of Rights

:-) ... Thank God Bush is getting rid of them one by one!

[OneFinger]

>I agree with the others above: family comes first.

>

>Your niece is a young mother who has no way to take her child

>to a doctor or a hospital in case of sickness or other

>emergency. Sell the car to her for $1. Tell your friend that

>you gave it to them because they needed your help.

 

Thanks to BG and the others for the advice and suggestions. You've all hit on the issues that I've been thinking about - especially the emergency issue since her new son has already spent 2 weeks in NICU. The closest family is 45 minutes away which is useless in an emergency.

 

I've also been bothered by the fear that something could go wrong with the truck. What if I don't transfer it correctly and I end up with some liability? (All reasons I'd prefer to sell to a stranger.) For me, it's not a matter of money. As VaHawk pointed out, it worth next to nothing. But I want to make sure there is consideration to make the sale (contract) binding.

 

I'm really leaning toward the niece because, IMHO, they really need it the most. But, after they checked with their insurance company, it would increase their policy by $50/month. That's a huge sum based on their income.

 

I've got 30 days before the license and insurance expires. So, I'm taking a "wait and see" attitude on whether they feel they can meet the insurance obligation.

 

If the niece doesn't take it, I'll probably sell it cheap to the friend. (Again, legal transaction but not so expensive that I'd feel guilty if something went wrong with the car.) The friend and boy friend are both retired on a fixed income. Just uprooting and moving across country is a major strain on the income.

 

Don't know how it is in other areas but donating to charity has become a popular way to get rid of junk cars without paying a disposal fee. Most donated vehicles have little or no value and it's a red flag for the IRS. I suspect, but don't know, that it increases your likelihood of an audit.

[joel304]

What if I don't transfer it correctly and I end up with some liability? (All reasons I'd prefer to sell to a stranger.)

 

One,

 

Take the plates. Sign your title. Turn the plates in and report the sale. No possible liability could follow.

 

Joel

[RM]

Donating to charity is not such a good idea. As of this year, you can deduct the blue book value if the charity uses it. If the charity sells it, you can deduct whatever they get for it. It won't be much of a red flag.

[Rick Munroe]

I agree that whoever needs it the most should get it (if even), but I disagree that family always comes first. What is a family anyway? As Mary Richards said in the final episode of the Mary Tyler Moore Show, a family consists of "people who make you feel less alone and really loved." I feel much closer to some of my friends than I do to some of my family members; it's all relative (hey, neat pun!).

[Flower]

Most states base their Motor Vehicle Codes on the "Uniform Model Motor vehicle Code." And like the UMMVC, I'm sure your state has a very specific procedure and form to transfer title--they try to simplify it since it's done so often and the idea is to not require the use of an attorney each time you sell a car.

 

In Calif, for instance, the plates stay with the car, unless they are personalized.

 

Regardless, just call your local DMV office and ask what you need to do in YOUR state to transfer title to your car to another.

 

The model code, as most state codes, just requires that DMV be notified within a specified time, and a specific form be submitted. If that is done, then subsequent liability will not attach nor will it be dependent on whether or not you SELL the car or give it away--you may make a gift just as easy.

 

The sales tax or Use tax the new owner may have to pay, if applicable in your state, might however be dependant on whther it is a gift or gift to relative or sale.

 

Liability will NOT attach any easier to a gift than to a sale as long as you do it correctly--again, call your DMV for the correct form and the simple way to transfer title. Hundreds of thousands of people do it every year with out problems.

[Guest ChgoBoy]

Onefinger...yet another option....If the vehicle is really crap (I dont know) you could always sell it as scrap. Sometimes the metal and hardware on the vehicle are worth more by weight than if it were sold as an operational vehicle. Check your local scrap yards. Also, there are "scrappers" that will come to you, take the car and leave you approx-50-75 bucks for it. They too will scrap the vehicle, but makes it easier on you.

 

ChgoBoy

[JT Brooklyn]

Boston Guy gave you the Common Sense, "Right Thing" to do answer..The Mom with the Baby, should an emergency arise, should not have to wait on Transportation for her and the Baby..Let the Adults fend for themselves... :+ :+ :+

[joel304]

>Liability will NOT attach any easier to a gift than to a sale as long as you do it correctly--again, call your DMV for the correct form and the simple way to transfer title. Hundreds of thousands of people do it every year with out problems.<

 

Exactly. As a "gift," though, many people blow off the required paperwork at DMV. Don't do that.

[OneFinger]

Actually, it's mechanically sound, gets 25 mpg with less than 5K miles on the tires. But, it's got bad body cancer and that's the only reason I decided to get rid of it. (Yup, I'm vane.)

 

I've actually scrapped a vehicle in the past and I agree that's a good option for something that doesn't run or has serious problems.

 

Thanks for the suggestion.

[OneFinger]

Flower and Joel,

 

I have contacted DMV and they've faxed me instructions on how to transfer title. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

I spoke with my friend (who knows my niece) and he fully understands she may have the greater need. He's willing to stand-by and take it off my hands if things fall through with my niece.

 

Also had other relatives (her parents, in-laws, and siblings) who are working on getting enough money to pre-pay a year of insurance if I gift the truck.

 

It's kind of neat to see everyone start coming together to ensure she's able to take care of baby while hubby's at work.

[Guest ChgoBoy]

It's also heart warming to hear that Joel304 has cancelled his Hawaii trip to ensure that all the paperwork gets processed correctly and in a timely fashion. What a guy!