<p>My daughter and her friend are driving cross-country beginning next week. They will end up in Sonoma, CA where her friend lives. Because it is one-way and they are both 22, the cost for rental cars was ridiculous (over $2,000), so we came up with the idea of them driving our 1998 Toyota Camry with 130K miles. (Our mechanic thinks it will do just fine.) Initially my daughter’s friend was going to buy it, but now she has determined that she isn’t in a position to do it. My daughter will fly home. We are left with the challenge of selling a car in CA. It is a good, solid car that will serve someone well. We understand an east coast car will not get as much as a west coast car, and are just hoping to get a fair price for it. I guess we would have the friend sell it. Is Craigslist the way to go? Or should we try to find someone to drive it back east for us? Any thoughts or suggestions? (or potential buyers?)</p>
<p>one thing to consider, the SELLER must obtain a California smog permit before it can be sold. I have no idea on how well a ten year old Toyota will fare when put on the machine. But repairs could be several hundred dollars (or more) if a Cat converter is required (I just replaced mine last year).</p>
<p>[Smog</a> Information](<a href=“Smog Inspections - California DMV”>Smog Inspections - California DMV)</p>
<p>Does the friend have any friends who might want to buy it? If the friend goes to college (Sonoma State?) maybe she can advertise at the college itself since it’ll be a pretty affordable car. If you were planning to sell it anyway it seems like a good plan to sell it once here. </p>
<p>A caution about Craigslist or any other normal means of advertising - a young female needs to be a little careful in arranging the meetups for potential buyers since there are some predators out there.</p>
<p>Carmax is a pretty painless way to sell a car. You might not get absolutely top dollar, but then you don’t have to wait for potential buyers you don’t know to answer your ad on Craigslist.
[CarMax</a> - Browse used cars and new cars online](<a href=“http://www.carmax.com/]CarMax”>http://www.carmax.com/)</p>
<p>^^ I wouldn’t think Carmax would be interested in buying a car with 130K miles on it although I’ve never tried to see to them.</p>
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<p>To me, it sounds as though the plan started out one way (2 girls having a great adventure, with a definite sale at the end of the journey) to something different.</p>
<p>Are you sure you still want to go through with this?</p>
<p>What will motivate the friend to do the work of selling it, especially if your daughter isn’t present to keep the task front-burner on the friend’s mind?</p>
<p>If it were me, I wouldn’t let my car get out of my hands to have a sale handled by a 22-year-old family friend. If I thought the girl was sharp, I’d offer her a sales commission to ensure the car doesn’t just sit.</p>
<p>It’s definitely a buyers market for used cars as I’m sure it is anywhere, and with the disadvantage of it being an E. Coast car you will probably have to give someone a bargain.</p>
<p>We sold my late MIL’s 20 year old car with 70K miles on it to Carmax. You can always call them up and ask them. It looks like their nearest store to Sonoma is in Sacramento.
[CarMax</a> Sacramento/Roseville in Sacramento/Roseville, California 95661](<a href=“http://www.carmax.com/enUS/locations/California-Used-Sacramento-Roseville-7147.html]CarMax”>http://www.carmax.com/enUS/locations/California-Used-Sacramento-Roseville-7147.html)</p>
<p>Thanks everyone. Yes, the situation changed and we are trying to come up with the best solution. I just got some quotes (~$1,000) for transporting the car back east so that may be the best deal. But I will look into Carmax.</p>
<p>Carmax isn’t going to take a 9 yr old car with 130k miles on it. Also, in addition to getting the appropriate smog certification, does CA still have different rulings about catalytic converters or something, or is that old news? I also agree that one must be very careful with craigslist, and additionally, buyers looking at a car that is titled in a different state and being sold by a 3rd party are also going to be wary. I agree with p3t about having a 22 yr old sell the car… not. I think you should bring the car home, and look into the service where people offer to drive cars one way (lots of people do it from the NE to FL and back for the snowbirds). Good luck!</p>
<p>Here’s an idea-- why don’t you look into the girls being delivery drivers for someone who wants to get their car across country, from wherever you are locted to California? They woudl get paid to take someones car across country. Problem solved!! I believe the jobs are listed under “delivery driver”. I wouldnt do what you are proposing-- your dau is kind to go with her friend on the trip, but having to arrange to get the car back is a serious hassle.</p>
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<p>Not necessarily so. 3 weeks ago, Carmax offered my son $1700 for a 14 year old Camry with 113K miles on it. But we put an ad on Craigslist on Sunday morning at 8:30 AM (asking $3500) and got a reply at 10:15 from a guy who came over and bought it on the spot for $3000. </p>
<p>Be aware, though, that Carmax’s written offer is only good for 7 days and then it expires. If you go back to them a couple of weeks later and try to sell it to them, the offer will almost certainly be lower. So try to sell it yourself first and use Carmax as a last resort.</p>
<p>^^^ Wow, patsmom-- I guess Carmax either changed their policy or it varies by state and inventory (or by car). They weren’t interested in a Honda Civic we had several years ago because of the high mileage, and it didnt even have 100K mi on it!</p>
<p>As an aside, to the OP< my older s drove my SIL’s old Camry til it had 387k mi on it!!! It was still running fine-- but he had an accident and they totalled the car :(</p>
<p>They could always donate the car once here and you could take the tax write-off. You’d have to figure out if the finances would be acceptable to you.</p>
<p>Thanks again for all your advice. </p>
<p>We have decided to have the car transported home by a reputable shipping company for $950. Daughter will fly home on the red eye for $130. That seems like a lot of money, but in their 2+ week drive across the country my daughter and her friend will only spend two nights in a hotel (the other nights staying with family and friends) so it is not a bad price overall for this experience. We felt that selling in CA would be a hassle and a financial loss. We think the Camry has many more miles on it and should serve our family well for a few more years.</p>