This isn't any kind of "trick"! Having worked in a dealership for almost 10 years I can tell you that we take forms of ID for 2 reasons. The first is employee safety - before this became standard in dealerships, salespeople were getting carjacked all the time on test drives (sadly this was best case - many were shot, leading to car salesman being the 5th most dangerous job in America in the 80's). The second is that the government requires that every person buying a car in the US (no matter how you are paying for it) passes an OFAC check. Add to that the amount of identity theft going around and I would think that everyone would want to prove that they were honest and who they say they are. I can tell you that my father was carjacked selling cars back in the day (never caught the guy because they didn't get his ID) and I had the General Manager of the dealership next to mine get killed opening his store one morning. We have a saying in the car business - it isn't will someone freak out & try to kill you it is when will it happen. Still amazes me that people can get that worked up over a CAR that they would kill or harm someone. I for one will always get ID on the people I am dealing with and if you can't trust the dealership where you are going - why would you do 5 figure business with them???
Originally Posted by Veloce
Best trick is: "we need to make a copy of your license."
They don't need to.
If they press too hard, walk quickly to the nearest exit. They always ask me and always say no. I also give them a phony name and a gmail address that matches the phony name. I also use my Magic Jack phone number so when they call they get the computer...I never answer it, just make calls.
I've not been turned down for a test ride. But, I could be and in that case I'm leaving. They will run a credit check at worst and inundate you with phone calls and email at best. If I like the car, we'll negotiate the price. If I like the price we'll sign papers. I also don't use dealer financing as they use too many loopholes (i.e. interest up front is one). I go to a credit union and get a check and bring it back.
Just remember, it's your personal information. When you give it out, it becomes everybody's personal information.