Please help me sell my car!

[SteveO]

Test drives are fine -- with you and/or your representative in the car. (Use common sense). Make them show you currrent DL and proof of currrent insurance first.

Mechanic checkout is fine...YOU drive it there AND pick it up, THEY pay for the mechanic UP FRONT and give you a ride. Make sure the shop knows YOU are the owner and to only release the car to YOU. No collateral is necessary unless you're just letting them drive the car away. Which I would not do if I were you.

Fill out title, create a bill of sale that also states car is being sold AS IS with no warranty ,etc. Google for bill of sale docs.

Money orders or cash in hand are best. Cashier's checks are okay if drawn on a LOCAL, known bank, but they CAN be cancelled (I have done it on an out-of-town car purchase where the guy lied about a BUNCH of stuff like a/c working, etc; I called him once I got it home and told him he could have the car back or we could renegotiate the price. He chose the latter.) Hand over title and bill of sale upon payment, you keep your plates.

Again, a lot of this is common sense, use your intuition, etc.