These days, everyone is afraid of Covid Covid, and nothing but the Covid. There are no longer any other dangers in life. Gaining weight because gyms are closed? No longer a danger. Cancer? No longer a threat, at least not one we discuss. Heart Attacks? If it happens, we’ll claim it happened because of Covid. Covid is also the official new cure for old age. Since it kills almost exclusively the elderly, it is an alternative to dying of old age.
Due to the excessive paranoia, many Notaries are forced to do “in car” signings. Contrary to the idea of Title companies and Attorneys doing “in house” signings, this is the new thing.
Have you ever done one of these? Can you concentrate and do a good job in your car? I did “on trunk” signings. Those are annoying, but if you can’t find parking or afraid of the borrower’s house, you might have to.
Tell us your experience with in car signings. And once more, forget about Comedians in cars getting coffee, now there is Notaries in cars doing signings.
I have (pre-covid) sat in the passenger seat with one signer in the driver seat and the other in the back. They signed using a clipboard on the center console, parked right in front of the post office. Also been to ‘tail-gate parties’ if you will. And in/on truck, trunk, hood, and even lap signings. Whew!
Comment by Ann L Lamon — February 24, 2021 @ 6:14 pm
Yes have done several of these, if you are prepared they go smoothly, with mask and gloves on give signers the documents they need to sign at the window, take picture of IDs they hold these to the window, get in my car and talk by phone instructing where to sign and date, once done retrieve signed documents and check them in my car, if they are all completed correctly I leave and if not have them correct any mistakes. signers need to have a clipboard or something to write on, gets a bit tedious because of all the talking -you to the signers and them to each other but does work. I prefer this to standing in a garage with no heat, no lights and the trash can next to me 🙂
Comment by Cindi Garcia — February 24, 2021 @ 6:51 pm
Yes because of covid I have done one. Very doable except awkward. First have a flat surface to notarize documents, second have a flat surface slopping downward away from the floor, third tighten pile frequently to keep in order and the last is first try and keep documents from dropping to floor or between seats. No problem with kids or house pets. GOOD LUCK!
Comment by Gary — February 24, 2021 @ 7:03 pm
Just did a signing yesterday at a Starbucks as the client wanted to meet closer to my location as they wanted to do some shopping after as they lived a ways out of town. No inside seating so we signed at an outside table in the wind. Used my phone as a paper weight for the finished pile and kept my hand on top of the other. Would far prefer inside and was thankful that the sun was shining and it was not too cold.
Comment by Wes G — February 24, 2021 @ 9:51 pm
“In Car Signings” are the stupidest thing I have heard of…. let’s put everyone in a 6 Sq Ft space and breath the same air for an hour. Or stand outside the car, breathing into that same 6 Sq Ft space!!! Get Real. If you want to follow CDC suggestions – Notarize the Deed at the table and everything else at home, before you ship…this saves 15-20 minutes off of your time together.
Nor will I do “Door” or “Window” signings…it’s WINTER! You want me to stand outside for an hour, in the cold & then notarize documents while I’m freezing? Think again. AND, if you want me to ‘sign in your garage’….you’d better bring a heater, ’cause I bring my blanket to wrap up in.
Comment by Andrea from Oregon — February 25, 2021 @ 7:11 am
I’ve done trunk signings in a local parking lot and I don’t mind them at all. They seem to move along faster believe it or not 🙂
Comment by Lyd — February 27, 2021 @ 3:55 pm
Rang the door bell multiple times (saw wife, but she would not answer). Went to my car to leave, but she opened the garage door and said her husband was running late. Went back to street to wait his arrival. He finally arrived, opened his tail gate of his covered van and said we’d do the closing right there, and take papers inside his home for his wife to sign. It was bitter cold outside, and dark. Plus, a few raindrops! I told him I could not do the signing considering the conditions. His reaction was rude, as I drove away.
Comment by Robert Ruston — November 5, 2021 @ 7:53 pm
I request the borrowers to wear mask as well as myself. I take the time to tag my documents before I go to the closing. When I arrive at the closing to do what I call an in-car drive-by closing I asked for the identifications to put in my notary journal, they sign the journal and I put that away.
I will not allow borrowers to sit in my car in less than 6ft distance to sign documents for my safety as well as theirs. I will not do car-in closings in inclement weather.
Some borrowers prefer to stand on the outside of the car. I give them the documents a little at a time on a clipboard to sign and pass to the next borrower. I use a one piece Eating/Laptop Steering Wheel Desk for a more comfortable signing. I check signatures and notarize as they sign and use my passenger side seat for the completed documents.
Comment by Arlene Vincent — November 6, 2021 @ 12:50 am
In twelve or so years, I have conducted three or four in-car signings because the person did not want me in his/her house. Too messy, I suppose. Also, I have signed on a garbage can in a garage for a “homeless” guest of another person and on a pickup tailgate in front of an individual’s office. I signed a lady in a parking lot in her wheelchair with a clip board during COVID and quite a few signings on porches and garages. People often think signing on their in-house low coffee table will suffice; although I have done a couple of those, it’s uncomfortable since I have to sit on the floor. It’s always a little nerve-wracking to do some of these signings because I’m always afraid the documents will get out of order. Anything to get the job done!
Comment by LINDA Sue BURT — November 6, 2021 @ 1:32 pm