No too much liability these days.  Most use their own vehicle and it is not an issue

I have a different take than most, I'm certain.

I am primarily a listing broker, mostly commercial and land. If buyers are involved they are most likely meeting me at one of my listings . . .

People prefer their own vehicles, I've learned over time. (YMMV of course and different areas have different mindsets)

Back in the day it was important to get them in the car with us so we can talk . . . but I've learned that giving them the space to talk without me helps actually . . . 

Liability is greatly reduced when they are not in my vehicle and I don't prefer my agents drive clients. And they don't either. 

I always prefer that they ride with me so I can build rapport between homes and also discuss them.  I have had clients that would prefer to just follow but those are the clients that I always felt disconnected with.

Not in a long time.   Maybe a single buyer can ride with me, but a married couple, or especially a family with children (car seats), you all drive in your car, I will drive in mine.  Here is our next address; let's try to follow, but if we get separated in traffic, we will meet there.

As for "Rapport".   We can build that while we tour the houses. 

None of our clients are that brave.

With the advent of Covid, all of that changed.  While I used to carry my clients around in my car about 50% of the time, since Covid I haven't had any clients in my car at all.

Used to except if they had kids. Then the car seats are important & they usually stay in their car OR I ride with them.

I can't remember the last time I had a client in my car. Times have just changed. It's a shame as that's when you can discuss each showing while you drive to the next.

Alan May summed it up well. When I first entered the business 100% of the time ad it declined until I retired. COVID locked the doors.

Even before the pandemic changed the way we did business, my clients rarely rode in my car. Everyone has navigation on their car or smart phone. It became easier to meet at a property then to meet elsewhere and then go to a property. The pandemic cemented the process.

Most clients want to drive their own cars.  In Central Florida we are very car dependent.  It's too hot to walk and we don't have much public transportation.  So people are very used to being in their own cars.  When given the opportunity to ride with someone else or drive their own car, most people here want their own car.

That hasn't happened in many years Paul.  Clients prefer to drive their own cars.

Nowadays, buyers want to see a specific house and they meet me there. They have done all their homework already.  In the "old" days, we put together a list of homes to see all in one day, hoping one would catch their fancy.  And then they would most often ride with me.  But that hasn't happened in years.  

I ride with them if possible,  especially early in our relationship  It gives me more time with them  

Since the pandemic, rarely.  Before the pandemic it was mostly relocation clients who would ride with me and it's the same now. I actually miss it as I really got to "know" my clients by riding around in the car with them.

It depends. Like Brian England mentioned, it is a good time to build rapport. We have a lot of people moving here from out of state. They don't know their way around so I'll usually pick them up from their hotel. My local clients usually meet me at homes. I do like it when they just meet me because that allows me to take a call. However, you do miss out on building rapport.

Back in the day when I worked with buyers, absolutely yes, they were in my car. A rare exception would be if we were only seeing one home and they met me there on their lunch break or prior to heading off somewhere else for the day. 

Most of my work these days is listing. There is no need for a client to be in my car. 

If I were working with buyers again, I am not sure how I would choose to proceed. 

i have done all of the above.  Depending on the scenario -- I have been the driver, sometimes the passenger, but most of the time clients drive their own vehicles and we meet at each property during our house tours.  Above all, I practice safety and never put myself in a position of harms way.  I agree that since the pandemic -- life in general has changed.  Great question Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS -- enjoy the weekend!

It can go either way. If I want & need to be with them, "car capture" is a prime time to do so. The opposite is true too. Then, there is their considerations. Those things work out rather well in the moment

Generally, not anymore.  They used to, but it is now a seemingly outdate practice.  I have thought about this and I think it is because most people have a GPS on their phones, plus the hassle of buckling up child car seats.  What's lost is the candor between spouses as to what they liked/disliked about a property you just showed.

     Sure do to gain insight on the person, to develop the relationship and learn how you can help them. For feedback on their reaction to the property that gets shared with property owner.

     You learn a lot on the ride to and from a property. But round the clock, show and tell videos help bust open the showing homes one at a time paradigm.

     Your real estate videos should make your buyer feel like they are riding to the property with you as you one by one differentiate each new house listing.  "You and I are on US RT 1 heading to Amity Maine, population 100... a log home, 400 acres... buckle up, you're riding shotgun"...

     Instead of bang, you are at property for tour, take them with you, talk to them like they are in the jeep, whatever you drive Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS !

It all depends, Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS. If they are relocating and don't have a car with car seat(s) for kiddos rented at the airport, I absolutely do take them on tours. If they are local, in recent years, I have missed running by their home or office and picking them up to go on tours.

Now, with locals, I'm often only showing 1 or 2 properties and they meet me at the first one. 

I think it's a product of several factors -  the pandemic, the lack of inventory and everyone seems to lead lives that don't permit a leisurely home tour as we enjoyed in the past. 

Not always. Many times, we meet at the first property and go from there. One couple, adorned with masks sat in the back seat, demanded that I wear one as well. I suggested that we take separate cars for their safety and well being.

Early in my career they always did but not so much the last decade Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS . I liked it when they did so I really knew what they were thinking. It also created a stronger bond between us when we traveled together.

No. Clients want to have control of their arrival and departure times, even if we meet back at the office.

They have not done so in many, many years and everyone seems to prefer it that way.

Generally they follow

Depends.  Sometimes they do and sometimes they follow.

That hasn't happened in a VERY long time!  That time between showings is "me" time & they often like to use it as a time to have a candid discussion also before our next stop.  

Good question. In my early years, they rode with me. Even before COVID I found they liked that time alone to discuss the house (or me 😉). But I always allow time somewhere in that day's journey to discuss what they liked or didn't about a property. 

Pre-Covid, yes, but not since then.

I pray that the client wants to ride in their own car.  This allows me to listen to what I want on the radio and means time is saved not having to meet and drop off before and after the appointment.  I also like to give the clients to talk to each other in privacy.  More is learned about how to be successful when we talk about their wants and need.