Yet another private car sale question
Discussion
Hi, first off apologies if this has already been done to death but I had a search and couldn't find anything that was asking the same question as me.
I am going to view a car on saturday. My understanding of how the process will now work is -
1.) Seller and I agree a price, I pay, I get new keeper supplement and keys.
2.) As seller will still have vehicle insured when I want to drive away, I will drive it home as my insurance on my other car covers me to drive other vehicles third party as long as they are insured (which it will be by the person I am buying it from).
3.) I get home, tell him he can cancel his insurance now.
4.) I phone/go online/go post office to tax vehicle with new keeper supplement.
5.) I phone my insurer and add the car to my policy.
Is that all correct and legit? By the way we should really get a sticky thread for this.
I am going to view a car on saturday. My understanding of how the process will now work is -
1.) Seller and I agree a price, I pay, I get new keeper supplement and keys.
2.) As seller will still have vehicle insured when I want to drive away, I will drive it home as my insurance on my other car covers me to drive other vehicles third party as long as they are insured (which it will be by the person I am buying it from).
3.) I get home, tell him he can cancel his insurance now.
4.) I phone/go online/go post office to tax vehicle with new keeper supplement.
5.) I phone my insurer and add the car to my policy.
Is that all correct and legit? By the way we should really get a sticky thread for this.
Edited by Al U on Friday 14th November 15:04
tomsugden said:
Personally I would do 5 and 3 the other way around. Insure it before you leave, get him to cancel his policy.
When I spoke to my insurance the other day they said it was fine as long as you didn't have the situation of the same person insuring the same car on 2 different policies. I know what you mean though as I will have to take it easy going home if I do it the way I've suggested.Al U said:
Hi, first off apologies if this has already been done to death but I had a search and couldn't find anything that was asking the same question as me.
I am going to view a car on saturday. My understanding of how the process will now work is -
1.) Seller and I agree a price, I pay, I get new keep supplement and keys.
2.) As seller will still have vehicle insured when I want to drive away, I will drive it home as my insurance on my other car covers me to drive other vehicles third party as long as they are insured (which it will be by the person I am buying it from).
3.) I get home, tell him he can cancel his insurance now.
4.) I phone/go online/go post office to tax vehicle with new keeper supplement.
5.) I phone my insurer and add the car to my policy.
Is that all correct and legit? By the way we should really get a sticky thread for this.
This is being sorted I am going to view a car on saturday. My understanding of how the process will now work is -
1.) Seller and I agree a price, I pay, I get new keep supplement and keys.
2.) As seller will still have vehicle insured when I want to drive away, I will drive it home as my insurance on my other car covers me to drive other vehicles third party as long as they are insured (which it will be by the person I am buying it from).
3.) I get home, tell him he can cancel his insurance now.
4.) I phone/go online/go post office to tax vehicle with new keeper supplement.
5.) I phone my insurer and add the car to my policy.
Is that all correct and legit? By the way we should really get a sticky thread for this.

I'm not sure how you would stand re insurance if you own the vehicle?
DuraAce said:
Sort your own insurance cover before you drive anywhere.
The driving other cars cover usually only applies if you aren't the owner of the other car.
When I asked my insurance about this the other day the exact way I have written it in my OP they said I would be insured as long as the other guy doesn't cancel when I drive away.The driving other cars cover usually only applies if you aren't the owner of the other car.
Al U said:
DuraAce said:
Sort your own insurance cover before you drive anywhere.
The driving other cars cover usually only applies if you aren't the owner of the other car.
When I asked my insurance about this the other day the exact way I have written it in my OP they said I would be insured as long as the other guy doesn't cancel when I drive away.The driving other cars cover usually only applies if you aren't the owner of the other car.
He could agree to all and sundry, then phone them up before you've reached the end of the street.
Personally, I'd prep your own insurance company and activate your own policy over the phone when you collect the car.
Al U said:
When I asked my insurance about this the other day the exact way I have written it in my OP they said I would be insured as long as the other guy doesn't cancel when I drive away.
Sounds very odd to me. My driving other cars cover specifically states that the other car must not be owned by me. Tread carefully.DuraAce said:
Why risk anything at all? What's the benefit?
If you intend to insure the car properly in your name then just do it before you drive anywhere. I don't know why you are risking/complicating things!
The benefit is I won't have to sit on hold for 15 minutes on my mobile while sorting it out.If you intend to insure the car properly in your name then just do it before you drive anywhere. I don't know why you are risking/complicating things!
Can you
a) trust the seller 100% that he won't cancel his policy
b) just sort your insurance over the phone - I have done this with every car I have bought (apart from a dealer that provided 7day insurance) and would get quotes/cost the previous day.
What if you have a crash? Are you claiming on the sellers insurance or yours? Is he happy about that?
Just insure it yourself before driving away.
a) trust the seller 100% that he won't cancel his policy
b) just sort your insurance over the phone - I have done this with every car I have bought (apart from a dealer that provided 7day insurance) and would get quotes/cost the previous day.
What if you have a crash? Are you claiming on the sellers insurance or yours? Is he happy about that?
Just insure it yourself before driving away.
View the car if possible during the operating times of your insurance company.
If you like the car and everything is good call insurance from sellers house and transfer / start your policy with the new car details.
Cover will typically be active in 15 minutes. Time to sort out the funds, paperwork and a little chat.
Bobs ya fanny's live in lover.
If you like the car and everything is good call insurance from sellers house and transfer / start your policy with the new car details.
Cover will typically be active in 15 minutes. Time to sort out the funds, paperwork and a little chat.
Bobs ya fanny's live in lover.
Al U said:
Sorting insurance out before I leave the person's house won't be a major issue but am I OK about the tax situation as after a quick look on the DVLA website it suggests I'll need to tax it before I drive away as well.
Tax will be fine. You don't need insurance In order to tax it.You could drive home on "his" tax as the tax won't be cancelled until DVLA become aware of the sale transaction.
FWIW I would obtain tax and insurance in my own name before driving it anywhere.
Al U said:
Sorting insurance out before I leave the person's house won't be a major issue but am I OK about the tax situation as after a quick look on the DVLA website it suggests I'll need to tax it before I drive away as well.
Tax it before you drive it away.Can be done online, in a matter of minutes, or over the phone.
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