Selling car privately - test drives
Discussion
jimPH said:
I've been wondering about this. I've got a SORN'd no MOT, uninsured Westfield I'm going to sell this year. How do I test drive that!
Can't get day/week insurance for a car like that.
MOT & Insure it, sell it to a dealer, sale or return with a dealer so they can use their trade plates.Can't get day/week insurance for a car like that.
I would take them out for a test drive, with you driving. If they decide that they want to buy the car then get a deposit from them, and put them on your insurance for one day at their expense. Then allow them to have a test drive on the understanding that if they don't like the car you will refund their deposit, as long as the car isn't damaged in any way during the test drive.
That way you are covered for insurance and your uninsured losses, time-wasters will be filtered out, and they have an incentive to drive carefully during the test drive. I've done this a couple of times, having made the potential buyers aware from the outset, and have never had any objections. And if they do object then they're not serious buyers.
That way you are covered for insurance and your uninsured losses, time-wasters will be filtered out, and they have an incentive to drive carefully during the test drive. I've done this a couple of times, having made the potential buyers aware from the outset, and have never had any objections. And if they do object then they're not serious buyers.
I’ve always weighed up the potential buyer during the viewing and whilst I’ve given them a test drive with them as a passenger.
If they seem kosher enough then I’ve let them drive the car with the verbal agreement of you bend it, you buy it.
Having sold a handful of “quick” cars I’ve yet to have an issue thankfully. Everyone has driven relatively sensibly, the only person to push the car was a bloke who viewed and bought my old fettled Evo X. Granted his daily driver was a heavily modified F10 M5 which probably explains why he hammered the Evo so hard.
If they seem kosher enough then I’ve let them drive the car with the verbal agreement of you bend it, you buy it.
Having sold a handful of “quick” cars I’ve yet to have an issue thankfully. Everyone has driven relatively sensibly, the only person to push the car was a bloke who viewed and bought my old fettled Evo X. Granted his daily driver was a heavily modified F10 M5 which probably explains why he hammered the Evo so hard.
Mort7 said:
then get a deposit from them, and put them on your insurance for one day at their expense.
That way you are covered for insurance and your uninsured losses, time-wasters will be filtered out, and they have an incentive to drive carefully during the test drive. I've done this a couple of times, having made the potential buyers aware from the outset, and have never had any objections. And if they do object then they're not serious buyers.
If they bend it on your insurance, surely it is only you that suffers?That way you are covered for insurance and your uninsured losses, time-wasters will be filtered out, and they have an incentive to drive carefully during the test drive. I've done this a couple of times, having made the potential buyers aware from the outset, and have never had any objections. And if they do object then they're not serious buyers.
Sold my Volvo just after Christmas, made it clear in the ad that the car was uninsured, so test drives were out of the question unless the buyer provides their own coverage and proof.
First guy to actually come and view, saw the car, drove it back and forth a few feet on the drive, paid the full asking price, insured it and drove off.
What probably helped was that it was a well-written ad, clearly a nice car, and with a nice history.
It is without a doubt the nicest car sale I've ever made. Especially as full asking price was I thought, pushing my luck (amongst the most expensive of any for sale on AT or Ebay, including trade ads), it helped that I genuinely had two people after it at the same time and the guy that bought it just took it with the Buy It Now button.
First guy to actually come and view, saw the car, drove it back and forth a few feet on the drive, paid the full asking price, insured it and drove off.
What probably helped was that it was a well-written ad, clearly a nice car, and with a nice history.
It is without a doubt the nicest car sale I've ever made. Especially as full asking price was I thought, pushing my luck (amongst the most expensive of any for sale on AT or Ebay, including trade ads), it helped that I genuinely had two people after it at the same time and the guy that bought it just took it with the Buy It Now button.
Blue Oval84 said:
First guy to actually come and view, saw the car, drove it back and forth a few feet on the drive, paid the full asking price, insured it and drove off.
That reminds me of when I sold my Jaguar XJR, had it up via auction on eBay. The winning bidder turned up, had a chat whilst looking around the car and then just paid me and drove it away. No test drive and no mucking about, sadly that’s rare nowadays with the amount of tire kickers about. When I went to buy my mk.1 MX5 a few years back (so only £1500 of car at the time), the chap selling threw the keys at my Dad and I and told us to take it for a drive - no 'give me your car keys in exchange', no deposit, no proof of insurance.
I jumped at the opportunity, however said chap lived in one of these 70's new towns with endless grey estates and roundabouts that all looked the same, and it before the days of sat nav on your phone. Needless to say we got lost and when we eventually found our way back it was getting dark and he was looking rather less relaxed!
Strangely, when I agreed to buy the car and started counting the cash in front of him he said not to bother as he trusted me.
When buying privately in the past if the seller has offered an unaccompanied test drive I've always offered my keys in whatever I've driven up in as the deposit on a 'if you bend it you buy it' agreement.
I jumped at the opportunity, however said chap lived in one of these 70's new towns with endless grey estates and roundabouts that all looked the same, and it before the days of sat nav on your phone. Needless to say we got lost and when we eventually found our way back it was getting dark and he was looking rather less relaxed!
Strangely, when I agreed to buy the car and started counting the cash in front of him he said not to bother as he trusted me.
When buying privately in the past if the seller has offered an unaccompanied test drive I've always offered my keys in whatever I've driven up in as the deposit on a 'if you bend it you buy it' agreement.
yellowbentines said:
When I went to buy my mk.1 MX5 a few years back (so only £1500 of car at the time), the chap selling threw the keys at my Dad and I and told us to take it for a drive - no 'give me your car keys in exchange', no deposit, no proof of insurance.
I jumped at the opportunity, however said chap lived in one of these 70's new towns with endless grey estates and roundabouts that all looked the same, and it before the days of sat nav on your phone. Needless to say we got lost and when we eventually found our way back it was getting dark and he was looking rather less relaxed!
Strangely, when I agreed to buy the car and started counting the cash in front of him he said not to bother as he trusted me.
When buying privately in the past if the seller has offered an unaccompanied test drive I've always offered my keys in whatever I've driven up in as the deposit on a 'if you bend it you buy it' agreement.
Until somebody gives you the keys to a stolen car and leaves with yours.I jumped at the opportunity, however said chap lived in one of these 70's new towns with endless grey estates and roundabouts that all looked the same, and it before the days of sat nav on your phone. Needless to say we got lost and when we eventually found our way back it was getting dark and he was looking rather less relaxed!
Strangely, when I agreed to buy the car and started counting the cash in front of him he said not to bother as he trusted me.
When buying privately in the past if the seller has offered an unaccompanied test drive I've always offered my keys in whatever I've driven up in as the deposit on a 'if you bend it you buy it' agreement.
if someone is serious - then something like cuvva: https://www.cuvva.com/ would work for them - they can insure the car in front of you - otherwise, either you drive, or it is not driven...
I buy and sell my cars privately and never bother test driving or allowing anyone to test drive my cars.
I have already worked out whether i trust the seller.
I sold my M4 Competition a few weeks ago and the buyer didn't even start the car until I had received the full payment in my account.
I have already worked out whether i trust the seller.
I sold my M4 Competition a few weeks ago and the buyer didn't even start the car until I had received the full payment in my account.
jjr1 said:
I buy and sell my cars privately and never bother test driving or allowing anyone to test drive my cars.
I have already worked out whether i trust the seller.
I sold my M4 Competition a few weeks ago and the buyer didn't even start the car until I had received the full payment in my account.
I have already worked out whether i trust the seller.
I sold my M4 Competition a few weeks ago and the buyer didn't even start the car until I had received the full payment in my account.
Personally wouldn’t buy any performance car without a test drive . Crazy if you ask me ! Loads of nails out there. When buying my last m5 I viewed over 10 befor finding a minter !! With very low mileage Some looked great but drove awful.
jjr1 said:
I buy and sell my cars privately and never bother test driving or allowing anyone to test drive my cars.
I have already worked out whether i trust the seller.
I sold my M4 Competition a few weeks ago and the buyer didn't even start the car until I had received the full payment in my account.
Out of the cars I have sold privately, nobody has ever asked for a test drive.I have already worked out whether i trust the seller.
I sold my M4 Competition a few weeks ago and the buyer didn't even start the car until I had received the full payment in my account.
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