Selling a car, would you let them drive it?

[Hatethisbit]

I currently have the pleasure of trying to sell a car privately. I'm a bit worried the car is a bit of a joy riders toy, its a 56 plate seat leon fr in 2L DSG guise, so its not a good first car, and its not economical enough to make a good motorway/family car. This, coupled with the number of plonkers who have rung up so far asking stupid questions has got me concerned about the type of people who will come to look at it.

So my question is, when selling cars do you let them drive it or not? I have only sold one car privately before but that was a 1L fiesta that a local bloke who owned a bodyshop purchased for his son, so i was happy to let him have a go. I suppose weighing each person up individually is the best method but still like to hear some opinions.

Cheers

[Integroo]

No, unless they (a) prove they are insured and (b) pay you in cash beforehand. I would take them for a drive.

Though nobody is gonna come only to joy ride a 12 year old Seat ...

[mOrtt]

I have in the past and had no issues. I am extremely picky before the point of someone coming to see the car so this probably weens out the type of people you want to avoid.

If they can't compose a text/email/hold a conversation to a level which shows general intelligence I don't even get past the opening message of "whats the lowest youd take mate".

[Hatethisbit]

I wasnt overly worried before i started getting the phone calls from the innit bruv's.

[Jakg]

Integroo said:

No, unless they (a) prove they are insured and (b) pay you in cash beforehand. I would take them for a drive.

Though nobody is gonna come only to joy ride a 12 year old Seat ...

A test drive is before you buy a car, not after you've already paid for it. I wouldn't buy a car without driving it first.

[couragebest88]

A few years ago I let someone test drive a car I was selling. They took it way past the speed limit on a dual carriageway and and whatnot, it was rather unpleasant. They didn’t seem like that sort of person either, so I’m fairly hesitant to do it again next time I have to sell privately. However I think you have to be pragmatic with these things if they seem decent and they’re insured. They’re not gonna buy it without a test drive, and neither would I in their shoes. It’s a risk you have to take.

[flight147z]

I can't imagine ever buying a car without driving it first - I imagine that it cuts your potential market down a lot if you won't let anyone drive it

I also can't imagine many people can be bothered to get insurance for a test drive when there are plenty of other people that will let them test drive a car without it

What is the legal position on the unlikely event someone crashes your car when test driving it?

[ilikejam]

I've sold 3 cars privately in my lifetime. All times I let people drive the cars without checking insurance or asking for driver's licence etc. while I went in the passenger seat.

Pretty stupid probably, but I've never had a problem.

[Pistonheader101]

Yes I encourage potential purchasers to take it on an extended test drive


Edit if you want to ween out idiots: simply state they’ll need temp car insurance on the day for a test drive.

Edited by Pistonheader101 on Monday 28th January 18:19

[couragebest88]

flight147z said:

I also can't imagine many people can be bothered to get insurance for a test drive when there are plenty of other people that will let them test drive a car without it

Don’t quite a lot of insurance policies cover you driving other people’s vehicles provided you have their permission? I think it’s called DOC cover and a lot of comprehensive policies have it IIRC.

[colin79666]

couragebest88 said:

Don’t quite a lot of insurance policies cover you driving other people’s vehicles provided you have their permission? I think it’s called DOC cover and a lot of comprehensive policies have it IIRC.

Yes but 3rd party only.

[Sir Bagalot]

couragebest88 said:

Don’t quite a lot of insurance policies cover you driving other people’s vehicles provided you have their permission? I think it’s called DOC cover and a lot of comprehensive policies have it IIRC.

Not always the case. Several firms are starting to exclude it. Also only applies to policyholder. Car for sale might not be insured and therefore your policy won't cover it anyway.

Bottomline is any genuine buyer will happily buy day insurance

[stevemcs]

You will get a feeling about who is right and wrong before going out on a test drive, you could always drive the car and let them sit in the passenger seat, you can tell a lot from the passenger seat along with how its been driven, then if they are seriously interested just day insure it. The worst 2 i've ever had were a remapped GTR and a 135i, within 100 yards of leaving the showroom they hit 60 in a 30 limit.

[DRVR]

Put yourself in their shoes. Would you buy a car without test driving it yourself? I know I wouldn't!

[StuTheGrouch]

I actually prefer to sit in the passenger seat when going out in a prospective car. That way I can play with all the electronics and pay attention to any knocks/squeaks etc that would be less noticeable if I was concentrating on driving around unfamiliar roads.

The last two cars I sold privately were not driven by the buyer. The first was the RX8, and the guy asked a few times during the test drive 'go on mate, yet me have a quick drive'. Each time I said no (he didn't have insurance, and judging by how he shot off down my street after paying, I'm glad I didn't relent). Second was a young lad who didn't own a car, and therefore didn't have any form of insurance; he was fine about it.

OP- it's your car. You do what is most comfortable to you. If you refused me a test drive, I wouldn't be too fussed as long as you would at least take me out in it.

[Hatethisbit]

Thanks for the opinions all, appreciate it. To answer one of the questions no I wouldn't buy a car myself without testing and I do understand why some people would be frustrated. I'm happy to take anybody out in it myself, hopefully I will get a feel for them that way and see if they are worth the risk.

[techaddict]

Does anyone know what the police/traffic enforcement attitudes are towards drivers that are perhaps caught speeding (or in my case, as I'm in London, caught stopped in a yellow hatched box) and the owner needs to plead their case?

I've usually asked to see someone's driving license (and ask them to bring beforehand) so I can take a photo as it will timestamp when they were driving, but I've never had to prove this to the police/enforcement. The other alternative is to get them to sign a statement but that just sounds like overkill!

[Pistonheader101]

techaddict said:

Does anyone know what the police/traffic enforcement attitudes are towards drivers that are perhaps caught speeding (or in my case, as I'm in London, caught stopped in a yellow hatched box) and the owner needs to plead their case?

I've usually asked to see someone's driving license (and ask them to bring beforehand) so I can take a photo as it will timestamp when they were driving, but I've never had to prove this to the police/enforcement. The other alternative is to get them to sign a statement but that just sounds like overkill!

I know some people get quite funny if you take a copy of their drivers license.

[Toed64]

Hatethisbit said:

Thanks for the opinions all, appreciate it. To answer one of the questions no I wouldn't buy a car myself without testing and I do understand why some people would be frustrated. I'm happy to take anybody out in it myself, hopefully I will get a feel for them that way and see if they are worth the risk.

That seems sensible, but do ask the potential buyer, specifically, whether their motor insurance covers them to drive other people's cars. I recently offered to lend a colleague my car to collect someone from the station. He declinded saying that his motor insurance didn't provide 3rd party cover on other's vehicles and mine does not cover 'any driver'.

[dave_s13]

ilikejam said:

I've sold 3 cars privately in my lifetime. All times I let people drive the cars without checking insurance or asking for driver's licence etc. while I went in the passenger seat.

Pretty stupid probably, but I've never had a problem.

I've got a car on ebay at the moment 1 day to go.

It's SORN and not insured. If I was buying it, I'd want to drive it first. What else can you realistically do. I'm of the opinion that as long as they are a normal enough person then a quick run round the block is within my comfort zone, I have done this many times to date and nobody has died, yet. If there was a bump you'd be royally bksed though.