Selling car privately - Test Drives?

[595Heaven]

Selling my GRMN due to lack of use (and having an extra car on the drive now my son has finished Uni will make the juggling about ever more annoying!)

When I sold my SLK55 I stated no test drives in the ad and that went well, but what is the norm?

Most 'drive other cars' clauses are for third party cover only. There are plenty of one day insurance deals around now like DayInsure - should I insist on this and seeing the driver's licence before a test drive? I'd happily reimburse if they bought it.

Thoughts?

[Cloudy147]

I don’t mention it either way in my ads and gauge whoever comes to look to see if they are chancing it or not.

Most who have come when I sold didn’t even ask for one, I just drove it and they were happy with that. The one guy who did ask, seemed genuine from the off and did buy it.

However these were all sub £10k. If it’s a desirable £50k sports car or highly nickable SUV, then no, I wouldn’t be offering a test drive. But it would be something I’d discuss with the potential buyer rather than stating it up front as I think it makes a seller sound like they are going to be hard work.

Cheers.

[Heathwood]

I’ve just let people have a test drive in the (distant) past but that’s mostly down to not thinking about it too much.

Nowadays I’d insist on insurance cover or otherwise I’d drive. It’s just not worth the grief if something we’re to happen on the test drive, especially if there were to be an accident with injured parties and you hadn’t done your due diligence to ensure the driver was suitably covered.

[595Heaven]

Thanks both - good advice

My ‘buyer’ is looking like a scammer anyway

His last note:

Ok, do you have all the documents ready on it, including vehiclesreports.com inspection report as well, I would like to see its all paperwork, then we will set up an appointment for the visit.

[TREMAiNE]

595Heaven said:

His last note:

Ok, do you have all the documents ready on it, including vehiclesreports.com inspection report as well, I would like to see its all paperwork, then we will set up an appointment for the visit.

That definitely sounds suspect.

[timbob]

Heathwood said:

I’ve just let people have a test drive in the (distant) past but that’s mostly down to not thinking about it too much.

Nowadays I’d insist on insurance cover or otherwise I’d drive. It’s just not worth the grief if something we’re to happen on the test drive, especially if there were to be an accident with injured parties and you hadn’t done your due diligence to ensure the driver was suitably covered.

Indeed. The onus is not entirely on the driver - using, causing and permitting driving with no insurance are all offences in and of themselves.

[Gad-Westy]

timbob said:

Heathwood said:

I’ve just let people have a test drive in the (distant) past but that’s mostly down to not thinking about it too much.

Nowadays I’d insist on insurance cover or otherwise I’d drive. It’s just not worth the grief if something we’re to happen on the test drive, especially if there were to be an accident with injured parties and you hadn’t done your due diligence to ensure the driver was suitably covered.

Indeed. The onus is not entirely on the driver - using, causing and permitting driving with no insurance are all offences in and of themselves.

Yep. I always insist on fully comp cover if someone wants to drive it. It always seems crazy to me that some people were happy to let total strangers drive their car uninsured.

[Skyedriver]

Selling a car - I drive.
About 8 or 9 year ago a bloke and his wife turned up to view my TVR, got out their car, poured a coffee each from the flask they brought and came to give the car a look over.
Took him out in it, good long drive, returned home to "are you not going to let me drive it?" Nope. Off he flounces.

This being the opposite of when I would go to HHC. " Tony, there's the keys, see what you think".

[Heathwood]

595Heaven said:

Thanks both - good advice

My ‘buyer’ is looking like a scammer anyway

His last note:

Ok, do you have all the documents ready on it, including vehiclesreports.com inspection report as well, I would like to see its all paperwork, then we will set up an appointment for the visit.

Ah yes, as you appear to have clocked, references to you providing a report from vehiclereports.com appears to be a scam.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[Hoofy]

Probably best to make it clear what you're permitting or otherwise.

When I sold my Skyline, the buyer didn't even go for a drive in it as a passenger. He had Abbey Motorsport check it over and then give it a service.

I think anyone who's genuinely interested and wants to know more beyond just having a passenger ride would pay for a PPI by a specialist. And a seller would be happy to take it to a local specialist for a check.

[Mikebentley]

Heathwood said:

595Heaven said:

Thanks both - good advice

My ‘buyer’ is looking like a scammer anyway

His last note:

Ok, do you have all the documents ready on it, including vehiclesreports.com inspection report as well, I would like to see its all paperwork, then we will set up an appointment for the visit.

Ah yes, as you appear to have clocked, references to you providing a report from vehiclereports.com appears to be a scam.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Absolutely a well known scam.

[BlindedByTheLights]

When I was buying I just took out day insurance and sent it to the seller ahead of the visit so they knew I was insured. When selling, if the potential buyer hasn’t got a cert then no test drive. Have had Bradford chancers show me expired certs before too.

[Granadier]

If I’m serious about buying a car, I’m generally looking to drive it home anyway, so I tend to buy a year’s insurance for it in advance. If I decided not to buy it on the day, I could cancel it and get a refund.

[Mr Tidy]

I've generally made my mind up after potential buyers turned up and looked around the car, checked the paperwork, etc. but then I've never sold anything too exotic privately.

I went to look at two BMW Z4M Coupes and both sellers let me drive them, but I did turn up in a 3 litre Z4 Coupe which may have helped. The first one sold before I made my mind up, but I bought the 2nd one.

When I sold my first 3 litre Coupe the buyer didn't ask to drive it, but I did say I'd drive it however he wanted. The buyer of my second one took out a 1 day policy and showed me details on his phone.

It is a bit of a minefield though.

[John D.]

Mikebentley said:

Heathwood said:

595Heaven said:

Thanks both - good advice

My ‘buyer’ is looking like a scammer anyway

His last note:

Ok, do you have all the documents ready on it, including vehiclesreports.com inspection report as well, I would like to see its all paperwork, then we will set up an appointment for the visit.

Ah yes, as you appear to have clocked, references to you providing a report from vehiclereports.com appears to be a scam.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Absolutely a well known scam.

Definitely a scam.

FWIW I had a few trying that on for the first week when I sold a car beginning of August. After that they gave up.

[Terminator X]

No never is my motto. Sit as a passenger ok though.

TX.

[Terminator X]

TREMAiNE said:

595Heaven said:

His last note:

Ok, do you have all the documents ready on it, including vehiclesreports.com inspection report as well, I would like to see its all paperwork, then we will set up an appointment for the visit.

That definitely sounds suspect.

Well known scam, just to buy the report.

TX.

[Hoofy]

Re the scam, it's not really a scam. You just say, "Any prospective buyer is welcome to run checks."

That said, they should be reported to Trading Standards as they are encouraging people to pay for this under the belief that there's a genuinely interested buyer.

[ollyh1988]

595Heaven said:

Thanks both - good advice

My ‘buyer’ is looking like a scammer anyway

His last note:

Ok, do you have all the documents ready on it, including vehiclesreports.com inspection report as well, I would like to see its all paperwork, then we will set up an appointment for the visit.

Not a guy called Timothy by any chance? Sounds just like the message I received and then plenty of chasing ones ‘have you done the report yet’?

[Prohibiting]

I’ve sold pretty much all my cars privately. Some test drove, some didn’t. Maybe I should have cared more but I didn’t do any due diligence…

But most of them have been under £10k.