Dealing with test drives
Discussion
My wife is getting a new car shortly and we are planning on keeping her old car and selling it privately. The insurance will just be transferred to the new car.
How do we deal with test drives?
Is it just a case of ensuring that the potential buyer can prove they are insured to drive the car?
I would assume that they will need to get a temporary insurance policy that is fully comprehensive, since add-on insurance on their main policy to drive other cars will most likely be third party only.
I can’t see anyone arranging that kind of insurance to test drive a £3.5k value car, is it even worth trying to sell privately in that case?
How do we deal with test drives?
Is it just a case of ensuring that the potential buyer can prove they are insured to drive the car?
I would assume that they will need to get a temporary insurance policy that is fully comprehensive, since add-on insurance on their main policy to drive other cars will most likely be third party only.
I can’t see anyone arranging that kind of insurance to test drive a £3.5k value car, is it even worth trying to sell privately in that case?
It is, but you can insist on having cash in hand beforehand or seeing a Tempcover certificate.
Personally when I go to see a car I’ve usually asked most of the pertinent questions and will generally insure it prior to test drive if I’m confident about it.
I’ve had two fun ones in the past…group of blokes turned up to view my RX8 and then proceded to drive it at warw factor snot through the underground parking…then in reverse at the same speed. Also a guy who wanted to view my A8 but was a few miles away so stated he would pay me £50 for my time.
Proceeds to drive it in a Transporter style on some local roads.
Neither bought it.
Go careful
Personally when I go to see a car I’ve usually asked most of the pertinent questions and will generally insure it prior to test drive if I’m confident about it.
I’ve had two fun ones in the past…group of blokes turned up to view my RX8 and then proceded to drive it at warw factor snot through the underground parking…then in reverse at the same speed. Also a guy who wanted to view my A8 but was a few miles away so stated he would pay me £50 for my time.
Proceeds to drive it in a Transporter style on some local roads.
Neither bought it.
Go careful
Personally when I’ve bought privately I’ve been happy to be driven by the seller on a test drive - I’ve usually done enough research and poking around to be comfortable with that. As you say, it’s quite costly and unrealistic to expect people to get insurance for such a thing.
The buyer of my last car (sub-£10k) was happy enough for me to drive when they came to view it.
The buyer of my last car (sub-£10k) was happy enough for me to drive when they came to view it.
fezst said:
My wife is getting a new car shortly and we are planning on keeping her old car and selling it privately. The insurance will just be transferred to the new car.
How do we deal with test drives?
Is it just a case of ensuring that the potential buyer can prove they are insured to drive the car?
I would assume that they will need to get a temporary insurance policy that is fully comprehensive, since add-on insurance on their main policy to drive other cars will most likely be third party only.
I can’t see anyone arranging that kind of insurance to test drive a £3.5k value car, is it even worth trying to sell privately in that case?
If you shift your insurance to the new car then the old one won't have any insurance, so any test drivers wouldn't be able to drive it by using their ability to drive other cars 3rd party. How do we deal with test drives?
Is it just a case of ensuring that the potential buyer can prove they are insured to drive the car?
I would assume that they will need to get a temporary insurance policy that is fully comprehensive, since add-on insurance on their main policy to drive other cars will most likely be third party only.
I can’t see anyone arranging that kind of insurance to test drive a £3.5k value car, is it even worth trying to sell privately in that case?
No test drives. Do you think if a potential buyer crashes it they will have any interest in processing the claim while it's sat smashed up on your drive?
Never really understood test drives either - what are they for? If a buyer is suspicious of you and demands a test drive before buying then they are probably a time waster, entertain them at your own peril. A test run out while you drive is different and totally normal of course.
I sold a car in the summer and the buyer transferred the money before even starting the engine or testing anything... We both laughed about it after we realised. Maybe you'll get the same.
Never really understood test drives either - what are they for? If a buyer is suspicious of you and demands a test drive before buying then they are probably a time waster, entertain them at your own peril. A test run out while you drive is different and totally normal of course.
I sold a car in the summer and the buyer transferred the money before even starting the engine or testing anything... We both laughed about it after we realised. Maybe you'll get the same.
Thanks for all the replies, very helpful.
I think the main problem as one reply already stated is that her insurance will be transferred to her new car and therefore we won’t be able to drive it to even show a potential buyer how it drives.
I think we might just go down the motorway route for the sake of probably £500 - and the time to sell it privately.
I think the main problem as one reply already stated is that her insurance will be transferred to her new car and therefore we won’t be able to drive it to even show a potential buyer how it drives.
I think we might just go down the motorway route for the sake of probably £500 - and the time to sell it privately.
I've sold maybe ten cars privately in the past, but now there is so much hassle with tyre kickers and test pilots, I either sell them to Motorway or p/x them and take a hit.
I appreciate some private sales go through like a dream, but there are loads of horror stories, especially on here.
I appreciate some private sales go through like a dream, but there are loads of horror stories, especially on here.
I have used Veygo in the past for this. They are more price competitive than other temporary insurers.
It's cheapest for them if your insurance policy is still in place on the car, but I think it also works if the person to be insured says that they are buying the car but need short term cover whilst they shop around for a 12 month policy.
Saudade said:
No test drives. Do you think if a potential buyer crashes it they will have any interest in processing the claim while it's sat smashed up on your drive?
Never really understood test drives either - what are they for? If a buyer is suspicious of you and demands a test drive before buying then they are probably a time waster, entertain them at your own peril. A test run out while you drive is different and totally normal of course.
I sold a car in the summer and the buyer transferred the money before even starting the engine or testing anything... We both laughed about it after we realised. Maybe you'll get the same.
I understand your side of the view, but for me, never in a million years would I buy a car without a test drive - particularly with a private seller and no comeback.Never really understood test drives either - what are they for? If a buyer is suspicious of you and demands a test drive before buying then they are probably a time waster, entertain them at your own peril. A test run out while you drive is different and totally normal of course.
I sold a car in the summer and the buyer transferred the money before even starting the engine or testing anything... We both laughed about it after we realised. Maybe you'll get the same.
I'd want to check for brake feel, steering geo, any drivetrain vibrations, flat spots, hesitations when accelerating, even braking... the list goes on.
A seller insisting on a test run with them driving would make me walk away.
That's my side of the view
Saudade said:
No test drives. Do you think if a potential buyer crashes it they will have any interest in processing the claim while it's sat smashed up on your drive?
Never really understood test drives either - what are they for? If a buyer is suspicious of you and demands a test drive before buying then they are probably a time waster, entertain them at your own peril. A test run out while you drive is different and totally normal of course.
I sold a car in the summer and the buyer transferred the money before even starting the engine or testing anything... We both laughed about it after we realised. Maybe you'll get the same.
We find the cheaper the car the more someone will inspect it. I am sure you would want to drive any used car you are going to buy, even if it’s just round the block.Never really understood test drives either - what are they for? If a buyer is suspicious of you and demands a test drive before buying then they are probably a time waster, entertain them at your own peril. A test run out while you drive is different and totally normal of course.
I sold a car in the summer and the buyer transferred the money before even starting the engine or testing anything... We both laughed about it after we realised. Maybe you'll get the same.
Wacky Racer said:
I've sold maybe ten cars privately in the past, but now there is so much hassle with tyre kickers and test pilots, I either sell them to Motorway or p/x them and take a hit.
I appreciate some private sales go through like a dream, but there are loads of horror stories, especially on here.
This is the answer, Motorway removes so much hassle of people calling all times of day, people that never turn up and when they do it’s a carload who spend an hour going over it to try and get the price down. The only people trying to sell private now think their car is worth the same as a dealers car or it’s got a story.I appreciate some private sales go through like a dream, but there are loads of horror stories, especially on here.
Terminator X said:
I would and have never let anyone drive my car on a test drive. If they aren't happy with that then they can move on to the next car.
Me driving and them as a passenger is ok.
TX.
That would make me believe that you as the seller have something to hide about the mechanical condition of the car. Me driving and them as a passenger is ok.
TX.
raspy said:
Terminator X said:
I would and have never let anyone drive my car on a test drive. If they aren't happy with that then they can move on to the next car.
Me driving and them as a passenger is ok.
TX.
That would make me believe that you as the seller have something to hide about the mechanical condition of the car. Me driving and them as a passenger is ok.
TX.
TX.
MattsCar said:
My usual thing that I stick in my adverts (private seller).
"No test drives unless you can show me a document that the car is insured fully comprehensively in your name".
And you still get people turning up with Trade/third party/ no insurance and being offended when you say no.
I think said before but what is the value of their insurance to you ?"No test drives unless you can show me a document that the car is insured fully comprehensively in your name".
And you still get people turning up with Trade/third party/ no insurance and being offended when you say no.
Let's say I drive your car with you as passenger for a test drive . Whilst we are out we have an incident. I go home and you have a crashed car you can't now sell. You chase me week on week for me to make a claim on a car I don't own. After four weeks or so I say actually I don't want to claim but my brother knows someone who's cousin used a repair place at some garages at the back of the Sainsbury's. I have decided the accident was not my fault and you should claim on the other parties insurance anyway . I have bought a different car now and your car was dodgy when we drove it hence the accident. I could go on .
Richtea1970 said:
The view of the majority here surprises me. I'd never buy a private car that I couldn't test drive. Having someone else drive you around wouldn't make you aware of several potential issues (dodgy clutch, gear change, steering feel, brakes etc),
You can tell most of that from the passenger seat and a quick backwards and forwards on a private estate. I’ve never had anyone not buy a car because I drove them.
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