Advice on Selling Privately

[996_fan]

Apologies if this has been covered before, or if there’s advice on the web, but I’m looking for personal opinion.

I’m a genuine case of ‘new baby forces sale’; so my 4-wheeled one has to go. (2002 996 C4)

I want to have a go at selling privately on this site and Autotrader etc, and wondered what people’s thoughts / experiences were for the following:

1) Giving test drives – Is it down to me to get the car insured for this? Do I expect prospective buyers to be covered fully comp to drive it? Do I just give the test drive myself if they aren’t insured? Would you buy a car that you were driven in, but couldn’t drive yourself?

2) Taking payment – heard lots of scare stories about dodgy bankers drafts or copies of real ones. What’s the safest bet, do I wait until a cheque has cleared? If you were buying would you hand a cheque over and then wait to get the keys? Would you do the exchange at a bank and pay cash?

I bought my from a dealer so neither were an issue, but I appreciate any opinion or experience of people who have bought and sold privately.

Thanks very much.

[Lurking Lawyer]

1. No proof of insurance, no test drive. It's not hard to get short term insurance for 24 hours from someone like Norwich Union - £20, I think it cost me, when I wanted to test drive the 911 that I ultimately bought.

2. Go with the buyer to the bank and watch him get the draft drawn at the counter. Then have him go with you to your bank while you pay it in.

[jamespilgrim]

I have just bought a 2001 C4 in a private deal.

Guy let me drve the car without asking any questions about my insurance, which did surprise me slightly. I don't think I would personally. Then again, maybe it was insured any driver over x years of age...

The payment transaction was more complicated. We in initially agreed cash, but upon reflection I didn't want to travel around with £30K plus in cash and he didn't want it afterwards prior to banking it.

We eventually agreed to travel to his local bank and I collected the bank draft with him there. That way, it is known to be genuine. I certainly wasn't happy about transferring funds or paying by cheque and waiting for it to clear - IMHO too risky that he has funds before I have car, even though this guy appeared to be totally genuine (and still does luckily!!)