Selling a car privately and test drives

Cyrus

have just been thinking about this, have out my car up on carzone now, which may or may not lead to someone wanting to buy it

anyway, i have sold 4 cars privately before and never gave it much consideration, i just let someone take a test drive. all the cars ive sold, the first person to drive it has always bought it so i havent had streams of people driving my car.

anyway, thinking about it, im slightly more reluctant to have people hooning around in my m3, whether im in it or not and am i correct in thinking that if they have their own comprehensive policy they are only covered 3rd party in my car, not much use if something were to happen.

what do people do in this case?

Gary ITR

The general rule I would follow is 'you bend it you buy it'.
I wouldn't let the person test a car like that without having a substantial deposit in my pocket either.

Anan1

You could have them transfer their own comprehensive insurance onto your car for the test drive. I think when you've spoken to someone on the phone your instincts will tell you what you need to know.

Cyrus

Onkle wrote: »

The general rule I would follow is 'you bend it you buy it'.
I wouldn't let the person test a car like that without having a substantial deposit in my pocket either.

its unlikely tho isnt it, i want 2k or you cant drive it, people will just tell you to shag off :pac:

skyhighflyer

I'm usually fairly happy if the owner takes me for a decent spin in it. Sometimes it easier to pick up odd noises from the suspension or engine and look out the back window for smoke, etc, if you're in the passenger seat.

Cyrus

Anan1 wrote: »

You could have them transfer their own comprehensive insurance onto your car for the test drive. I think when you've spoken to someone on the phone your instincts will tell you what you need to know.

thats true, wonder how possible that is?

i know in the uk there is a day insure service, nothing like that here

i agree with the last point but accidents happen

Anan1

skyhighflyer wrote: »

I'm usually fairly happy if the owner takes me for a decent spin in it. Sometimes it easier to pick up odd noises from the suspension or engine and look out the back window for smoke, etc, if you're in the passenger seat.

Very true. You also get to see how the car's been driven during the time they owned it.

Cyrus

skyhighflyer wrote: »

I'm usually fairly happy if the owner takes me for a decent spin in it. Sometimes it easier to pick up odd noises from the suspension or engine and look out the back window for smoke, etc, if you're in the passenger seat.

thats actually what happened when i bought the car, the seller was a little anxious about someone else driving it so he took me for a spin and i was happy

Anan1

Cyrus wrote: »

thats true, wonder how possible that is?

i know in the uk there is a day insure service, nothing like that here

i agree with the last point but accidents happen

The insurance bit is easy, they call their ins co and transfer their own policy onto your car for the test drive.

bennyc

Cyrus my thinking is that if someone really wants your car then they will be happy enough to just sit on and you take them for a spin. If they are serious then you could offer them the spin when the cash transaction is being made. I know if I went to see your car (and I wish I was) I would be happy to sit on and see what I can hear the first time.

B00MSTICK

Agreed with above.

I couldn't transfer my insurance as they wouldn't insure a "high performance vehicle" so the seller took me for a long spin whilst giving me the low down.

I bought the car.

kuro_man

you could always stump up for an independent mechanical inspection (e.g. AA) - it might help you sell the car to people who haven't driven it.

Personally, I wouldn't buy a car from a private buyer unless I get to drive it.

Cyrus

if anyone wants to get an aa inspection done i would have no problem in allowing it, but im happy in the knowledge that the car has been properly maintained and is 100% mechanically sound so i wont be paying for one

also im not saying i wont let a seriously interested party drive it, but im wondering what considerations there are, i.e. should i have them sign a piece of paper indemnifying me against any damage or should i make them get insurance, etc etc

stealthyspeeder

Definately let them take it for a test drive, dont ask for a deposit, just rely on their comprehensive insurance, as long as they give you their word that their insured, it'll be grand. In fact if they look like a nice guy, dont even bother going along with them it shows trust!

Ahem, im very serious about buying your M3 and would like to take it for a rake test drive please!

Cyrus

kuro_man

Cyrus wrote: »

if anyone wants to get an aa inspection done i would have no problem in allowing it, but im happy in the knowledge that the car has been properly maintained and is 100% mechanically sound so i wont be paying for one

Nobody's going to buy a car based on the previous owner's say-so alone.

Gary ITR

Hang on..... You're selling the M3?? :eek: What are you buying?

Cyrus

kuro_man wrote: »

Nobody's going to buy a car based on the previous owner's say-so alone.

and like i said, if someone wants to get an aa check done i would have no problem facilitating it.

but, again as i said previously, i have no reason to get an aa report done as i am totally happy with the mechanical well being of my car.

would you expect all private sellers to have this done

Anan1

If I were buying that car, I wouldn't even bother with an inspection - the whole thing has OCD written all over it.;)

Cyrus

Onkle wrote: »

Hang on..... You're selling the M3?? :eek: What are you buying?

not sure yet, if it doesnt sell at the asking price it wont be sold, if it does there are a few things in the running

would like to try a v8, so a 645 or merc sl500 or any amg 55 variant would be in there, or a 987 boxster if the budget allows or a 996 911 if a good un comes up :pac:

Cyrus

Anan1 wrote: »

If I were buying that car, I wouldn't even bother with an inspection - the whole thing has OCD written all over it.;)

if i wasnt such a nice guy i think my missus would have had me offed by now i annoy her so much about minding the car

kuro_man

Cyrus wrote: »

and like i said, if someone wants to get an aa check done i would have no problem facilitating it.

but, again as i said previously, i have no reason to get an aa report done as i am totally happy with the mechanical well being of my car.

would you expect all private sellers to have this done

It is a suggestion to help you sell your car, especially if you don't want people driving it.
I understand if you think the cost is prohibitive and that it won't improve chances of a sale but YOUR opinion of the car is irrelevent, as far as a buyer is concerned.

stealthyspeeder

I think an Petrol head who loves his car more than his girlfriend (dont try and say thats not true), and has had the time and cash to get OCD level detailing done on it (not slagging I think its great!)says a lot more than some AA inspection. In my opinion it seems like you want to sell too much if you fork out for it, the OP has said he wont reduce the price and is happy not to sell, forking out for an AA check would reduce this credability in my eyes.

Anan1

In any case, I don't know that most people would particularly trust an inspection paid for by the seller.

tw0nk

Lovely car Cyrus

L-M

stealthyspeeder wrote: »

, and has had the time and cash to get OCD level detailing done on it

Pay some one to clean your car?? PPfffttt...:D

Theboinkmaster

Cyrus great car and well done on maintaining it so well (I've OCD when it comes to my car too)

If I could I'd buy it in a heartbeat - your ad is very good too so hopefully it will sell

I'd say though in the current climate you may struggle and TBH as regards the insurance I'd just take each potential buyer as they come and go on your instincts. If you get a good feel for them, they say they're insured and you think you have a good chance of a sale I'd say go with it and let them drive it (with you in the passenger seat obviously )

Theboinkmaster

kuro_man wrote: »

It is a suggestion to help you sell your car, especially if you don't want people driving it.
I understand if you think the cost is prohibitive and that it won't improve chances of a sale but YOUR opinion of the car is irrelevent, as far as a buyer is concerned.

I disagree - going on the ad, as a buyer, I'd be quite certain everything is perfect and if I wanted to be sure I'd get the AA check done myself - and pay for it obviously

slave1

I'd never thought about this, with both our cars for sale at present think I'll take it for the first drive and then go passenger for the way back home, seems fair

ytareh

An AA check would probably find faults with a brand new car and will cost the earth ...

Del2005

stealthyspeeder wrote: »

Definately let them take it for a test drive, dont ask for a deposit, just rely on their comprehensive insurance, as long as they give you their word that their insured, it'll be grand. In fact if they look like a nice guy, dont even bother going along with them it shows trust!

Ahem, im very serious about buying your M3 and would like to take it for a rake test drive please!

Is someone is driving on their own policy using the Third Party extension, then the car they are driving has no insurnace and if involved in anything it is not covered only the third party. Not too much of an issue for a cheap car, but an M3 is a different story. How is the OP going to claim off someone for a car they crashed without some form of written contract or money up front.

Theboinkmaster wrote: »

Cyrus great car and well done on maintaining it so well (I've OCD when it comes to my car too)

If I could I'd buy it in a heartbeat - your ad is very good too so hopefully it will sell

I'd say though in the current climate you may struggle and TBH as regards the insurance I'd just take each potential buyer as they come and go on your instincts. If you get a good feel for them, they say they're insured and you think you have a good chance of a sale I'd say go with it and let them drive it (with you in the passenger seat obviously )

Is it not an offence to allow an unisured driver drive your vehicle? How is the OP to know they are insured, their are too many chancers out there.

OP it's your car, if someone really wants it they won't be upset if you explain the reasons why you need then to a: transfer their insurance or b: go for a spin with you driving. It's a lot of money to loose because you are afraid to ask someone to be fully insured in a car.

Vertakill

Just a snippet of info.

The guy I bought my latest car from was telling me a story about how he was selling a car and the guy test driving it wasn't insured and ended up wrapping it around a tree.
The seller was left high and dry in this situation.

I'd ask for the person to transfer their insurance over in front of you (get them to ring their insurance company) or bring some proof they've had it done already.
Unfortunately you normally don't receive the "temporary change of insured vehicle" letter in the post until about 3 or 4 days later so that would be too late obviously.

I'm sure you'll get along fine but there are some horror stories out there.

Best of luck with the sale!

daRobot

Just to say your car looks great, Cyrus, and i'm sure that you will have no trouble selling it, as it looks and surely is, very well cared for.

But,

Personally, I would let people test drive it (Providing that you confirm that they are on Comp cover for the day) .As someone said, you'll have a rough idea of the type of person on the phone, so you can gauge it by that.

If I was buying the car, i'd need to drive it myself. You're not going to be able to test for Clutch slip, among other things, if you haven't driven it, so for that reason i'd encourage a test drive, providing it's not some skanger chancer.

Best of luck with the sale, it's nice to see an unabused example.

Voodoomelon

Lovely M3, can't beat the light on dark colour combo. I'd either get the person to sit shotgun during a test drive or transfer their insurance to your car over the phone whilst on loudspeaker. Anything other than this wouldn't be acceptable to me, and any genuinely interested buyer will 100% understand your situation.