Selling car. No insurance. Test drives?

appleb · 31-10-2017 02:59PM #1

Hi. I hope I am in the right section. This has probably been asked 100 times before but I did a search and nothing turned up. I have bought a new car and have transferred my insurance to the new car. I am planning to sell my old one. I am just wondering if someone wants to test drive the old car, how do I ensure its insured? E.g. How do I verify that the potential buyer has insurance?

grogi · 31-10-2017 03:01PM

appleb wrote: »

Hi. I hope I am in the right section. This has probably been asked 100 times before but I did a search and nothing turned up. I have bought a new car and have transferred my insurance to the new car. I am planning to sell my old one. I am just wondering if someone wants to test drive the old car, how do I ensure its insured? E.g. How do I verify that the potential buyer has insurance?

You ask for certificate of insurance... In 99.9% any damage to the vehicle will not be covered anyway.

frenchie091 · 22-11-2017 04:04PM

I'm in the same situation. Rang my insurance company for advice and they couldn't tell me anything useful. Would have thought this is a common enough situation.

If someone comes to test drive my old car, and they do have a "driving of other cars" extension on their own insurance policy, does this insure them to drive my old car even though the car itself isn't insured on any policy? Had a look at the websites of the main insurers about this and they don't mention a requirement on the car itself having to be insured in the case of a "driving of other cars" extension.

grogi · 22-11-2017 04:07PM

frenchie091 wrote: »

I'm in the same situation. Rang my insurance company for advice and they couldn't tell me anything useful. Would have thought this is a common enough situation.

If someone comes to test drive my old car, and they do have a "driving of other cars" extension on their own insurance policy, does this insure them to drive my old car even though the car itself isn't insured on any policy?

Typically yes. But typically you won't be compensated for any damage done to your car.

mgbgt1978 · 23-11-2017 08:21PM

frenchie091 wrote: »

I'm in the same situation. Rang my insurance company for advice and they couldn't tell me anything useful. Would have thought this is a common enough situation.

If someone comes to test drive my old car, and they do have a "driving of other cars" extension on their own insurance policy, does this insure them to drive my old car even though the car itself isn't insured on any policy? Had a look at the websites of the main insurers about this and they don't mention a requirement on the car itself having to be insured in the case of a "driving of other cars" extension.

Most of them don't,. But one or two do require this for some reason, so ask for a look at a Buyer's Insurance cert for your own peace of mind if you want to. Just make sure you tell them this before they come to view the car

.

CiniO · 23-11-2017 08:42PM

frenchie091 wrote: »

I'm in the same situation. Rang my insurance company for advice and they couldn't tell me anything useful. Would have thought this is a common enough situation.

Might be common, but probably people are not bothered checking anything, so possibly insurer was never even asked about it.

Over last 10 years, I'd say I viewed and test drove probably close to 100 cars in ireland (majority private sales) and not a single time I was asked for proof of insurance.

mgbgt1978 · 23-11-2017 08:44PM

I was....once.
For a €230 Seicento that wasn't even in the Seller's name :rolleyes:

blackbox · 24-11-2017 12:36AM

appleb wrote: »

Hi. I hope I am in the right section. This has probably been asked 100 times before but I did a search and nothing turned up. I have bought a new car and have transferred my insurance to the new car. I am planning to sell my old one. I am just wondering if someone wants to test drive the old car, how do I ensure its insured? E.g. How do I verify that the potential buyer has insurance?

The responsibility for having insurance (third party) lies with whoever is driving the car, not the owner. If they damage the car you might struggle to get compensated. Also, if they leave it somewhere unattended the responsibility for insurance would be the owner's.

mgbgt1978 · 24-11-2017 02:33PM

Is it still the case that a car owner can be prosecuted for allowing somebody to drive his/her car without insurance ?
It was certainly an offence several years ago.

acronym Chilli · 25-11-2017 09:42AM

mgbgt1978 wrote: »

Is it still the case that a car owner can be prosecuted for allowing somebody to drive his/her car without insurance ?
It was certainly an offence several years ago.

That's news to me but you may be right. Couldn't find a clear or authoritative source for Ireland, but got a couple of UK refs, e.g.
https://www.jmw.co.uk/services-for-you/motoring-law/driving-without-insurance/

It is your responsibility to ensure that they have a valid policy of insurance that would allow them to drive your vehicle.

If you are convicted of causing or permitting someone to drive your vehicle without insurance, you will face the same penalty as though you had driven without insurance yourself.

Selling car. No insurance. Test drives?

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