Advice on selling my car

[Gumstabber]

So, having never sold a car privately before I need some advice. I'm going to be selling my Westfield sport 2000, it's going up on the pistonheads classifieds and on the WSCC forums as soon as I've taken some appropriate photos. I need advice on a few things:

Test drives - obviously the punter will want a test drive, what do i do about insurance?
Transfer of money - I want the money in my account before the buyer drives away in my pride and joy. What's the best way to do this? I'm well aware that these days it is entirely possible to forge bankers drafts, cancel Internet fund transfers and generally nick my car.

Any, and all, help gratefully received along with offers of purchase too.

[Red111]

Gumstabber said:

So, having never sold a car privately before I need some advice. I'm going to be selling my Westfield sport 2000, it's going up on the pistonheads classifieds and on the WSCC forums as soon as I've taken some appropriate photos. I need advice on a few things:

Test drives - obviously the punter will want a test drive, what do i do about insurance?
Transfer of money - I want the money in my account before the buyer drives away in my pride and joy. What's the best way to do this? I'm well aware that these days it is entirely possible to forge bankers drafts, cancel Internet fund transfers and generally nick my car.

Any, and all, help gratefully received along with offers of purchase too.

When I sold my Audi two years ago I told the chap beforehand that because my insurance was husband and wife only he couldn't drive it and he accepted this. I did however, take him out for a decent drive over 30mph, b roads and motorway etc to show him the car. He brought me cash still in the bank sealed envelopes and came with me to pay it into the bank.

On the other side when I bought my Lotus I didn't test drive it either but again the owner took me out on a long test drive and then when I collected it I went with him with a bankers draft and paid it into his account with him.

[Gumstabber]

So each time the sale was conducted on two separate visits?

[pk500]

i got a bounced bankers draft for a car i was selling it takes 7 WORKING DAYS to clear i never gave the car so was lucky so be careful

[andi_p]

The buyer and I go to the bank and do an expedited transfer or bankers draft that the bank verifies. Once that's done keys and car are handed over. Good luck.

[Red111]

Gumstabber said:

So each time the sale was conducted on two separate visits?

Yes left a deposit and collected car ( in the case of the lotus ) in about three weeks due to private reg being taken off etc. with Audi it was following Saturday.

[huwdm]

andi_p said:

The buyer and I go to the bank and do an expedited transfer or bankers draft that the bank verifies. Once that's done keys and car are handed over. Good luck.

Good advice. If in doubt go to the bank and make it the responsibility.

[DHE]

andi_p said:

The buyer and I go to the bank and do an expedited transfer or bankers draft that the bank verifies. Once that's done keys and car are handed over. Good luck.

Best IMO, banks make a charge for this, £35 or so. Worth it for the piece of mind.

[DHE]

andi_p said:

The buyer and I go to the bank and do an expedited transfer or bankers draft that the bank verifies. Once that's done keys and car are handed over. Good luck.

Best IMO, banks make a charge for this, £35 or so. Worth it for the piece of mind.

[Gumstabber]

andi_p said:

The buyer and I go to the bank and do an expedited transfer or bankers draft that the bank verifies. Once that's done keys and car are handed over. Good luck.

Being a bit of a noob but I guess that means you go to their bank, get the draft and then go to yours. I've never heard of an expedited transfer though.

[pwd95]

Can't trust Bankers drafts any more. Heared stories of drafts being fake & the Bank removing the balance from the account once the Draft has bounced 2 weeks later.
Cash over the counter in to your account every time.

[DHE]

Gumstabber said:

andi_p said:

The buyer and I go to the bank and do an expedited transfer or bankers draft that the bank verifies. Once that's done keys and car are handed over. Good luck.

Being a bit of a noob but I guess that means you go to their bank, get the draft and then go to yours. I've never heard of an expedited transfer though.[/quote
You go to buyers bank and they do an electronic transfer into your account. Normally transfered in seconds.

[andi_p]

Gumstabber said:

Being a bit of a noob but I guess that means you go to their bank, get the draft and then go to yours. I've never heard of an expedited transfer though.

No, just take the bankers draft to your bank and have them verify it - alternatively just do a BACS transfer from their account to yours and pay the 25 quid fee.

[framerateuk]

I paid for my Caterham in cash.

I was bricking it walking back through Cardiff after collecting it at the bank since there was a football game on at the same time and the town was full of drunk fans!

The owner gave me a good drive around in the car, but I did eventually drive it. To be honest, I would have been happy to take it without a test drive, but it was nice to get one.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

andi_p said:

The buyer and I go to the bank and do an expedited transfer or bankers draft that the bank verifies. Once that's done keys and car are handed over. Good luck.

This. I also go to the bank with the punter.

[Gumstabber]

Thanks everyone