Selling a car advice?

[Rustybits]

I hope this is the right place to post this?

Anyway, I'm going to be putting my car up for sale in the near future and I'd like a bit of advice on how to handle requests for a test drive.

I'm more than happy to accommodate, and have nothing to hide, but I'm not sure the best way to approach insurance cover with the potential purchaser.

Do you stipitate on the advert, or when people call that you need proof of cover? Most people may assume they will be covered to drive other cars if they are fully comp on their own policy, but that normally only covers them with third party cover. I want to make it clear they need specific cover to take my car out for a test.

The car is not particularly high value at all, but if there were any issues on the test drive then I'd be the one that looses out, so want to be sure that I am covered.

Am I being too over cautious here?

[Mad Maximus]

Rustybits said:

I hope this is the right place to post this?

Anyway, I'm going to be putting my car up for sale in the near future and I'd like a bit of advice on how to handle requests for a test drive.

I'm more than happy to accommodate, and have nothing to hide, but I'm not sure the best way to approach insurance cover with the potential purchaser.

Do you stipitate on the advert, or when people call that you need proof of cover? Most people may assume they will be covered to drive other cars if they are fully comp on their own policy, but that normally only covers them with third party cover. I want to make it clear they need specific cover to take my car out for a test.

The car is not particularly high value at all, but if there were any issues on the test drive then I'd be the one that looses out, so want to be sure that I am covered.

Am I being too over cautious here?

It’s your call however you want to play it. I would just put in the advert proof of specific fully comp insurance needed before test drive. Job jobbed.

[Super Sonic]

As you say, fully comp only covers you third party on other cars. Nobody is going to take out a specific FC policy on a car they don't own just for a test drive.
You might want to take potential buyers for a test drive with you driving.

[Rustybits]

Mad Maximus said:

It’s your call however you want to play it. I would just put in the advert proof of specific fully comp insurance needed before test drive. Job jobbed.

Thanks, I'll add it to the ad

Super Sonic said:

As you say, fully comp only covers you third party on other cars. Nobody is going to take out a specific FC policy on a car they don't own just for a test drive.
You might want to take potential buyers for a test drive with you driving.

I did when I bought privately, day insurance was about £60 I think.

[Super Sonic]

We live and learn

[Rustybits]

Super Sonic said:

We live and learn

But here's the thing, I don't know how common this is?

I just have concerns about someone spinning out and putting my car in a hedge!

[soad]

Not common at all, I dare say.

3 Days cover cost me £38.99 through Aviva, in 2022. Cheap as chips.

[Super Sonic]

Well it IS your car, and I don't know it's value but I'm guessing it's not a shed.
Insisting on FCI will weed out the tyre kickers and test pilots, but will reduce the amount of buyers. Maybe insist anyone w'out FCI sits in the passenger seat for test drives, if it's an expensive hi- performance car I'm sure they'll understand. Just let them know when they phone to arrange to look at the car.
I'm not a motor trader btw, this is just off the top of my head. The fastest most expensive car I've bought is a accord R. When I bought it I let the seller drive me round in it.

[Rustybits]

Thanks,

Yes it's not a shed, it's a 3.0 Z4 (e85). So my concern is someone without any experience of a relatively powerful RWD car giving it some welly.

[Time4another]

Any car I've bought, the test drive would be last, once happy about everything else was in order. Always happy to sit as a passenger, most sellers happy to put the car through it's paces. If you find someone genuine looking to buy you won't have any issues. Only issue is finding genuine members of the public. Lot of moon howlers out there.

Best of luck with the sale

[Belle427]

Ive bought my last 2 without a test drive but i do think you should always drive the car before you buy.
There is no way id take someone elses car and drive it hard from the go, i just want to feel how it drives, brakes etc.

[loskie]

Rustybits said:

Mad Maximus said:

It’s your call however you want to play it. I would just put in the advert proof of specific fully comp insurance needed before test drive. Job jobbed.

Thanks, I'll add it to the ad

Super Sonic said:

As you say, fully comp only covers you third party on other cars. Nobody is going to take out a specific FC policy on a car they don't own just for a test drive.
You might want to take potential buyers for a test drive with you driving.

I did when I bought privately, day insurance was about £60 I think.

Yep: I took out day insurance to test drive and E Class a few years back IIRC it cost £24. It can be done online by phone immediately so you don't need to shell out if when viewing he car it's not for you.

[Alex Z]

Belle427 said:

Ive bought my last 2 without a test drive but i do think you should always drive the car before you buy.
There is no way id take someone elses car and drive it hard from the go, i just want to feel how it drives, brakes etc.

You might not, but others may do, especially those wanting a sporty vehicle.

The safest option for the OP is to see proof of insurance to cover the legality, and hold the purchase price in cash to cover the “watch this!” crash.

[nick1871]

There is an app called Cuvva, an hours insurance is about £12 fully comp. Both the buyer and seller need the app but it’s a pretty simple process. Used it twice recently.

[Summit_Detailing]

As above, I've always driven the car up the road with the potential buyer as a passenger - never been a problem.

There is Cuvva which will do insurance from 1hr ->, if the buyer is insistent on driving the car themselves.
I've used the app a few times and it is excellent, input a few details, take a photo of the front of the car and job done.

Cheers,

Chris

[SFTWend]

There was a similar thread a while back and the general consensus was that the buyer should arrange insurance. I disagree.

I think if you want to sell a car you need to be as accommodating as is reasonably possible. Many buyers will want to drive the car before committing. Stating "buyer must arrange insurance" in the ad gives me the impression the seller will possibly be difficult to deal with. Even if they do arrange insurance, if they crash the car you are in their hands as to where and when it gets repaired.

I've bought and sold a lot of cars privately over the years. If I'm comfortable with the buyer, and confident they will buy, I'll let them have a drive on the understanding they 'buy it if they bash it'. If I'm not sure about them, which was the case with the last person who bought a car from me, I'll do the driving.

[Ryyy]

Rustybits said:

Thanks,

Yes it's not a shed, it's a 3.0 Z4 (e85). So my concern is someone without any experience of a relatively powerful RWD car giving it some welly.

Oo err, out of sheer curiosity loving that car, how much are you advertising it for

ETA: i would like one but theres about another 5 cars i constantly go round in circles about buying too im my own worst enemy at times

Edited by Ryyy on Wednesday 21st February 13:51

[Pit Pony]

Maybe this is a service that autotrader, pistonheads, gumtree, should offer to advertisers.

All of them are aleays looking at how to increase revenue. If both buyer and seller were on the App, at the same time, the cost could be split 2 ways even.

Pistonheads won't because they have priced thier offerings to limit private buyers anyway, and have clearly targeted dealers who will have insurance.

[Ryan-tspg1]

I'm going through the process now and have learned the new norm is to use apps like 'cuvva' or 'veygo' that specialise in 1hour/ short term insurance cover for as little as a tenner apparently!

[cliffords]

Rustybits said:

I hope this is the right place to post this?

Anyway, I'm going to be putting my car up for sale in the near future and I'd like a bit of advice on how to handle requests for a test drive.

I'm more than happy to accommodate, and have nothing to hide, but I'm not sure the best way to approach insurance cover with the potential purchaser.

Do you stipitate on the advert, or when people call that you need proof of cover? Most people may assume they will be covered to drive other cars if they are fully comp on their own policy, but that normally only covers them with third party cover. I want to make it clear they need specific cover to take my car out for a test.

The car is not particularly high value at all, but if there were any issues on the test drive then I'd be the one that looses out, so want to be sure that I am covered.

Am I being too over cautious here?

I have never worked it this way . If your potential buyer crashes your car , you have a broken car, you have to wait ages for a pay out. The pay out won't come to you if the buyer holds the insurance. You then have to get the money off them. It's only the amount the insurance paid out less their excess, likely less than you were going to sell the car for . I am interested to learn from others but how can this ever work.