More Griff selling, Test drives!
Discussion
quote:
I assume that no-one is going to buy it without driving it, how do I arrange insurance for test drives? I'd rather not rely on theirs.
Any suggestions (before I call my broker and frighten the living Sh*t out of them :-))? D.
I asked my broker this exact question, and I was told the following:
"I'm afraid it is a common problem when trying to sell a car privately."
"Strictly speaking each potential buyer should be added as a driver to your Motor Insurance. Not only is this a great inconvenience to you, but you would then have to pay any additional costs, and if they were then to crash the car it would be a claim made on your policy. Very very rarely do people do it this way."
"The most common way is to let the buyer drive under his/her Insurance using the driving other cars (DOC) extension. The only problem being that they will be driving your car third party only and that you will need to check that they definitely have a policy of their own that gives them DOC cover. If anything was to happen then they would have to pay for your cars damage (or ideally agree to buy the car off you)."
"The only other option, would be to get them to add your car comprehensively to their own policy and bring proof along with them e.g a covernote. As with the other options there are problems because not all Insurers will cover a TVR even for a day or a test drive, not only that Insurers do not like to cover cars unless it is owned and registered to their policyholder because of the Insurable interest. Another point to remember is that it is actually illegal to Insure a car twice."
The other thing I thought of was that you cold get a solicitor to draft a disclaimer which you could make each test driver sign. This would say something along the lines of "I agree to buy the car or fix it in the event of any accident". I don't know if this is practical though.
In the end I p/x'ed mine, as the risks of a private sale are relatively high. Even bank drafts can be forged.
I sold my BMW M Roadster without a problem - the chap didn't even drive it. I explained that I couldn't let him drive it when he came to see it, as my insurance didn't cover him. I said that if he was really interested after he had looked over it and I had taken him out for a long drive, then I would get him put on my insurance for a test drive. He fully understood that you can't take the risk on a £20k motor.
He didn't bother and bought it without driving it. He could see I was an honest geezer and I'd just paid out for another year's BMW warranty which I transferred to him.
To be fair, it wasn't so much honesty more he could see I was a pedantic git who had clearly had even the most minor irritant sorted out - e.g. as part of the deal he got a brand new rear wheel in its box (bloody expensive those 17" polished BMW M wheels), because BMW had scratched one of the wheels when they recovered it to fix the immobiliser and I'd kicked up a fuss and gotr a new one.
It is a worry though. Most peoploe will want to drive the car and it can be difficult to sort out those who are out for a free go in a TVR and those who really are interested in buying. Asking them to come back another day for a drive helps sort out who is serious.
He didn't bother and bought it without driving it. He could see I was an honest geezer and I'd just paid out for another year's BMW warranty which I transferred to him.
To be fair, it wasn't so much honesty more he could see I was a pedantic git who had clearly had even the most minor irritant sorted out - e.g. as part of the deal he got a brand new rear wheel in its box (bloody expensive those 17" polished BMW M wheels), because BMW had scratched one of the wheels when they recovered it to fix the immobiliser and I'd kicked up a fuss and gotr a new one.
It is a worry though. Most peoploe will want to drive the car and it can be difficult to sort out those who are out for a free go in a TVR and those who really are interested in buying. Asking them to come back another day for a drive helps sort out who is serious.
Agree with simpo one. When I sold my Chimaera I took 4 people out. Only 2 wanted to drive it and by that time I'd already decided they were trustworthy.
But still never leave the keys in the ignition or even hand them over when you're not in the car. I sat in the passenger seat before handing over the keys and got the keys back before getting out.
There's no point taking unnesessary risks.
Cheers..... Andrew
But still never leave the keys in the ignition or even hand them over when you're not in the car. I sat in the passenger seat before handing over the keys and got the keys back before getting out.
There's no point taking unnesessary risks.
Cheers..... Andrew
A collegaue lost his VW Golf cab when he got out to change places on a test drive. The bloke drove off. The police said most likely he would have been threatened or assualted if he tried to resist, so at least he avoided being hurt.
He didn't get a penny from his insurers who maintained it wasn't stolen, it was 'taken by deception'. And you've guessed it -that wasn't covered. Multiple appeals to everyone he could think of in the insurance world and beyond didn't help.
He didn't get a penny from his insurers who maintained it wasn't stolen, it was 'taken by deception'. And you've guessed it -that wasn't covered. Multiple appeals to everyone he could think of in the insurance world and beyond didn't help.
quote:
A collegaue lost his VW Golf cab when he got out to change places on a test drive. The bloke drove off. The police said most likely he would have been threatened or assualted if he tried to resist, so at least he avoided being hurt.
He didn't get a penny from his insurers who maintained it wasn't stolen, it was 'taken by deception'. And you've guessed it -that wasn't covered. Multiple appeals to everyone he could think of in the insurance world and beyond didn't help.
WOTF!!!!!
The problem is even worse when selling motorbikes privately. The last thing you want to do is sit on the back while they put your bike through its paces. The only way is to go is to ask them for the entire amount you are asking for the bike as a deposit before they can take it for a ride. Maybe you could do the same thing for the car.
Even if they can't do it on the day, if they are keen enough to make an offer and the only thing standing in their way is a test drive I can't see a problem with them coming back with the money.
It's certainly what I'll be doing when I come to sell my s3.
Mark
>> Edited by mhibbins on Tuesday 3rd September 15:08
Even if they can't do it on the day, if they are keen enough to make an offer and the only thing standing in their way is a test drive I can't see a problem with them coming back with the money.
It's certainly what I'll be doing when I come to sell my s3.
Mark
>> Edited by mhibbins on Tuesday 3rd September 15:08
From my bloke, I've been out in a Cerb and a 500 Griff (oh and mine..
).
Just nonchalantly waves me off saying to his partner, 'Oh, Andy's just going for a play...'
Must have ubercover - any car, anyone, what must that cost? I'll ask him next time I see him..
Unless he's assuming I have..
). Just nonchalantly waves me off saying to his partner, 'Oh, Andy's just going for a play...'
Must have ubercover - any car, anyone, what must that cost? I'll ask him next time I see him..
Unless he's assuming I have..
Blimey. £5k deposit eh Matt... you must look *really* dodgy. 
I've test driven TVRs twice, at Hawthorns and at HHC. Both were happy to take me out, although I was always supervised and as I was a relative newbie with TVRs at the time I probably didn't take the car more than 1/4 of the wa into its potential performance or do any of the tests I was supposed to.
I have to say that Hawthorns were very very welcoming (as would I be if someone was about to give me £30k) and they let me test drive both Cerberas and Griffs with no quibbles.
As for losing your car by deception.. wtf?
I've test driven TVRs twice, at Hawthorns and at HHC. Both were happy to take me out, although I was always supervised and as I was a relative newbie with TVRs at the time I probably didn't take the car more than 1/4 of the wa into its potential performance or do any of the tests I was supposed to.
I have to say that Hawthorns were very very welcoming (as would I be if someone was about to give me £30k) and they let me test drive both Cerberas and Griffs with no quibbles.
As for losing your car by deception.. wtf?
quote:
The problem is even worse when selling motorbikes privately. The last thing you want to do is sit on the back while they put your bike through its paces. The only way is to go is to ask them for the entire amount you are asking for the bike as a deposit before they can take it for a ride. Maybe you could do the same thing for the car.
Even if they can't do it on the day, if they are keen enough to make an offer and the only thing standing in their way is a test drive I can't see a problem with them coming back with the money.
It's certainly what I'll be doing when I come to sell my s3.
Mark
>> Edited by mhibbins on Tuesday 3rd September 15:08
I agree and I don't believe it ever lost me a sale, got a few cheeky f
s anoyed 'cause they wanted a go on a wikid bike though. Maybe they had just passed their test and Daddy was going to buy them a ZXR750, I doubted it though 
Last year I was passing a TVR main dealer in the North West and dropped in on the off chance to look at Griffs. I parked around the back and walked into a busy showroom where I found a nice looking Ocean Haze 500.
Salesman asked to wait a little which I did as they were very busy - then after 20mins he was still tied up so he just threw me the keys and told me to take it for a run! He didn't see me come in, saw no car, I was in jeans and T Shirt, didn't ask for ID or licence, etc.
I was delighted by the service but would have to agree - Dealer's insurance must be watertight!
(Oh - sorry to say I didn't buy it BTW. Non functioning speedo and all the service history at a Welsh filling station saw to that).
Marco
>> Edited by marco on Tuesday 3rd September 15:56
Salesman asked to wait a little which I did as they were very busy - then after 20mins he was still tied up so he just threw me the keys and told me to take it for a run! He didn't see me come in, saw no car, I was in jeans and T Shirt, didn't ask for ID or licence, etc.
I was delighted by the service but would have to agree - Dealer's insurance must be watertight!
(Oh - sorry to say I didn't buy it BTW. Non functioning speedo and all the service history at a Welsh filling station saw to that).
Marco
>> Edited by marco on Tuesday 3rd September 15:56
quote:
The problem is even worse when selling motorbikes privately. The last thing you want to do is sit on the back while they put your bike through its paces. The only way is to go is to ask them for the entire amount you are asking for the bike as a deposit before they can take it for a ride. Maybe you could do the same thing for the car.
Even if they can't do it on the day, if they are keen enough to make an offer and the only thing standing in their way is a test drive I can't see a problem with them coming back with the money.
It's certainly what I'll be doing when I come to sell my s3.
Mark
>> Edited by mhibbins on Tuesday 3rd September 15:08
I agree and I don't believe it ever lost me a sale
Bloke I bought my bike from did it on this basis and I thought it was a reasonable request, after all the guy didn't know me from Adam. When I sold it the lad left his bike and girlfriend while he went for a spin. Don't think I'd have got much for his girlfriend but his bike would have just about covered it.
quote:I refused to let a bloke test ride one of my bikes on the basis he left me his car as if he was planning to steal my bike he certainly wouldn't be above stealing the car either. It just wasn't worth the risk imo. If you give someone the keys and they don't come back there's no way the insurance is going to pay up.
Bloke I bought my bike from did it on this basis and I thought it was a reasonable request, after all the guy didn't know me from Adam. When I sold it the lad left his bike and girlfriend while he went for a spin. Don't think I'd have got much for his girlfriend but his bike would have just about covered it.
Mark
quote:
quote:
it wasn't stolen, it was 'taken by deception'
:staresatquoteinabsolutedisbelief:
As a kipper...
Sadly it is 100% true. To this day he has not been able to recover a penny.
BTW - Henley Heritage get you to sign an excess form for a test drive - can't remember the amount - think it may be £1,000
quote:
quote:
quote:
it wasn't stolen, it was 'taken by deception'
:staresatquoteinabsolutedisbelief:
As a kipper...
Hang on here, but from my memory a deception has to involve a theft. I can't remember the exact wording of the act but its something like theft by deception. So for the insurance company to claim its not a theft is bollo*ks. Perhaps Madcap etc can help me out here as I slung all my police manuals when I left.
Not quite a test drive, but I let a neighbour drive my car (with me in it) and he absolutely f@cking hammered it down a twisty country lane. He was going far too fast (60mph round a blind bend only wide enough for one car) and I've never let anyone drive my car since. I had driven his car in the past, and had treated it with utmost respect, and had the foolish notion that this, coupled with the fact that he was in his fifties, would make him drive the car safely. Lesson learnt. 
On the test drive front, I turned up at Christopher Neils in a C-Reg Golf GTi with my girlfriend and they let me take the Chimaera out with just me and her in it for a good half an hour - I hadn't even pre-booked the test drive! I didn't buy that particular car on that particular day, but I did go back a few months later and purchase my current baby!
The only downside is that they never bl00dy respond to e-mails!
roadsweeper.
On the test drive front, I turned up at Christopher Neils in a C-Reg Golf GTi with my girlfriend and they let me take the Chimaera out with just me and her in it for a good half an hour - I hadn't even pre-booked the test drive! I didn't buy that particular car on that particular day, but I did go back a few months later and purchase my current baby!
The only downside is that they never bl00dy respond to e-mails! roadsweeper.
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