Private Car Sale - 510BHP - Test Drives?
Discussion
I've just a had a potential buyer throw his toys out of the pram via email because I said he can only test drive my 510BHP saloon car worth about £19K without proof of fully comprehensive insurance via a cover note. Apparently I'm a snob and con artist and need to get my head out of my arse.
I am happy to drive the car anywhere and in any reasonable manner, braking hard, revving reasonably high etc.
He said he is 58 and a motor mechanic. This apparently guarantees that I should trust him not to hit something or be hit by something. There are just two named drivers on my policy and it's not covered for other drivers. Worst case, I could lose the whole car in the event that he loses the back end trying to put up to 510BHP through the rear wheels. He didn't get as far as referring to his insurance policy to see if third party cover was available to at least be legal. But I wouldn't be happy with that anyway.
I sold my BMW 330D GT a couple of weeks ago and the guy drove 180 miles from London and was happy to be a passenger during the test drive.
I do understand where my potential buyer is coming from of course, but it's too high a risk for me and none for him.
I know thoughts will be mixed on this, but I would be interested to hear them.
I am happy to drive the car anywhere and in any reasonable manner, braking hard, revving reasonably high etc.
He said he is 58 and a motor mechanic. This apparently guarantees that I should trust him not to hit something or be hit by something. There are just two named drivers on my policy and it's not covered for other drivers. Worst case, I could lose the whole car in the event that he loses the back end trying to put up to 510BHP through the rear wheels. He didn't get as far as referring to his insurance policy to see if third party cover was available to at least be legal. But I wouldn't be happy with that anyway.
I sold my BMW 330D GT a couple of weeks ago and the guy drove 180 miles from London and was happy to be a passenger during the test drive.
I do understand where my potential buyer is coming from of course, but it's too high a risk for me and none for him.
I know thoughts will be mixed on this, but I would be interested to hear them.
When I bought my SLK55 I did so without test driving it, but with a passenger ride.
When I sold it I made it clear in my advert that there would not be any test drive without proof of fully comprehensive insurance. The buyer was absolutely fine with that and I took him ride in it. He insured it from my kitchen before driving off.
When I sold it I made it clear in my advert that there would not be any test drive without proof of fully comprehensive insurance. The buyer was absolutely fine with that and I took him ride in it. He insured it from my kitchen before driving off.
I wouldn't make a private purchase without a full test drive, there's practically zero comeback unlike with a dealer and so it's just an essential part of the buying process for me.
Having said that, I would never expect a private seller to allow me to test drive without wanting proof that I was insured to do so - You can jump online and literally get 1hr of insurance. Whilst I've never used this my SIL uses it frequently when going on long drives and splitting the driving with her friends in her car. It seems to be reasonably cheap and at least you're covered!
PS - I guess the added bonus of being provided with an insurance policy/confirmation is that it also aids if that person was to get a speeding ticket on a test drive and you want to ensure it doesn't land on your license!
Having said that, I would never expect a private seller to allow me to test drive without wanting proof that I was insured to do so - You can jump online and literally get 1hr of insurance. Whilst I've never used this my SIL uses it frequently when going on long drives and splitting the driving with her friends in her car. It seems to be reasonably cheap and at least you're covered!
PS - I guess the added bonus of being provided with an insurance policy/confirmation is that it also aids if that person was to get a speeding ticket on a test drive and you want to ensure it doesn't land on your license!
You're being completely reasonable, I wouldn't ever dream of even asking for a test drive without arranging my own insurance. Regardless of my driving ability, you can't plan for someone else's stupidity.
Have sold both my last cars with the buyer being happy to just be a passenger however they were advertised stating test drives available with proof of full insurance.
Have sold both my last cars with the buyer being happy to just be a passenger however they were advertised stating test drives available with proof of full insurance.
Classic example of the person who has a problem (the potential buyer) trying to make their problem someone else’s problem. And then kicking off because they don’t get their way.
Personally, if a buyer wrote to me in those terms I’d politely inform them that even if they were to get day insurance, I wouldn’t let them have a test drive, and nor would I sell them my car even at over asking. Life’s too short to waste it dealing with d
heads.
Personally, if a buyer wrote to me in those terms I’d politely inform them that even if they were to get day insurance, I wouldn’t let them have a test drive, and nor would I sell them my car even at over asking. Life’s too short to waste it dealing with d
heads. If stopped by the police the driver of the car is held fully responsible for the insurance cover.
It’s literally an off once not to be legally covered and the car could be seized.
However most people have fully comp insurance and may be covered by their insurance to third party level, this scraping by with the legal cover aspect.
And if there was an accident?
I would expect a test drive. I explained to my cars seller recently that I was covered for third party insurance by my current policy and he was happy to take the risk (Porsche so sizeable risk, 50k car).
I didn’t actually tell him that I had already totally covered the car because I didn’t want him to know how sure I was that I was buying it no matter what.
It’s literally an off once not to be legally covered and the car could be seized.
However most people have fully comp insurance and may be covered by their insurance to third party level, this scraping by with the legal cover aspect.
And if there was an accident?
I would expect a test drive. I explained to my cars seller recently that I was covered for third party insurance by my current policy and he was happy to take the risk (Porsche so sizeable risk, 50k car).
I didn’t actually tell him that I had already totally covered the car because I didn’t want him to know how sure I was that I was buying it no matter what.
clive_candy said:
Yep, I've bought a couple of cars on the back of a drive as a front seat passenger. Can understand why a seller wouldn't want to let someone else drive their car - though I understand many policies will cover you to drive someone else's car with their permission.
Third-party only, though.I've owned a lot of cars, some sold privately, some part-ex. The only car I've had where I wouldn't let anybody else drive it was a TVR Cerbera 4.5.
They are a handful if you don't know them, and the 2 people I took out in it were quite happy with that. As long as you can demonstrate a car steers and brakes in a straight line and the clutch doesn't slip up a hill, most people are happy.
I took one chap to a quiet trading estate so he could check the clutch bite for himself and if he actually fitted in the seats / pedals etc.
They are a handful if you don't know them, and the 2 people I took out in it were quite happy with that. As long as you can demonstrate a car steers and brakes in a straight line and the clutch doesn't slip up a hill, most people are happy.
I took one chap to a quiet trading estate so he could check the clutch bite for himself and if he actually fitted in the seats / pedals etc.
Edited by sixor8 on Wednesday 15th February 11:18
Reginald Molehusband said:
I've just a had a potential buyer throw his toys out of the pram via email because I said he can only test drive my 510BHP saloon car worth about £19K without proof of fully comprehensive insurance via a cover note. Apparently I'm a snob and con artist and need to get my head out of my arse.
I am happy to drive the car anywhere and in any reasonable manner, braking hard, revving reasonably high etc.
He said he is 58 and a motor mechanic. This apparently guarantees that I should trust him not to hit something or be hit by something. There are just two named drivers on my policy and it's not covered for other drivers. Worst case, I could lose the whole car in the event that he loses the back end trying to put up to 510BHP through the rear wheels. He didn't get as far as referring to his insurance policy to see if third party cover was available to at least be legal. But I wouldn't be happy with that anyway.
I sold my BMW 330D GT a couple of weeks ago and the guy drove 180 miles from London and was happy to be a passenger during the test drive.
I do understand where my potential buyer is coming from of course, but it's too high a risk for me and none for him.
I know thoughts will be mixed on this, but I would be interested to hear them.
If you don't mind me asking, what year and colour is the car? As I think I know which model it is. Might be interested...I am happy to drive the car anywhere and in any reasonable manner, braking hard, revving reasonably high etc.
He said he is 58 and a motor mechanic. This apparently guarantees that I should trust him not to hit something or be hit by something. There are just two named drivers on my policy and it's not covered for other drivers. Worst case, I could lose the whole car in the event that he loses the back end trying to put up to 510BHP through the rear wheels. He didn't get as far as referring to his insurance policy to see if third party cover was available to at least be legal. But I wouldn't be happy with that anyway.
I sold my BMW 330D GT a couple of weeks ago and the guy drove 180 miles from London and was happy to be a passenger during the test drive.
I do understand where my potential buyer is coming from of course, but it's too high a risk for me and none for him.
I know thoughts will be mixed on this, but I would be interested to hear them.
When I was selling my Boxster GTS recently, had a guy rock up and I let him test drive it. I've always been pragmatic, most people are respectful and just drive the car to get a feel for it so I never felt the need to question them on insurance, etc. beyond checking they have a licence and have insurance on another car.
He drove it like a nutcase, bouncing it off the limiter and generally being a tosser dropping into 2nd gear at 70mph on the motorway, etc. I admittedly did tell him to feel free to drive it properly, but I did need to ask him to calm himself down before I ended up cutting it short. As it was I just directed him to the high street where I live where i knew we'd sit in traffic on the way home, rather than let him spend more time driving like a nob.
Moral of the story, protect yourself and your asset. Anyone that moans about it probably has something to hide or is just an entitled ahole.
He drove it like a nutcase, bouncing it off the limiter and generally being a tosser dropping into 2nd gear at 70mph on the motorway, etc. I admittedly did tell him to feel free to drive it properly, but I did need to ask him to calm himself down before I ended up cutting it short. As it was I just directed him to the high street where I live where i knew we'd sit in traffic on the way home, rather than let him spend more time driving like a nob.
Moral of the story, protect yourself and your asset. Anyone that moans about it probably has something to hide or is just an entitled a
hole.It’s unreasonable to expect someone to buy a car if they want to test drive it but are not allowed. It’s also unreasonable to expect to drive someone else’s car without having insurance. Personally I don’t like to risk driving an uninsured car on the road so tend to settle for either a car park/ off road drive or sit with the driver while it’s being driven.
Either way I wouldn’t discuss such things over the phone before a viewing.
Either way I wouldn’t discuss such things over the phone before a viewing.
The only thing I'd do differently from the OP is I wouldn't talk about the cars power output as a reason not to. First, most modern cars have decent traction control. Second, other drivers are at least half the risk. So it isn't really material to the question, AND if you mention that you're implicitly questioning his driving ability, which isn't something most of us like to hear.
So, the issue is that anything could happen on the public road, and you don't want to gamble your car on it being ok.
If it were me either they can show proof of third party insurance plus proof of available funds to pay in full if its damaged, or preferably proof of fully comp insurance.
I wouldn't expect anything else as a buyer, or as a seller. I've bought cars from the passenger seat before, where the seller has adequately demonstrated they're in full working order.
So, the issue is that anything could happen on the public road, and you don't want to gamble your car on it being ok.
If it were me either they can show proof of third party insurance plus proof of available funds to pay in full if its damaged, or preferably proof of fully comp insurance.
I wouldn't expect anything else as a buyer, or as a seller. I've bought cars from the passenger seat before, where the seller has adequately demonstrated they're in full working order.
ozzuk said:
I was wondering about this the other day, as in the past I've said no test drive without insurance...however, I thought you couldn't insure the same car twice, and you'd be unlikely to cancel your own insurance so how would that work?
Why can't you insure a car twice? If it's for different named drivers, this is fine as far as I can see. I've bought cover to drive a car back that I've just bought. It was still insured in the owner's name for several days until the MID updates.I've never had insurance on any car I've test driven, and a test driver on my cars has never had insurance either and I've always let them just crack on... however I do totally understand where you're coming from, and I certainly wouldn't be offended if someone asked me for proof of insurance.
As others have said, if it's something I really wanted I would just day/hour insure it.
As others have said, if it's something I really wanted I would just day/hour insure it.
sixor8 said:
ozzuk said:
I was wondering about this the other day, as in the past I've said no test drive without insurance...however, I thought you couldn't insure the same car twice, and you'd be unlikely to cancel your own insurance so how would that work?
Why can't you insure a car twice? If it's for different named drivers, this is fine as far as I can see. I've bought cover to drive a car back that I've just bought. It was still insured in the owner's name for several days until the MID updates.Regarding the OPs post - I've kind of had the opposite, where the seller offered me a test drive (and I did have 3rd party cover) but I declined because it seemed a bit risky on an expensive car.
Last car I sold I expected there to be issues because I wouldn't allow test drives - but the guy who bought it seemed amazed anybody would expect to be allowed to test drive it.
CrippsCorner said:
I've never had insurance on any car I've test driven, and a test driver on my cars has never had insurance either and I've always let them just crack on... however I do totally understand where you're coming from, and I certainly wouldn't be offended if someone asked me for proof of insurance.
As others have said, if it's something I really wanted I would just day/hour insure it.
I purchased a car at the weekend from a private seller, he just gave me the key as soon as I arrived and let me go for a drive. Now he has never met me before, he doesn't even know if I have a licence. Now this was a relatively cheap car and I have insurance to drive other cars third party, but still he was taking a risk.As others have said, if it's something I really wanted I would just day/hour insure it.
99.999% of the time it is fine, but what would have happened if I had a crash, left the car where it was and just went home?
Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 15th February 13:48
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