Selling My Car

kriss_boy

I want to punt my 02 plate bmw coupe.

Whats the deal with test drives? I dont want to let people drive it. Can I just say Ill give them a run around the block?

What about the reciept. I want to state "sold as seen/inspected" but are people instantly weary of seeing that thinking you have something to hide?

The only issue the car has is it drinks oil... but most BMWs do. So should I mention that?

Also its had 7 owners!! But its been a great reliable motor for the year Ive had it so perhaps its just high because it is/was a prestige car?!

Inactive

Well to be honest, I would not buy any car that I could not test drive, what have you got to hide?

mrscb

Why dont you want people to drive it?.i wouldnt part with any cash for something i hadnt tested...Bet you drove it before you bought it.

kriss_boy

I didnt test drive it, the guy i bought it from just drove it around the block a few times to show me it.

I take it I have to fone directline and pay extra to allow people to be covered for the time I sell it? I mean you shouldnt just trust people when they say they are insured to drive any car?

michaelro

When I sold my last car, the buyer didn't test drive it.

He'd written off his car so didn't have insurance.

I took him out for a spin initially, then the following day while it was in for an MOT had the Mechanic take him out for a test drive.

Even if he had his own insurance I wouldn't have let him drive unless he was covered fully comp on my car.

ie I add him as a named driver temporarily on my insurance or he arranges 24 hr cover.

Test Drives are always difficult with Private Sales.
Not all Insurers cover you 3rd Party for other peoples cars and even then if they crash you're left footing the bill for your own car / and or medical expenses.

Inactive

kriss_boy wrote: »

I take it I have to fone directline and pay extra to allow people to be covered for the time I sell it? I mean you shouldnt just trust people when they say they are insured to drive any car?

That, or check the potential buyers insurance documents before allowing a test drive.

michaelro

Inactive wrote: »

That, or check the potential buyers insurance documents before allowing a test drive.

Will likely only be 3rd Party cover during the test drive...

bosseyed

kriss_boy wrote: »

I want to punt my 02 plate bmw coupe.

Whats the deal with test drives? I dont want to let people drive it. Can I just say Ill give them a run around the block?

What about the reciept. I want to state "sold as seen/inspected" but are people instantly weary of seeing that thinking you have something to hide?

The only issue the car has is it drinks oil... but most BMWs do. So should I mention that?

Also its had 7 owners!! But its been a great reliable motor for the year Ive had it so perhaps its just high because it is/was a prestige car?!

I think most people will want to test drive it themselves - you can pick up a lot about a second hand car by driving it. As a basic example if you're driving it, you can tell if its pulling to one side of the other under braking - something thats a lot harder to pick up if you're not driving.

So I'd simply speak to your insurance company on this point and see what they say. Alternatively you could simply request that any buyers bring a copy of their insurance certificate with them proving their covered in someone elses car. No certificate, no test drive. Might be slightly open to abuse here though, lots of sneaky people with copies of photoshop around...

As for other stuff, lots of owners can be a turn off as you have to wonder why its changed hands so many times, even if its a perfectly legitimate set of reasons. Also I'd say a lot of factors depend on the price, if its only cheap, then buyers won't (or shouldn't perhaps - some muppets out there expect mint for £100) be expecting a 100% tidy car and as such are less likely to care about how much oil it uses etc.

Up to you if you mention that fact really, depends on where your moral compass is pointing! I'd mention it, just because its nicer Karma wise to be honest and up front with buyers. Makes you seem more trustworthy I'd say. Don't be too desperate to sell either, I always take the view with buyers that if they want it, fine, if not then the next buyer will so I don;t mind if they walk away.

Also, try and act like you don't mind how much of your time they're taking up bumbling around kicking tyres and so on - I've found from buying various cars over the years that a portion of my decision to buy often comes down to how much of a t****r the seller has been. Nice, open people with time to honestly answer your questions are always appreciated. Its amazing how many dealers I've been to in the past who made me feel like a massive nusiance, just because I wanted to potentially spend £6k at their establishment.

pramsay13

It's probably a bit of a grey area with insurance companies. Probably to be completely sure you would need to get cover for that period, but then again you're relying on people actually having a driving licence.
I don't imagine anyone test driving it will be rallying so perhaps less chance of anything happening.
As others have said though there's no way I'd buy a car that I couldn't drive beforehand, although I'd be okay with the owner driving to an industrial estate for example then giving me a go there.

Inactive

michaelro wrote: »

Will likely only be 3rd Party cover during the test drive...

Indeed, but at least road legal.

DKLS

It would make me highly suspicious if you refused a test drive and I would walk away from the deal.
I dont care if I am spending £500 or 30K I want to evaluate the car myself, and cant do that from the passenger seat.