Selling a car - can they take car away same day?

l-cooper9

Hi,

I hope someone can help.

We are trying to sell our car at the moment and we have a guy coming to view it tonight. My question is, can they, if they pay in full cash, take the car away there and then? The car is taxed, MOT just not sure on insurance and if taking a car home same day as seeing it happens? Its only £850 car so not talking 1,000s....unless he offers alot more hahaha!

Thanks for any help.

Laura

fivetide

Yes. If they pay you and you sign it over to them (keep the main part of the V5 you have to post it off) then it is their responsibility.

Get a reciept signed too. Good to have them sign something with the date and time on it, just in case they ping a speed camera on the way home and try to say you still had the car at the time.

5t.

pinkteapot

Yes, they can.

Assume you have your V5 to hand? You need to fill in the new owner details section and both you and the new owner need to sign it.

They get a small tear-off section to keep and you need to send the original back to the DVLA. In a couple of weeks, the new owner will get a new V5 through the post. Full details here:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/motoring/buyingandsellingavehicle/registeringavehicle/dg_4022311

Don't let the new owner take the V5, even if they say they'll post it off. Just give them the tear-off slip and post the original yourself to make sure it gets there.

I would also write up a receipt in advance and fill in date/time at the time and ask them to sign it. Have two copies, both of you sign both and then you can both keep one.

fivetide

Blimey, an echo!

vax2002

It is IMPERATIVE that you fill in and sign the registration certificate correctly.
Get this wrong and you could end up with bailiffs selling your goods.
Some buyers will try to get you to let them fill it out if you just sign it :eek:

Do not sell the car to anyone who will not fill out the certificate correctly and show you one piece of id in the same address, such as a driving licence.
Write out a receipt with the date and time in 24 hour format and get them to sign two copies with you and keep one safe.

This should cover you from becoming one of the many horror stories we read on here and they are some really bad people about that will buy a cheap car and let you take all the rap.

JimmyTheWig

As you say, it's just the insurance that would need sorting once you've done the paperwork for them buying the thing.
Easiest way is if they bring someone else with them who can drive it under their insurance. Or they can sort the insurance while they are there. Or, if they were confident about buying the car, they might have sorted the insurance beforehand. But as long as it is no longer your car, it is not your responsibility to sort their insurance.

l-cooper9

Hi,

Thanks for all your help. I got to dig out all the paperwork as soon as I get home, we werent thinking we would have a viewer this early on. But ill be sure to write otu receipts and give them the small part of the v5.
Can they legally drive the car off? What about insurance? We are still legally insured on the car - what if somethings happens to it when they have it? Do we call our insurance company as soon as they have left with the car and cancel it? We've already let the insurance company know about selling and buying a new car - just waiting to give them the exact date of switch over.
Thats saying they want the car, who knows, they may not even turn up hehe.

Laura

fivetide

l-cooper9 wrote: »

Hi,

Thanks for all your help. I got to dig out all the paperwork as soon as I get home, we werent thinking we would have a viewer this early on. But ill be sure to write otu receipts and give them the small part of the v5.
Can they legally drive the car off? What about insurance? We are still legally insured on the car - what if somethings happens to it when they have it? Do we call our insurance company as soon as they have left with the car and cancel it? We've already let the insurance company know about selling and buying a new car - just waiting to give them the exact date of switch over.
Thats saying they want the car, who knows, they may not even turn up hehe.

Laura

Again,

write a reciept that says something like:

Recieved £xxxxxx for vehicle [reg plate + description]

Date:

Time:

Signed: [vendor] [buyer]

After that it is all down to them. they should have arranged insurance themselves.

They shouldn't ping ANPR as it will still be insured by you but if they have an accident then that is when they will get in trouble.

As Jimmy said, they may bring someone with them or have arranged temporary insurance. Your only issue is to make sure they have at least third party cover (driving other vehicles as part of a fully comp policy) if they want to do a test drive as it is your responsibility to make sure all drivers are insured whilever you actually own the car.

Once the keys/cash is exchanged it is nothing to do with you anymore :beer:

5t.

JimmyTheWig

Yes, tell your insurance company to switch your policy over.

TonyMMM

Once the cash/paperwork are done and handed over it is their car, your responsibility for insurance (or anything else) ends.

If they are driving the car away they should have insurance cover in place , but that is their problem, not yours - hence the importance of a dated/timed receipt.

Once the deal is done, you can ring your insurance company and cancel your cover.

vax2002

the car will still be covered for purposes of the Road Traffic act under YOUR insurance until you have informed the insurance company.
So technically yes you could end up with a claim.
It is the first call with the number on re-dial on your phone, soon as they sign, get someone to call the insurance and inform them of the transfer of this vehicle.