Selling Car Privately

Jimbo_78

Hi there,

i'm selling my old Hyuandai i20 and I am a newbie. I transferred the insurance from this car to our new car. Now I'm wondering what happens when an individual comes to view the car and if they want to take it for a test drive? Also, what about transferring the vechile to the new owner does it need to be insured for this purporse?

Any helpful feedback is appreciated.

Cheers,

Jimbo

GrumpyDil

Have you declared your old car SORN and made sure it is kept off road as the rules require every vehicle to be taxed and insured or declared SORN. 

If you have then if anyone wants a test drive they will need to arrange their own insurance although declaring it SORN would mean the car isn't taxed.

General suggestion nowadays is of you are selling a car privately to keep it taxed and insured, some companies will cover two cars for a short time. 

jimjames

Car does not need to be insured to be sold to someone else

sheramber

jimjames said:

Car does not need to be insured to be sold to someone else

As long as the buyer does not wnt to tst drive it and it is taken away on a transporter.

born_again

sheramber said:

jimjames said:

Car does not need to be insured to be sold to someone else

As long as the buyer does not wnt to tst drive it and it is taken away on a transporter.

Or they arrange to insure it before driving off (need to tax as well)

CliveOfIndia

Some good points have been made already by previous posters - one important one being that if it's not insured then you also need to SORN it.  The fact that it's SORN'd obviously means it can't be taken for a test drive.

One other important point to be aware of, and which can catch some people out.  If your insurance for the car is no longer in force then a prospective buyer's "Driving Other Cars" extension (if they have this on their own policy) will not cover them - the DOC extension requires the car to also be insured in its own right.  Obviously a moot point if it's SORN'd, but just be aware.

As correctly pointed out by born_again, the only way a buyer could test drive it (if you've transferred your insurance to another car) is for the buyer to tax it (because you have, or at least should have) SORN'd it, and also to insure it "properly" (not rely on DOC cover) - there are many companies that offer short-term temporary cover if this makes it easier for the buyer.

Jimbo_78 said:

Also, what about transferring the vechile to the new owner does it need to be insured for this purporse?

You can legitimately sell it without insurance, but if you're selling privately then it's the inability to test drive it that may well put people off.  If you're selling it to a dealer then it's not such an issue - they can drive it on their trade plates, or load it onto a trailer to move it.

One other more general point, which may be of interest to anyone selling a car privately.  Assuming the car is still taxed and insured by you, and a prospective buyer has DOC on their policy, do remember it'll only cover them third-party.  So if they damage your car during the test drive, you'll have to pay for any repairs out of your own pocket.

Dave_5150

You may find it easier to sell your car via a car buying service. In my experience private sales for run of the mill cars no longer provide enough of an additional premium to be worth the hassle and risk.