Letting potential buyers test drive

Littlemiss-lotsofdebt

Evening all

I'm hoping to change my car shortly and then will be putting my old one up for sale. What should I do/say if people want to test drive the car? Should I ask whether they are insured and see their insurance certificate?

Also, is there any way of having insurance for my new car and old car if I have them at the same time? I wouldn't be using the old car but would hate to have it stolen off the drive and not be insured!!

Many thanks :beer:

JoeyEmma

I just sold my car (first time I've sold one privately). I insisted that if people wanted to test drive it they bought a copy of their driving license and an insurance certificate that indicated they were covered to drive another car. When we went out for a test drive I left these documents in my house. Nobody objected when I asked them do this, and anybody that wouldn't agree to it I wouldn't trust with my car keys.

Also make sure you don't leave the cars in the ignition at ANY point, without you being in the car. You should both be in the car before you go out for the test drive. When you get back and pull up, ask the person to take the keys out the ignition and give them to you before you get out the car.

JoeyEmma

Oh, and change your insurance on your old car to third party fire and theft cover.

daveyjp

"an insurance certificate that indicated they were covered to drive another car"

Unfortunately if its the 'any other car with owners permission' extension this may only be third party insurance. If they smash your car up you aren't insured for the repair, likewise if someone hits you and it goes less than 100% in your favour you will have a problem. I'd insist of fully comp, unless the car wasn't worth much.

Littlemiss-lotsofdebt

Thanks guys, to be honest, my old car is probably worth about £1200 but it's £1200 I haven't got so could do without some numpty smacking it into next week.

Also, am I allowed to have insurance on two different cars?

Keith

Get them to give you the cash, then ask if they are insured and let them go on their merry way.

If they crash you have the cash, if they are not insured they have told you they are.

It's the way motorbikes are test driven and works well.

rrockettman

Some insurance companies will let you have an overlap for a week for no charge. If you need longer, have a word with them.

hewhoisnotintheknow

when selling a car i always leave my stop lock on it but let them have the ignition keys, so they can start it up etc but can drive it off.

I often drive them down to a quiet industrial estate so less chance of crashing!

ArsenalFC

Asking people for insurance cert and driving license would give u peace of mind. I see some say hold the money or just let them start the engine and not a test drive.....for me personally as a prospective buyer I will never buy a car without a test drive and that will most probably be the same with the majority of people. You will also find people are normally only covered to drive other vehicle for third party, which is what my insurance covered me.

What car are u selling? I'm looking for a small car like fiesta, corsa, yaris etc so I could be interested.

Quentin

Your plan to make sure buyers have insurance to cover driving other peoples cars has a flaw in the scenario you suggest.

That "legal" cover that is given to policyholders to drive other peoples cars (giving third party insurance) only applies as long as the car being driven is itself properly insured by it's owner. So you need to keep the insurance going on the "old" car until you sell it.

You are allowed to insure as many cars as you like.

There will always be the problem if the "customer" causes damage to the car during the test drive, as unless you have comprehensive any driver insurance they will only have third party cover under their own insurance when driving other people's cars. (ie no insurance cover for any damage done to your car).

But at least having the third party cover means that any accident they have involving injury/damage to innocent third parties will be covered by their insurance. Should they not have any insurance, and injure or damage someone else whilst driving your car (which would be with your permission), then you would be in big trouble.

Smi1er

hewhoisnotintheknow wrote: »

when selling a car i always leave my stop lock on it but let them have the ignition keys, so they can start it up etc but can drive it off.

:rotfl: Do you know how long it takes to forcibly remove a stoplock;)