Test drives for private car sales...

B

Bradders75

Senior member
...is it me or are more and more folk putting the line 'test drives only with fully comprehensive insurance for THIS car' etc. for private car sales. It puts me off viewing straight away. If I'm going to take the risk of buying a car privately rather than from a dealer, I expect a bloody test drive without having to jump through hoops. On the flip side, if I want zero risk when selling my car privately car, I'll sell it to a dealer for less money. People are welcome to test drive any car I sell with third party insurance on the understanding that driving is sensible and respectful. What do you forumites expect as a private buyer or seller?
 
i'd expect a quick test drive, although i can understand why people ask for that.

the guy i bought my zed off, let me drive it without even asking if i had insurance (it was only around the block though, but still).
 
I would expect a test drive either private or trade, no way I would pass over any money if I hadn't driven the car, same when selling too, no problem for me, I think you can tell if someone is serious or not, by the questions they ask, the way they inspect the car etc, test drive is the final piece of the jigsaw, I travelled near Epping Forest to view an ///MR, about 3HR drive for me, the guy took me out for about a 2 mile drive and only let me drive it down his lane, never got out of 2nd gear infact, I liked the car but having a final look around the car whilst it was ticking over I lifted the bonnet and heard a rotary knocking, asked him to get an inspection from BMW, if they said it was ok I'd have it, they didn't so I didn't, I paid for the inspection btw.
 
I can understand your point - you'd never want to put a potential customer off. That said, I'd expect someone to arrange fully comp insurance if they were test driving my car and conversely, I'd expect to arrange (and have arranged) fully comp insurance when I'm buying. If someone turns up with insurance arranged (or the means to do so), then as a seller it tells you they're unlikely to be a times waster.

I guess the risk is tiny but sometimes accidents can occur even if it's not the driver's fault - and it isn't always the case the the other person's insurance will cough up. If someone's driving your car third party then you have some hassle ahead.

I guess it's a matter of how you view risk... :|
 
Funny, as I have been thinking about this lately as I have seen a few ads like that too.My insurance says I have fully comp cover to drive any car with the owner's permission, but I'd still phone them and check that when they say any they mean any. I did think fully comp gave this as standard - but I guess I am wrong ?

Not sure I'd have 3rd party / fire / theft on any car unless it was a banger for Wee Bing to learn to drive in :?
 
Bing said:
Not sure I'd have 3rd party / fire / theft on any car unless it was a banger for Wee Bing to learn to drive in :?
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When I insured the 206 for daughter, and now son as well, the difference in Premium for fully comp over TPF&T was minimal. I was amazed but apparently that's how it is.
 
Normally with fully comp insurance you're covered 3rd party on any other car.

I tend to get temporary insurance if I know I'm going to test drive. Usually around 15-20 for the day, and means you're covered fully. Small price to pay to make sure the car drives straight.
 
Exactly, for a small price of £20 it's worth it.

If I was serious about spending £15k on a car, £20 for a test drive is a very small price to pay. You're paying to go and see the car (petrol/ train) etc. anyway.

If I was selling a premium car I'd only give test drives if the buyer had fully comp temp insurance for 2 reasons.

1) even though the risk is small it's not worth the risk of some (potential) idiot, whose driving skill I have no idea about, wrecking my car.

2) It weeds out all the tyre kickers and guys who want to waste my time wanting to get a free hoon out of my sale.

If you aren't willing to get temp insurance I'd question how serious you were about the car.
 
Shappers said:
Normally with fully comp insurance you're covered 3rd party on any other car.
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Best to check with your insurer though as they dont all do this. Admiral do for me and its how I drive both my parents cars very occasionally.
 
I checked with my insurer that I was covered when I went to view my Zed for the second time, I am fully comp but as has been said on here it's no longer automatic that you are covered for other peoples cars, I was only third party cover and even though I let the owner speak to my insurer over the phone to confirm this he was still unwilling to let me drive :driving: ........... still bought it though after he took me for a run :D
 
most policies that allow the driving of other cars, and that is by no means all of them, only cover third party risk, even though the policy is fully comp. when i was looking at mc's i drove two both of which had issues that i was'nt sure of, the third one i bought but took three weeks to complete the deal due to varios reasons but knew it was the one, first time i drove it was when i collected it, risky you say but still thrills me beyond all expectations , today exiting the right hander uphil leaving porth , newquay, 2nd gear dry road, no traction control on feathering throttle, rear tyres just loosing grip , unwind the steering a tad as the m dif gets the power down and it absolutely flew up whipsiderry hill, man i love this car. :rofl:
 
Happy for someone to testdrive but only if they can show me they have sufficient insurance cover independent of my own policy
joyriders not welcome & there are plenty out there who are just curious ,
 
Some interesting points of view. I've never 'paid' to insure any car I've test driven privately. I guess the sellers felt I was serious enough to risk letting me drive third party on my own policy. I've done the same when selling but only when convinced the potential buyer was serious. It's fairly easy to weed out time wasters from the questions they ask (or more importantly don't!) on the phone/email. My car will be up for sale in the next couple of months and I'll be accepting the risk of offering test drives as long as the person viewing can show me they have fully comprehensive insurance that gives them third party on my car. It's a risk but one I feel comfortable enough to take.
 
StevenH72 said:
If you aren't willing to get temp insurance I'd question how serious you were about the car.
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When searching for a car, I often have to view 4 or 5 before finding one that actually meets my idea of excellent condition - despite the advert descriptions. :x As a serious buyer, I'd not want to be wasting £20 a pop when often a viewing often ends up in disappointment as soon as you roll up to the driveway. My record is driving over 200 miles to view a 'mint' Integra Type R that had overspray in both front wheel wells. I could have killed the tosser who assured me on the phone it was all factory original!
 
When I bought mine the guy let me drive it third party - but we did leave him with a key for a very similar zed ;). Sorry to hear your thinking of selling. Hope you will still be hooning.
 
jaRED said:
When I bought mine the guy let me drive it third party - but we did leave him with a key for a very similar zed ;). Sorry to hear your thinking of selling. Hope you will still be hooning.
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I'll always be a hooner jaRED - even in something boring and sensible! :wink:
 
Agree with Bradders75 on both his comments, I do the same. With a high ticket car perhaps I would be more cautious but as long as theyre fully comp on their policy with the ability to 3rd party my car its enough for me..
 
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