Advice on selling a car and test drive insurance

[freebooter]

I have an old car I need to sell. It isn't worth much, tbh I would be happy with around £350. I am more concerned at the moment with avoiding any problems and hassle.

It has about 10 mths mot and no warning lights show but there are a few issues with it.

One thing I am not sure about is how insurance for test drives works and what I should be looking for. Does any buyer have to arrange special one day insurance for it or would their ordinary policy cover them? I have had a look at the info on my current policy (Aviva) and it seems that it would cover me third party for driving someone else's car with their consent but I find my brain shuts down when reading legalese so I am not sure.

I assume I should demand to see their driving license and current insurance policy before letting anyone take it for a test drive?

Also does anyone know the current liability of a seller if the car has a problem following sale? I know 'sold as seen' used to be the case but I seem to remember reading that there was now more liability on private sellers.

I have considered advertising it as spares or repair even though it is moted and running if that would reduce the likelihood of someone feeling they could come back if there is a problem.

 

[~Divine~Wind~]

If you have Drive other cars then you can drive other cars and you are covered for 3rd party damage. In most circumstances this does require that the car itself has valid insurance. AFAIK Adrian Flux with flex drive is the only company to offer fully comp DOC.

Private sale means pretty much no comebacks.

I've sold a couple of cars in the last year, just asked if they had valid insurance on another vehicle and if they had DOC, with this confirmed I let them drive.

One lad came from Essex and the other Came from Ireland, so it's not as if they were just muppets taking the mick haha.

I have went to view a car in the last year tho a Civic type S, was talking to the lad that was selling it and his mate kept butting in asking for copies of insurance, proof that i had cash and that everything had to be done there and then. Proper ***** me off tbh left the car haha

 

[freebooter]

I have went to view a car in the last year tho a Civic type S, was talking to the lad that was selling it and his mate kept butting in asking for copies of insurance, proof that i had cash and that everything had to be done there and then. Proper ***** me off tbh left the car haha

I can see that asking for proof of insurance etc could come across like that, esp for a cheap car but then if they crash it on the test drive and they don't have insurance then it would be major problems on the owner and everyone would say 'why didn't you check rather than just take their word for it?'

 

[rodenal]

It doesn't need to be difficult

Just ask them if they have third party cover (assuming you're happy with that situation) and for proof if you wish, I certainly wouldn't be bothered about someone asking me to prove I could legally drive their car

On the other side of that, usually your car has to be insured too so I wouldn't be too taken aback if a buyer asks the same question of you.


In reality I don't think I've ever asked for physical proof or been asked by someone else, most buyers are honest enough to either say they don't have cover and therefore let you drive / have a quick spin in an industrial estate or the likes or I have just taken their word for it given they appear serious enough about the car /life!

 

[freebooter]

On the other side of that, usually your car has to be insured too so I wouldn't be too taken aback if a buyer asks the same question of you.

I hadn't realised that the car would have to be insured as well. I was considering cancelling my insurance on it. Does that apply to one day insurance as well?

 

[~Divine~Wind~]

If the car had no insurance on it the prospective buyer would need test drive insurance.

 

[rodenal]

I hadn't realised that the car would have to be insured as well. I was considering cancelling my insurance on it. Does that apply to one day insurance as well?

Only for driving other cars cover, even then it's not consistent but most seem to state the other car needs to be covered under the owners (or a n other) policy