Selling vehicles privately - some Qs!

[Time Waster]

What is the usual protocol with private car or van sales wrt test drives? Now we have our day van all nice and running well reeady to sell and it is going online soon. It is pretty good one so we hope to get interest quickly enough. However my partner has a thing about test drives. I have never sold my own vehicle since I usually weigh it in or part ex it. This time thee day van is not easy to get fair money on a part ex especially since we are looking at spending less than the van on a car. So no choice but enter the car into online sales and sell it ourselves.

Our insurance does not cover test drives of others and it would be a nightmare is something gets damaged. My partner is of the opinon that any test drive is after proof that they are comp covered for damage to other vehicles and our van. It costs about £11 for one hours cover BTW. I think that is an obstacle to selling that would put people off. However I think technically we would be negligent to let someone drive without insurance.

So what is the test drive protocol, etiquette or procedure for private sales? Do we have to assume they have third party cover on their insurance and suck up the risk oof damage costs to the van?

This all sounds like worrying too much about things but if you do not know about these things you can get tied up on minutiae.

PS pro converted day van 2016 vivaro for sale, 5 belts 4 berth, poptop. If you are interested...

 

[cyberknight]

I am going to follow this as we are going to get ride of our car soon.
I would have thought it was up to them to get the appropriate insurance but i could be talking utter turnips .

 

[Drago]

However I think technically we would be negligent to let someone drive without insurance.

You would be criminally liable under "use, cause or permit" legislation.

You must take reasonable steps to ensure they are licenced and insured. You are wise to be cautious.

 

[Time Waster]

Thing is it is your vehicle so any ANPR check would show as our insurance. It is unlikely the test driver, with me in the passenger seat, is going to be IDed as not insured. So a stop is unlikely. For us it is the damage potential. If the potential buyer is a complete idiot and hits the sides he or she could just walk away and we are left with any fallout. I suppose we could pass on their details such as we had to police if involved and tell them that they said they were covered under their insurance. We can't check that really but then could we be held liable on that basis?

It is the minutiae that I am getting bogged down in. I guess if we ask about their insurance cover for at least third party on other vehicles to their own, which is a common cover I think. If they say they are covered third party then that might be ok but without me checking on their cover personally I cannot be 100% sure, even then it could still be without cover. So how far do I as the vendor and van owner have to go to make sure the cover exists, is valid and covers them at least third party when driving? Can I take them on their word or do I have to be able to show diligence?

The other thing is, would it be reassonable to drive them and not let them drive at all?

 

[Drago]

Take them out while you drive. You can demonstrate it goes, stops, doesn't make any funny noises, doesn't overheat.

There's not much more they would learn my driving it themselves.

You could take them on their word,provided you could evidence that to a courts satisfaction. A neighbour or friend witnessing them say they had a licence and appropriate insurance would  probably see you clear unless you have a criminal history of offendes involving dishonesty.

 

[Time Waster]

Or a photograph of the licence and insurance cover I suppose would corroborate your evidence. Is that independent enough as corroboration? Similar with say a scan or copy.

 

[Drago]

Or a photograph of the licence and insurance cover I suppose would corroborate your evidence. Is that independent enough as corroboration? Similar with say a scan or copy.

That'd be perfect, although it'd hardly be taking them at their word.

 

[kynikos]

This time thee day van is not easy to get fair money on a part ex especially since we are looking at spending less than the van on a car. So no choice but enter the car into online sales and sell it ourselves.

The modern method is to value the two vehicles separately so you might want to try trading it in for the car and the dealer will pay you the difference.

Or you could try https://www.webuyanyvan.com/

 

[presta]

I've sold four cars privately, none of them wanted a test drive, and I bought two privately without a test drive. I sold one at auction, which is another option. (I used to watch the car auctions for lunchtime entertainment at one time.)

 

[Electric_Andy]

Even if the other person is insured fully comp, your car is only 3rd party with them driving. If they are normal then they should understand this and let you drive. My last 2 cars I drove both. But my current one, I let the bloke drive. This was a bit silly really. If he'd totalled my car, insurance would have paid for the other car but not mine, as I understand it.

 

[Jameshow]

What is the usual protocol with private car or van sales wrt test drives? Now we have our day van all nice and running well reeady to sell and it is going online soon. It is pretty good one so we hope to get interest quickly enough. However my partner has a thing about test drives. I have never sold my own vehicle since I usually weigh it in or part ex it. This time thee day van is not easy to get fair money on a part ex especially since we are looking at spending less than the van on a car. So no choice but enter the car into online sales and sell it ourselves.

Our insurance does not cover test drives of others and it would be a nightmare is something gets damaged. My partner is of the opinon that any test drive is after proof that they are comp covered for damage to other vehicles and our van. It costs about £11 for one hours cover BTW. I think that is an obstacle to selling that would put people off. However I think technically we would be negligent to let someone drive without insurance.

So what is the test drive protocol, etiquette or procedure for private sales? Do we have to assume they have third party cover on their insurance and suck up the risk oof damage costs to the van?

This all sounds like worrying too much about things but if you do not know about these things you can get tied up on minutiae.

PS pro converted day van 2016 vivaro for sale, 5 belts 4 berth, poptop. If you are interested...

You might want to clarify if that's the old or new shape vivaro?

 

[rualexander]

Test dive insurance is a thing.
e.g.
https://www.rac.co.uk/insurance/test-drive-insurance

 

[Time Waster]

You might want to clarify if that's the old or new shape vivaro?

Second version produced between 2014 and 2018 I believe. Ours was registered 2016.

 

[Time Waster]

The modern method is to value the two vehicles separately so you might want to try trading it in for the car and the dealer will pay you the difference.

Or you could try https://www.webuyanyvan.com/

We went to the local branch and said they would have to send to their high valuations team at head office. However he gave us the price if it was just a panel van. He was embarassed to tell us so showed us the tablet with the price. It was £3000!!! I looked online at a certain car website valuation about a year and half ago and it was £9-11k for the base van. Judging by the way he told us and the way he said that in 10 years working for the company he had valued 8 campers and only two took the offer. The rest sold privsately.

We buy any car has a van version but they are really not worth using. As the guy at our local branch said, cars they know what they will get for cars and the offer is usually ok but vans and especially campers or modified day vans they don't know what they are doing or getting so they underprice them significantly. Kind of what I thought they would do.

 

[Time Waster]

It wasn't a serious sales pitch as I am not sure that is allowed on here. It is the second version in production from 2014 to 2018 I believe. Ours was registered in 2016.