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Selling a car
02GF74 - 13/1/09 at 02:30 PM

Let's say I hypothetically was selling my car.

So if the propective buyer wants a test drive, then :

1. does my fully comp. insurance cover my car? (don't think so since I am not driving).

From what I know, my fully comp, insurance covers me 3rd party when driving someone else's car - but I thihnk that cars needs to be insured by the owner - true or not (sorry if I've gone off at a tangent but back on it).

thereofr if the buyer is fully comp, then his insurance does not cover my car?

So what do you folks do - get a bag of money for value of the car from the buyer and then let them drive?

Do buyers walk away if they cannot test drive?

As you can tell, I haven't sold that many cars privately and those that I have, have been part ex. or of such low value that it was not that a big concern.


chris_smith - 13/1/09 at 02:42 PM

the prospective buyer needs his own insurance or you need to cover your car for any driver iirc

chris


cd.thomson - 13/1/09 at 02:43 PM

Hey,

No your fully comp doesnt cover your car if they are driving, the only way this would work was if you commited fraud in the case of an accident and said you were driving. Something you obviously wouldn't do.

Very few policies now cover you 3rd party on another vehicle although it doesnt matter if the car is insured by its owner. Check you actually do still have this cover, its being phased out with renewals and older people often think they have this cover but times have changed.

This is often why test drives are very short, when I bought my car I was only allowed to drive it up and down the company's drive (it was a private sale)!

Dealerships offer test drives under special insurance policies in the same way as hire cars etc.


jimgiblett - 13/1/09 at 02:43 PM

If people are serious they will arrange insurance or will be happy to sit in the car with you. I think you can get any driver policies so is it possible to get your insurance upgraded?

I'd ask them to bring along their insurance docs because that should (barring cancelled policies) prove cover even if only RTA 1988. Read the small print carefully. Always accompany them on the test drive.

I remember selling a motorbike many years ago and foolishly let someone test ride it on their assertion that they had insurance. I could hear him thrashing it up the hill on a cold engine and although it came back safe and sound it was a panicky 5 mins.

- Jim


02GF74 - 13/1/09 at 02:50 PM

quote:
Originally posted by cd.thomson


Very few policies now cover you 3rd party on another vehicle although it doesnt matter if the car is insured by its owner. Check you actually do still have this cover, its being phased out with renewals and older people often think they have this cover but times have changed.




LOL

that's me that is!


and my dog, if I had a dog that is!


mikeb - 13/1/09 at 02:56 PM

I just use to check they had the 3rd party cover in case of RTA but take the risk that if they crashed it the repairs would be an interesting dispute.

Its a bit of a risk, dont think that many people would get insured specifically to have a quick test drive, but then again I've only owned car worth a couple of grand so not like a 10k motor.


YQUSTA - 13/1/09 at 03:25 PM

when I bought the 7 I took out insurance on it before going to view they will give a 15 day money back if you dont take the policy.

As it was I bought the car so all good.


mcerd1 - 13/1/09 at 04:43 PM

quote:
Originally posted by cd.thomson
Very few policies now cover you 3rd party on another vehicle although it doesnt matter if the car is insured by its owner. Check you actually do still have this cover, its being phased out with renewals and older people often think they have this cover but times have changed.

best to check your policy wording - they are all different....

my policy (tesco, fully comp) covers me 3rd party in other cars - but only if it is insured by the owner
(its up for renewal soon, I'll need to check all the wording again - they keep changing bit like that)

tesco let me add another car to my policy for up to 1 month at what ever level of cover I like (and it doesn't matter who owns it) as long as the extra car is NOT insured by anyone else (I'll need to check the new wording of that one and all)
I used this to drive my old car over to mango's (it cost about £10 for a week 3rd party)

my dad seems to get very flexable cover on his NFU policys (cover notes for him on other cars or any driver on his cars)


also it might be worth asking the same specialist company's that do the kit car insurance



[Edited on 13/1/09 by mcerd1]


sonic - 14/1/09 at 08:55 PM

I would be very carefull with car insurance and read all the details,if your not sure ring and ask them and ask for written confirmation.

Most policies i have had cover me to drive a car not belonging to me third party with the registered owners consent.
So if i buy a car at auction can i drive it home?
No as i don't have the above consent and also the car must be insured by the owner.
Also i found out that although it states any other car,it actually means of the same type ie if i own a Vectra then a Mondaeo or Primera or similar is ok,but you coudnt jump into your mates Scooby and drive it third party.

I now have a motor trade policy which i can drive any car fully comp based on trade value upto 10k which i can up if i want too.it also has demo cover were i can let anybody drive if i am in the car with them.
Even that has restrictions ie no Kitcars or Fibreglass bodied cars,3 wheelers etc although i can add them at an extra cost.

The other thing which is strange with alot of trade policies is that the cars you have are not insured against theft/damage or anything else whilst at you premises or within 1 mile of them,they assume as a business you cover that with liability insurance on the building etc.

A mine field!!!!!!!!!!!