Driving a car as a potential buyer - insurance
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Joined: Aug 2001
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Driving a car as a potential buyer - insurance
How do you seasoned private selling car sellers deal with buyers who don't produce fully comp insurance to test drive your pride and joy?
I went to buy a Scoob once but the guy wanted me to show him fully comp insurance for this car - not possible as insurance generally covers only 3d party. I said 'I break it I buy it for asking price, and this is my driving licence for you to hold'. He said come back when you have arranged cover - I of course never bothered to go through the shennanigans and cost with my insurance and bought another car.
I have to deal with this tomorr, and will, as usual, play it by ear. Especially if we arrange a price BEFORE any final 'conclusive' test drive.
D
I went to buy a Scoob once but the guy wanted me to show him fully comp insurance for this car - not possible as insurance generally covers only 3d party. I said 'I break it I buy it for asking price, and this is my driving licence for you to hold'. He said come back when you have arranged cover - I of course never bothered to go through the shennanigans and cost with my insurance and bought another car.
I have to deal with this tomorr, and will, as usual, play it by ear. Especially if we arrange a price BEFORE any final 'conclusive' test drive.
D
Scooby Regular
Joined: May 2005
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From: Here, There, Everywhere
As a seller, it is tricky.
When I was selling my STI, I just couldn't get fully comp insurance for another driver to test drive. All they'd give me was 3rd party and the cost was silly.
How many potential buyers are going to pay for insurance just to test drive someones car? Not many, if any.
The way I did it is this. When the guy on the phone was asking about the car, I made sure he was a serious potential buyer first. He was asking all the right questions, and chatted quite a bit about Scoobs. Found out he'd had a Subaru before and was wanting to get back to the marque. I explained the situation regarding insurance, and explained that because of the type of car, theft risk etc etc, I couldn't offer a test drive. But was willing to take him out in it and perform any test he required within reason. ie, no max speed runs.
He was happy with this, although did express that he did wish to have a go just to be sure.
Day arrived, and he like the car. I knew he was a serious buyer. Price was agreed, and I took him out in it. The roads were quite, so at a risk to myself, I allowed him to drive down to the next round about and back (within the speed limit) just so he could feel that the car drove straight, braked straight, and accelerated as it should.
This was done all within the speed limit. The test drive lasted 3 minutes max, and he was happy that all was right with the car.
Car sold.
I'd had a few other phone calls regarding the car. Brushed them off, as I could tell on the phone that they were test pilots.
When I was selling my STI, I just couldn't get fully comp insurance for another driver to test drive. All they'd give me was 3rd party and the cost was silly.
How many potential buyers are going to pay for insurance just to test drive someones car? Not many, if any.
The way I did it is this. When the guy on the phone was asking about the car, I made sure he was a serious potential buyer first. He was asking all the right questions, and chatted quite a bit about Scoobs. Found out he'd had a Subaru before and was wanting to get back to the marque. I explained the situation regarding insurance, and explained that because of the type of car, theft risk etc etc, I couldn't offer a test drive. But was willing to take him out in it and perform any test he required within reason. ie, no max speed runs.
He was happy with this, although did express that he did wish to have a go just to be sure.
Day arrived, and he like the car. I knew he was a serious buyer. Price was agreed, and I took him out in it. The roads were quite, so at a risk to myself, I allowed him to drive down to the next round about and back (within the speed limit) just so he could feel that the car drove straight, braked straight, and accelerated as it should.
This was done all within the speed limit. The test drive lasted 3 minutes max, and he was happy that all was right with the car.
Car sold.
I'd had a few other phone calls regarding the car. Brushed them off, as I could tell on the phone that they were test pilots.
Last edited by stilover; Aug 22, 2009 at 10:59 AM.
Thread Starter
Scooby Regular
Joined: Aug 2001
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Yeah - just my thoughts too STilover. This guy was 1000% genuine. He was also cool about not driving it - so I insisted that he did as I would NEVER buy a car without driving it first! He bought the car.
Sad day - bye Evo! Now for something to drift...
D
Sad day - bye Evo! Now for something to drift...
D
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