Be Excellent To Each Other

It's time to sell the wife's car, as it doesn't get used much and is just sitting in the garage.

However, we've never sold a car that's still worth a fair bit (a few thousand) privately before, so I'd like to get an idea of potential pitfalls. Advertising it seems fairly straightforward enough, but what do I do if people want a test drive? Obviously we can take them out as a passenger, but if they want a go would we need to sort something with our insurance, or on theirs (and how would we check they had adequate cover)?

Also, let's say someone does want it, what's a good way to accept payment so that all parties are happy (but importantly, something that is safe and guaranteed not to be risky to us or dodgy)?

Tips/advice/tales of your experience gladly welcomed.

Normally your insurance allows someone else to drive your car with your permission (you can check that). Obviously you'd need to trust them that they are also covered on another vehicle, or ask them to bring their insurance certificate.

Payment in cash seems to be the way to go with cars.

Don't get ripped off like my Ma recently has. She advertised her Punto with Auto Trader and within 24 hours was contacted by two companies claiming they had buyers wanting to view the car and would she accept finance on it. They said that it'd cost her 90 quid to do this which would be refunded once the car sold to this mysterious buyer. Daftly, she paid it. Not heard a thing since. One of them was called "Car Data" the other I can't recall, but when she told me what she'd done I searched and found a shit tonne of bad stuff about both of them.

Not quite.

The other person must also have a similar clause in their insurance, and I believe your insurance is basically irrelevant as long as the car is covered. There doesn't need to be anything in your insurance stating this.

For example, my insurance specifically states that I am allowed to drive any car under third-party cover only, as long as I have the owner's permission.

Before I turned 25, my insurance specifically stated the opposite.

Advice:

Ask them to bring proof of insurance with them. No proof = no drivey-drivey. Depending on the car I'd take this further and say that they don't get to drive it unless they can prove that they can pay for the car should they crash it on a test drive.

Payment wise, cash is best (but check the authenticity of the notes). Cheque is also good, but buyers probably won't like this as the money takes time to clear. In these modern times you can always ask them to pay by PayPal (if you're OK taking the percentage hit) or something. Or a direct bank transfer, of course.

Make sure you give them a receipt to show that they've paid for the car. Keep a copy yourself, and make sure you write SOLD AS SEEN WITH NO WARRANTY on the receipt just to cover your arse. Sign and date it.

I'll check that with the insurance, and make sure it wouldn't just be third-party.

Ta (and to dimmers)

Yeah the last car I sold was for four thousand and something quid and I still insisted on cash. Mostly though if someone seems a bit dodgy on their first visit ring them back later and tell them it's sold. As with buying trust your instincts.

Ah, I think it probably will be that. I think most people just take a chance for test-drives. It'd be quite a faff to sort it out officially (i.e. most potential buyers might be put off), for a 10 minute drive where you're also in the car there's hopefully not much chance of a major fuckup.

If it's a car worth a few thousand pounds and not a banger, anyone seriously interested in buying it will not scoff at the idea of taking out temporary insurance for a day. http://www.rac.co.uk/day-insurance/ for example.

Cheers Gaz.

Regarding cash payment 'etiquette' - how would be best to check it isn't fake.... insist they buyer comes to the bank so you can pay it in straight away?

(I appreciate I may be over-thinking things here).

IMHO - yes, you're overthinking it. If you're that concerned about being ripped off, you might actually be better off seeing what the local mainstream dealers will offer for it.

Second hand cars are rather in demand, supposedly, so it might not be such a loss and should be less stressful*.

Or ebay, of course. I've sold two cars with that.

*I have never done this, obviously!

I'd just do a cursory check of the banknotes, holding them up to the light while you're counting it. If they're offended, fuck 'em. You're only covering your arse, if they want the car it's got to be on your terms.

Kalmar's right, eBay can be a great way of selling the car. You do tend to get slightly less than you would normally though, unless the car is one that's in particularly high demand or rare.

Oh, and when someone does buy it, take down their details and write them on the V5C while they're there. Then tear off the V5C/2 and give that to the buyer - do not give them the whole V5C. It's YOUR responsibility as the seller to notify DVLA of the change of keeper, so you need to send the completed V5C back.

Having their name and address details on the V5C will be handy if the cash is fake for whatever reason, you can go to the po-po then. So don't send it to DVLA until you know the cash is genuine.

Don't forget to put "sold as seen" on the receipt. And do give them a receipt, with the date, the make, model and numberplate of the car, and the amount paid.

It's a rare-ish Puma model (one of 500 'Racing Pumas', fettled by Tickford). I think I'll try enthusiast websites and places like pissedonheads before considering ebay though.

I'll photocopy the V5 bits before sending it off (this helped me when I sent a car off for scrap and the buggers put it back on the road, and I started receiving speeding notices and, later, a letter from Tesco in Croydon asking me to get my car out of their carpark as it had been there for a few weeks).

Basically, as you aren't a trader and no two thirds of four fifths of fuck all about cars, just state model and mileage and if people want a test drive they've to bring the full asking price in cash to be held by someone else if their insurance appears to allow it. If it's for thousands of pounds, get them to turn up with full price in cash, then give the cash back to them and drive them to the bank and and do a bank transfer. And stuff what Grim.. said.

If you're taking cash it would be wise to invest in a note scanner (black light).

Over a few hundred notes? not worth it. Over a few thousand? well, would be rather tempting for Mr Scammer. Especially as it's a specialty car.

And I would avoid Ebay. They tend to take a nice wet bite out of your ass and hold all kinds of T&C over you.

Worst case: Shitty bank notes, no car RESULT: The rogue disppears
Second worst case: Sell car, buyer gets shitty, threatens court action. RESULT: You get the car back and they get their money back


What will happen: Car is fine, you get the money everyone is happycakes.