Selling a Car: The Test Drive

[SwordFish]

Its my first time selling a car, can anyone give any advice on what to do if/when a potential buyer wants to test drive the car, is it ok for ME to just drive him/her around or do they usually like to do it themselves?

Apart from that im just concerned about the insurance consequences if the unthinkable was to happen while the buyer was at the wheel.

Cheers,

Fish

[hsvpunk]

get the licence off them, and set of keys. its what i did when sold the calais.
and also when ive test driven cars.

even sit in the back of the car.

[Troy711]

Go with them cos most people will flog the shit out of it.

[satos]

Take a mate with you just in case the buyer has other ideas.

[Juztin]

Yer stay in the car, I feel sorry for the dealers who lent their cars out to my mates -.-'.

[TVR-190]

i let the guy drive when i was selling mine, just myself and him, 5 min drive around the block

[Morton]

Always ride with them.

[vlv8vic]

i'd usually ride with them, the couple of times i was too busy i just got them to leave their license with me - that way if they are less inclined to draw attention to themselves by doing anything stupid.

[Philthy]

When I was buying this car I test drove a heap of privately owned cars. Some owners came with me, but most were happy just to hang onto a license until I got back.

The point of the test drive is so you can see the feel of the car (brakes, susp, vibrations etc), as well as listening for noises. If you were to drive the buyer around they wouldn't get the same feel for any problems that might exist.

As far as damages that might occur, I imagine it wouldn't be hard to get money out of the buyer if they crashed it

[Blown V6 Hatch]

If i was to sell any of my cars, no potential buyers would be driving the car until money exchanges hands....If they don't like it, bad luck. They can go and buy someone elses car!

[Philthy]

If i was to sell any of my cars, no potential buyers would be driving the car until money exchanges hands....If they don't like it, bad luck. They can go and buy someone elses car!

There is no way I would ever buy a car without driving it first. I would definately be thinking the owner is hiding some kind of problems if he wouldn't let me test it. Try before you buy!!

[Blown V6 Hatch]

If they don't like it, bad luck. They can go and buy someone elses car!

There is no way I would ever buy a car without driving it first. I would definately be thinking the owner is hiding some kind of problems if he wouldn't let me test it. Try before you buy!!

No worries mate, as i said, i'm not forceing anyone to buy my car.

[Morton]

But then your cars aren't all bog stock shitboxes

There's much less reason to stop somebody from test driving a 20yo banged-up corolla daily.

[Blown V6 Hatch]

Yeh, thats a valid point Dan. If they were just run of the mill cars (actually, we are selling my partners stock VR soon, and they can road test that, but still with me in the passanger seat) sure they can road test it. However, the cars i own aren't easily replaceable (apart from the calais, but they still wouldn't be getting the keys to it). I'd expect someone buying that sort of car not to ask for the keys, i know i certainly wouldn't....

[wildss]

would yo uat least take them for a drive and do certain things like brake hard/floor it?

[Blown V6 Hatch]

Ofcoarse i would take them for a drive, i wouldn't expect them to buy it without even having been for a run in it....

I would give them a "spirited drive".

[SwordFish]

@ Morton, For your info the car is a VZ Calais,

As for "shitbox", take a look at your VQ statesman, it is old, hideous and wreaks of bogan.

Atleast if you are going to take the mickey out of somebody elses car, make sure that your car isnt an embarrassment to modern culture.

[Blown V6 Hatch]

Mate, i don't think Mortons post was aimed at you....He was more getting at the reason why i wouldn't let a prospective buyer joyride/road test MY cars.

[CANYONERO]

when i bought my ute i didnt even drive it! i sat shot gun and he did whatever i wanted him to do, the car was immac so i only took it for a quick spin when he seen i had a bank cheque in my hand next day ( then he knew i was serious)

i never let anyone test drive my cars forsale without me in the car.

[Holdens Rule]

I always go with them and let them drive. I used to have the same thoughts as blown V6 hatch but after thinking about it I figured it wasn't going to be mine for much longer so who cares. I also found if you drive someone elses car and they are with you then you can miss some things cause they usually chat to you and distract you and if they were to take me on a spirited drive then I would walk away cause you don't know if that's how they always drive.

[Blown V6 Hatch]

I always go with them and let them drive. I used to have the same thoughts as blown V6 hatch but after thinking about it I figured it wasn't going to be mine for much longer so who cares.

What if the car doesn't sell? Na, i still wouldn't let them road test my cars....

[fuzzy2308]

always go with them and ask to see there licence before you and the buyer go out,
wht i say to check there licence is i test drove 4 cars while on my learners and 2 while unlicensed and was never asked if i had a licence so make sure you ask.
chances are they will want to accelerate and brake hard to see what it handles like but if they start being a **** wit and spin the wheels warn them once if they don't stop tell them to get out and leave them there.
and if they want to drive for longer than half an hour ask them to help pay for the petrol.

[fuzzy2308]

always go with them and let them drive also ask to see there licence before you and the buyer go out,
wht i say to check there licence is i test drove 4 cars while on my learners and 2 while unlicensed and was never asked if i had a licence so make sure you ask.
chances are they will want to accelerate and brake hard to see what it handles like but if they start being a **** wit and spin the wheels warn them once if they don't stop tell them to get out and leave them there.
and if they want to drive for longer than half an hour ask them to help pay for the petrol.

...........

[Philthy]

always go with them and ask to see there licence before you and the buyer go out,
wht i say to check there licence is i test drove 4 cars while on my learners and 2 while unlicensed and was never asked if i had a licence so make sure you ask.
chances are they will want to accelerate and brake hard to see what it handles like but if they start being a **** wit and spin the wheels warn them once if they don't stop tell them to get out and leave them there.
and if they want to drive for longer than half an hour ask them to help pay for the petrol.

Now that you mention it, when I was buying my 1st car most dealers had no problems letting an L plater drive the cars, but a lot of them said to wait until I was out of site of the dealer before swapping drivers with my Mum and jumping in the drivers seat.
But then this was in the country, and dealers as opposed to private sales

[gopher]

if you want to sell it then you'll have to let them drive it