I Want To Sell My Car But Concerned About Wrecking It During The Test Drive
“I want to sell my car myself to a private party. The problem is that I am really concerned about what would happen if the potential buyer wrecked it during the test drive? Can I sell a car to someone without letting them test drive it? Is there a standard form I could have them sign before test driving my car that would make them liable in case they got in an accident? What are my options if I want to sell my car but am kind of freaked out about someone destroying it?”
The above questions are from a reader and here are my answers…
I have personally sold many used cars and was never worried about that issue. You can take that for what its worth because maybe I’m stooopid or too laid back. The thing is that most potential buyers might get really turned off if you approach them with having to sign a form before they have even agreed to buying your car. Its just weird man!
If you are really that concerned then I would call your insurance company and throw them a few “what if” type questions regarding this. Realize that if they don’t have insurance then your insurance company will get stuck with paying for it. And even if they don’t have insurance, then the little form probably won’t do you any good unless you tried to sue them in court later.
I guess you could ask to see their insurance card, and if they can’t produce one, or don’t have it with them, then you could have a little form that could say something like this…
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I TEST DRIVERS NAME am taking SELLERS NAME car for a test drive because I am interested in possibly buying it. I understand that if I wreck this car during the test drive that I will be responsible for any damage to it.
Testers Name:______________________ Signature:__________________________ Date:_______________
Sellers Name:______________________ Signature:__________________________ Date:________________
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Understand that I AM NOT A LAWYER and can NOT give legal advice, so you are totally on your own if you use the idea for the form example above about I want to sell my car …because I have no idea if that form would do you any good in a legal situation! Got it? Good!
Your options are to claim it on your insurance, or to not claim it on your insurance. If someone told me he/she wanted to hold me totally responsible for a vehicle he/she was trying to sell me, I wouldn't take it for a drive, and I would never buy a car without a test drive.
All right, for those of you that think the test driver should give you his/her insurance card, I ask this. If I am buying a car because I don't have a car at the time, HOW WOULD I HAVE CAR INSURANCE? If you want your car, which you are trying to sell, insured while you are trying to sell it, you have insurance on it. Taking my driver licence information doesn't protect you against an accident I may have, but it will protect you against a photo-radar ticket I may get while driving your car on that test drive.