My Jetta is up for sale and i had a call from someone asking to come and view it. I had a funny feeling about this guy as soon as a spoke to him. He said he would be paying cash. 8k and more in cash.

Anyway he turns up last night with his dad, who allegedly has his own body shop. Had a good look round mentioned a test drive. So i asked him politely if he was insured, he replied that he had trade insurance that covered him. So i politely asked if i could see it. To which he replied that he didn't have it with him but he would pay for any damage if anything happened. I said that i wasn't really happy taking that chance. With that his dad totally loses it, starts calling me all the names under the sun with many expletives thrown in for good measure. Said there was no way he was handing over that much cash without his son driving the car, i tried to counter with the fact that i could not afford to hand over my 8K+ car for an uninsured test drive, but tbh i could barely get a word in what with all the abuse i received. He actually wanted to physically attack me and at one point came marching very purposefully towards me. I produced my phone and tried to start videoing him but he thought better of it and got in his sons car and cleared off.

I got the reg number of the car and then reported all of this to the police. They said i did the right thing by not letting him drive my car. Two pcso's came round to see me and siad that the police would definately be having a word with these people.

The guy that was actually interested in the car was ok and never said anything abuseive at all. His dad was crazy though. Never seen anyone snap so quickly. The son also claimed that he was from Peterborough but was staying up here with his father. However the police told me that the car he was driving (MK4 Golf) was not registered to the guy that was driving but to a woman and it was not registered at an address in Peterborough.

Anyway just thought i would share my experience and ask what you guys would do in this situation?

When i sold my octy the buyer was more than happy for my to give the car a good drive as he wanted while he was a passenger.

I would want to drive a car myself before buying but what is the best way to go in this situation??

Edited 31 July, 201015 yr by Guest

What a complete idiot. You did the right thing in not letting him go and calling the Police.

When I went to look at my car I sorted out fully comp insurance on it and took the certificate.

How can anyone expect to turn up and test drive a car without proof of insurance?

You did the right thing, hope they have some strong words with the idiot.

I think you did the right thing mate. No proof no drive. I would have probably cracked him one though.

I had someone come and test the mx-5 last week, he had asked for a test drive when he rang so I said fine if he brought his insurance. He turned up and said his insurance only covered him 3rd party so he had bought a 1 day policy which he gave me.Didn't buy the car though... muppett

Well done for sticking to your principles. I have to say that I probably couldn’t spot a forged Insurance Doc from a real one. You often see the ones on the telly were some guy has cancelled a policy but kept the insurance certificate.

I had someone come and test the mx-5 last week, he had asked for a test drive when he rang so I said fine if he brought his insurance. He turned up and said his insurance only covered him 3rd party so he had bought a 1 day policy which he gave me.Didn't buy the car though... muppett

Don’t worry, I’m sure another hairdresser will be along shortly

Thanks for the comments.

The police did come to see me later that evening and seaid that they would "certainly be having a word" with them.

I also pointed out that the number plate on his Golf had an ileagal font. lol

Got a call from the police today.

They have contacted them and have warned them over their behavior.

The son tried to claim that he didn't know where his father was or how to contact him. Apparently he said "you are the detective, you find him" to the police. anyway shortly after, the father came on the phone and got his *******ing. lol

The police even said to me that they knew exactly what i meant about these idiots and their attitude and had experienced it themselves. lol

BTW if anyone know of a bodyshop in Snaith, East Yorkshire i would be interested to know. ;-)

Glad you got a result!

Almost put's you off selling your own car though!

Glad you got a result!

Almost put's you off selling your own car though!

It has, a little. May let the wife have it and just buy myself an MX5 anyway. But it is way to good a car for her and the kids to trash. lol

Either way, i am in no rush at all.

Edited 31 July, 201015 yr by Guest

It has, a little. May let the wife have it and just buy myself an MX5 anyway. But it is way to good a car for her and the kids to trash. lol

Swmbo 's is still for sale if you are looking for nearly new http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1835581.htm

Oh dear, that's not good. Yep, just another case of people being totally unreasonable. As if your approach is reason to go off ranting like that!

You did right, but it's not really conducive to a easy, stress-free sale is it?

Best of luck with it,

Steve.

You were absolutely right not to let him drive the car - if anything had happened and he was found to be without insurance you'd also get hammered with six points on your license for letting him drive your car without insurance. With the Dad's rather extreme reaction it would have convinced me all the more not to let them drive the car, frequently on the TV in suspicious circumstances the driver claims they're on a blanket trade policy and it turns out they're not. On the other extreme I was surprised when I went to test drive a private three year old A3 for sale at £15,000 that the owner wasn't bothered about checking insurance, I'd offered to take out a day policy which she said wasn't necessary so I took along my insurance certificate to show I had third party cover but she didn't want to see that either. I'm perhaps over cautious but I feel it's better safe than sorry, I wouldn't disagree with anyone who refused to give me a test drive without insurance and actually would prefer to have it in case anything happened - I've seen other people get into trouble when they've crashed a private car on a test drive.

Although I lost a bit of money doing so, I traded my last car in when they gave me an ok price but I decided it was worth the cost for the hassle free transaction.

John

You were absolutely right not to let him drive the car - if anything had happened and he was found to be without insurance you'd also get hammered with six points on your license for letting him drive your car without insurance. With the Dad's rather extreme reaction it would have convinced me all the more not to let them drive the car, frequently on the TV in suspicious circumstances the driver claims they're on a blanket trade policy and it turns out they're not. On the other extreme I was surprised when I went to test drive a private three year old A3 for sale at £15,000 that the owner wasn't bothered about checking insurance, I'd offered to take out a day policy which she said wasn't necessary so I took along my insurance certificate to show I had third party cover but she didn't want to see that either. I'm perhaps over cautious but I feel it's better safe than sorry, I wouldn't disagree with anyone who refused to give me a test drive without insurance and actually would prefer to have it in case anything happened - I've seen other people get into trouble when they've crashed a private car on a test drive.

Although I lost a bit of money doing so, I traded my last car in when they gave me an ok price but I decided it was worth the cost for the hassle free transaction.

John

I have ended up part exchanging the Jetta with my sister for her 2006 Megane Sport Tourer with 20k on the clock, and more than enough cash my way for a good MX5.

Although there is a Z3 BMW not far from me for sale that i may check out.

I have ended up part exchanging the Jetta with my sister for her 2006 Megane Sport Tourer with 20k on the clock, and more than enough cash my way for a good MX5.

Although there is a Z3 BMW not far from me for sale that i may check out.

When I've sold cars privately in the past, my insurance has been happy to overlap the old and the new cars for a few weeks so the old one was insured for anyone too test drive it.

You definitely did the right thing. Worst case scenario is that they prang it, the police are called, and you get done for causing or permitting the person to drive without insurance, AND you would have to pay for the damage yourself.

I don't think most people consider that when selling their cars privately. Well done for standing your ground in difficult circumstances.

Martin

Thanks for all the replies and support guys. It has properly put me off selling cars which is why i have part exchanged with my sister with enough cash my way to get me a Mk1 MX5. But that is proving to be tricky too. There are so many rubbish ones that people are still asking top money for, its crazy. I also have a Renault Scenic of the wifes to get rid of four a few hundred quid. Was going to advertise it in the local paper but bit concerned about unsavouries popping round to my place these dayse.

I saw a Mk1 on sale here Rob, but not sure if the spec/price is suitable?

Best of luck with the search

Least you have the cash there waiting, so you can proceed quickly when you find the right one :yes: