How to sell a car with coronavirus?

Phil the Brit

Member
Messages
1,499
Want to sell a car but unsure how to do it.
Who can tell me how to sell a car when there is a virus about?
I don't want to sit in a confined space with me as a driver OR a passenger.
I don't want to just hand over the keys to someone to take car away on their own for a test drive.
Would anyone buy a car without a test drive?
Advice needed please.
Phil
 

MarkMas

Chief pedant
Messages
8,779
Realistically, my understanding is that the probability of any one test driver having COVID-19 and infecting you is very low indeed. The Office for National Statistics estimates that about 25,000 people in England may have the disease at the moment, which is about 1 in 2,200 (0.05%). So I guess your risk from one person, in a car-buying demographic, without obvious symptoms, passing it on to you is maybe 0.05% divided by maybe 4. Especially if you both wear fresh masks.

It seems to me that the continuing restrictions are all about population-level volumes of people, where if all 56 million people in England interacted normally with all 25,000 infected people, then we might have 100,000 infected within a couple of weeks, and 1 million a couple of weeks after that.

So you could just 'do a Cummings' and take your chances.

You could, I suppose, send them alone on a test drive if you held onto a passport for ID, and had a dashcam (or maybe even a livestream) to discourage bad behaviour. Or follow them in another car. Depends if you are worried about thieves, boy racers or idiots.

Or just use webuyanycar or an auction.

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopula...#number-of-people-in-england-who-had-covid-19

[edited to add a reference to ONS website]
 

midlifecrisis

Member
Messages
16,076
Our Works risk assessment says that two people can travel in the car as long as the windows are open, the passenger sits in the back (not behind the driver) and masks are worn. So that should cover the test drive.
 

Gazcw

Member
Messages
7,682
Our Works risk assessment says that two people can travel in the car as long as the windows are open, the passenger sits in the back (not behind the driver) and masks are worn. So that should cover the test drive.
They were talking about driving lessons today on the radio. Both wear masks and face windscreen, no ac or re-circ, windows open. Gonna be chilly in the winter!
 

sparkplug155

Member
Messages
126
Want to sell a car but unsure how to do it.
Who can tell me how to sell a car when there is a virus about?
I don't want to sit in a confined space with me as a driver OR a passenger.
I don't want to just hand over the keys to someone to take car away on their own for a test drive.
Would anyone buy a car without a test drive?
Advice needed please.
Phil
I have the same issue as I was planning on selling my 4200 before all this started plus I'm shielding due to heart problems.
 

eight

Junior Member
Messages
94
Genuinely if you’re anywhere close to the at-risk category (I reckon I am) other than chucking somebody the keys and hoping they bring it back, selling it into the trade would be the safest option.
Currently selling a 3 grand car and just giving buyers the keys for the test drive with me keeping the keys to the car they came in was my plan, but fortunately the buyer has paid without viewing.
Edited to add I bought my GC without viewing too, but did test drive briefly with the dealer in the passenger seat and the roof down.
 

Zep

Moderator
Messages
9,098
I bought a car for my sister a couple of months ago. I left the keys to my car while I did the test drives, they all seemed fine with it. But then the value differential was significant.
 

safrane

Member
Messages
16,714
Done a number of unaccompanied test drives over the last 3 weekends... cars c £100k. Dealers just photographed the driving licence. The only accompanying dealer was Jag F pace on trade plates, but even that has changed this week.
 

Felonious Crud

Administrator
Staff member
Messages
20,991
Selling my 4200 Coupe, the one in my avatar

Nice car. Good luck with the sale.

To Peter's comments about his test-drives, main dealers are set-up differently from private sellers, though. I'm not sure of the relevance of testing dealer vehicles compared to a private sale, irrespective of value. They have things like disclaimers, insurance, excess and other not-very-much-fun stuff like that.

Sounds like if you're feeling brave just get a load of masks and insist you both wear one. Also, make sure their insurance covers them at least third-party. You might even want to do the driving yourself and let them have a go only if they pay a deposit. Such a pita. It's why I always end up taking a bath selling to a dealer or p/x ing it.
 

Evo Cymru

Member
Messages
688
I'm in a similar position with my Elise Sport 160 which I should sell as my knee is so knackered now. Was just going to wait until things get better (if they do?) as social distancing in an Elise would be impossible! Not too distraught though as I dont really want to sell it - fantastic car!
 

safrane

Member
Messages
16,714
Did you win the pools, or are you blowing all your 'land money' on a new supercar?
No... but they only offer the new top of the rsnge model... all i need is a fake licence and i would be well away with a pricey motor.
 

Phil the Brit

Member
Messages
1,499
I am going to work on the advert tomorrow. If I produce it and do the images tomorrow do you think I could ask you guys to decide the selling price. If so I'll post my "advert" here first and go by general opinion on the selling price.
Price by proxy if that is not too much of an imposition?
 

Vampyrebat

Member
Messages
3,111
I am going to work on the advert tomorrow. If I produce it and do the images tomorrow do you think I could ask you guys to decide the selling price. If so I'll post my "advert" here first and go by general opinion on the selling price.
Price by proxy if that is not too much of an imposition?
Phil, am I right in assuming yours is a GT and not a CC? What's your mileage/SH/condition?
 

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,480
I am going to work on the advert tomorrow. If I produce it and do the images tomorrow do you think I could ask you guys to decide the selling price. If so I'll post my "advert" here first and go by general opinion on the selling price.
Price by proxy if that is not too much of an imposition?

Are you sure? You've seen what happens....

C
 
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Contigo

Sponsor
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18,376
I've seen driving instructors without masks on so how is this any different. I guess it all comes down to you really and if concerned why not state you will wipe the car down before and after for them and also wear a facemask whilst on the test drive.