Is it just purely inspection of the hood and overall condition of the car that's allowed,
or would you allow a provided mechanic to test drive the car if the potential buyer already test driven it?
Would this be too much, given that there's the RWC and full log service history, or just normal for selling?
Do You Allow Mechanics Provided by Buyers to Test Drive
kiwiyonip on 21/02/2023 - 11:25
Comments
I would, just asking if this is common practice. The potential buyer tested it twice already, how many more testings are needed?
It is common practice. A mechanic will pick up things that someone with no idea will not. Who cares if it sells the car? Also not the mechanics fault the buyer has driven it twice for some reason.
How long does it normally take them to check?
Just worried about time wasters, like this many requests and then to back out at the last minute.@kiwiyonip: As long as they need, who knows how thorough they are, if there are issues with the car etc etc.
Not much you can do about time wasters, if you don't allow the inspection then they definitely won't buy it will they, so you will have wasted your own time.
Just worried about time wasters
Then don't sell it privately. It's par for the course.
If you value your time and hate time wasters then sell your car to a dealer. You can't make more money privately and complain about the negative side effects of selling it privately.
Then don't sell it privately. It's par for the course.
Agree. The extra coin you are getting for selling it privately rather than via dealer/trade in is your compensation for the extra time it takes.
@kiwiyonip: If they have looked it over twice and want a mechanic to test it too, then they are serious about buying it.
Just worried about time wasters
If they're paying a mechanic to test drive the car they are probably not timewasters…
@kiwiyonip: A time waster might come once. If visiting more than once then they are seriously interested, but that doesn't mean that they will close the deal. If you didn't allow me and my mechanic to go over it and test drive, then I would definitely not do a deal with you.
@kiwiyonip: If you're worried about time wasters sell it to a dealer, you pay for the convince. Otherwise you do everything yourself.
Why would you not allow them to test drive it?
They might notice all the problems! lol
Only if I am in the passenger seat
Why?
handbrake
.Perhaps something about not having insurance coverage on test drives?
The mechanic would have coverage. Do people go with the mechanic when they leave their car for a service?
@brendanm: Not sure about this if insurance is covering the mechanic, but we're going to go with him anyway.
How would this issue be changed with a mechanic driving vs. a potential buyer driving?
@Seraphin7: Brendanm indicates the mechanic’s insurance would cover the mechanic driving. Many insurance policies exclude cover for ‘test drives’, presumably because you aren’t really in control of your vehicle and some random is.
@Euphemistic: The point is that surely your insurance situation is identical whether the test drive is undertaken by a "random" or a mechanic?
@Seraphin7: It think the point is, that ‘test drivers’ aren’t covered. So in that respect, yes it doesn’t matter who test drives. In the event of an incident, you’re out of luck with your insurer and have to do the hard yards to get money from the driver. If you’re lucky a mechanic may have their own insurance to cover them driving customers cars that they can claim on.
@Euphemistic: Hmmm, interesting. I've never attempted to buy or sell privately (not worth the hassle for mine), but always assumed this would be covered by any "unnamed driver" provisions. I wouldn't have thought "test drives" where explicitly considered by the policies. Good to know.
Because until the car is sold, it's mine, and no one is driving it without me present.
If I was to take it to a mechanic that I knew, then sure, but if it's a mechanic that comes to me, then no.
Who knows who the mobile mechanic is?
What do you think is going to happen to it? Mechanics drive cars all day, driving your mazda 3 isn't special.
@brendanm: I don't have a Mazda 3. I sold it about 4 years ago, but we digress.
If a bloke turns up at my house, that the buyer arranged, I'm in my car with him while he drives it, or he doesn't drive it. Not sure I have to explain why, but here goes……
I know there will be no stupid driving.
I know it's at least covered by my insurance.
I know the 'mechanic' won't deliver it to his mate around the corner and then return for his vehicle.Like I said, unless it's someone I know, I go with them. Doesn't affect them doing their inspection one iota.
, driving your mazda 3 isn't special
What's your point mate? You going to trust some random person with the keys to your car sight unseen, you have no idea if they got into a crash or revved the absolute crap out of it.
You're an idiot if you are giving your car to a mechanic without at least being in the passenger seat to observe anything that happens.
@coffeeinmyveins: Do you go with the mechanic when your car is serviced? I don't care if the "crap" is revved out of it, it has a rev limiter for a reason, I probably hit it more often than some random would.
How can they test suspension, drivetrain noises etc if they don't test drive it?
given that there's the RWC
That means it's safe to use on the road and is not necessarily a reflection of the cars mechanical condition.
full log service history
That means the minimum logbook service requirements were performed. There may have been other expensive issues that the owner chose not to have repaired.
full log book service "a minimum"? How come? If you don't repair those issues, the report's still going to show it, and without an invoice to show forth for the repairs only means they're not repaired.
Plenty of sellers don't keep the paper trail and EFTPOS print outs.
Plenty of uninformed buyers see a stamped log book and think that's awesome.
This one is pretty ambiguous, how can it be safe to use on the road if the mechanical condition is dodgy? I know you got this from TMR most probably, but still doesn't make sense:
That means it's safe to use on the road and is not necessarily a reflection of the cars mechanical condition.
I don't know what TMR is but I do know what common sense is.
Research what items are checked for a RWC. The main mechanical safety checks are that the brakes work and there are no excessive leaks.
There are heaps of car adverts with…
Includes a RWC for your
piecepeace of mindLol.
I don't know what TMR is but I do know what common sense is.
Do you even live in Aus, or have a car?
Research what items are checked for a RWC. The main mechanical safety checks are that the brakes work and there are no excessive leaks.
Have you seen a passed RWC with brakes that doesn't work and leaks, even for a bit? It's not "road worthy" then…
@kiwiyonip: I just used Google maps to check my location and yes I live in Australia.
I just checked my garage and shed. Yes I have 7 cars currently (not all registered)
I just used Google to discover what TMR is an acronym for. No I don't live in Queensland or even near it so why would I know it or even care for it.
Your last paragraph makes no sense to me.
@Muzeeb: It’s because he knows SFA about cars. Anyone citing that having an RWC and log books stamped equates to a good car is bound to be playing the victim on the next episode of a current affair exposing dodgy used car sellers
@kiwiyonip: Have a look at the amount of unroadworthy cars on the road in QLD and tell me if you have any faith or confidence in a roadworthy. I've also seen cars roll out from a mechanic being 'rubber stamped' for a roadworthy which I wouldn't let my worst enemy drive.
@gyrex: that means RWC rules on Australia is just another revenue making machine to get the tax payers to shelve money for a useless requirement. If so many cars are unworthy on the roads and yet the're car passed RWC, it's time for people to have a say to abolish it!
A rwc basically says that the wheels aren't about to fall off, and the brakes work.
So technically in 'working' condition.
@kiwiyonip: No, simply that it is acceptably safe. The transmission could be noisy/slip etc and it would still get a rwc.
@brendanm: 'Acceptably safe' but NOT in 'working condition'? How is that possible? You might be confusing ancap rating with rwc.
@kiwiyonip: I'm not confusing anything, as an ex car mechanic I used to do rwc. The standards for a rwc are freely available for your perusal - https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/registration/roadworthy
TMR?
Care to elaborate?Not sure, Total Major Restaurant? I live in QLD, so I don't know, do you?
yep, they are professionals with business insurance. I tell them if they're going to crash it make sure its a write off.
Depending on the value of the car it might be a touch risky assuming they have insurance without knowing further details
I'd be happy to let the buyer's mechanic test drive the car, but then I'd also be a lot less flexible on price. If the mechanic gives the car their blessing, then that's more evidence that the car is in good condition, hence worth more.
Unless the mechanic is their friend and talks down the value of the car by finding issues that are not there
hence worth more
Not really. It confirms the condition the vehicle is in … or alternatively, that the vehicle is worth even close to what the buyer wants.
It confirms the condition the vehicle is in
That's my point. Every car for sale has a condition that is better known to the seller than anyone else. Every buyer takes a gamble that the car is not represented fairly or accurately. A mechanical inspection evens the information asymmetry between the buyer and seller - the buyer has a better idea of what they're getting, and the seller can negotiate on that basis.
If you deny my mechanic an opportunity to drive your car, I reserve the right to assume that there's some dodgy-arse issue with the car that you're hiding and not buy it.
I agree with this mate, no question about that
If it was one of the guys I worked with, I wouldn't let them test ride a bicycle, let alone a car… :D
Broke down suddenly is the common excuse that many buyers say these days, so if mechanic test drive is acceptable to most, then I'm okay with it, but to be honest I've purchased 5 cars online and never used a mechanic, only one car was a suspect after some months driving…
If i had a mech inspecting a car I would not consider buying it if the mech could not test drive.
red flag
what is the seller hiding?One of my questions on the first phone call is if seller will allow this.
You can refuse to allow the mechanic to drive the car, but if I was a buyer and someone refused to allow a mechanic to drive the car I wished to purchase, I would walk away from the deal straight away. Especially as there aren't the buyer protections for a private sale like there are from a dealership.
I agree for mechanic to test it, I would do it too if I'm the buyer…
Charge $100 for test drive, refundable on purchase of the vehicle. That should keep time wasters at bay. Be sure your insurance covers everyone who drives your car.
Always plan for the worst.
If you have nothing to hide then let the mechanic test your car. No buyer will inconvenient or pay a mechanic unless they are almost certain of buying your car. A few years ago, I’ve tested a brabus and almost bought it. Contacted a mechanic too to get it tested a few days later… unfortunately, the sale was cancelled as the mechanic found that the car had water damages, aka found water mould in air filter and other tell tale signs which are not easily picked up by ordinary buyers.
Yeah, no worries about mechanics testing it, I would too, just asking if that's common practice, but if it is, then all is good mate.
Why would you not allow them to test drive it?