Letting a stranger drive it

Can someone test drive it without insurance?

Often, yes — because it is often your insurance that answers first, not theirs.

The owner’s cover usually comes first, with the driver’s own behind it. So a buyer with no insurance of their own is not automatically ruled out. It also means your policy carries the risk.

Call your insurer and ask before the first appointment. One short call, and the answer is specific to your policy and your state. Often is not always, and this is not a thing to find out afterwards.

A valid driving license is the line that does not move. No license, no test drive.

How long can a test drive be?

No law we know of sets a length for a private test drive. It is whatever the two of you agree before the keys change hands.

Fifteen to thirty minutes on a route you chose is plenty to judge a car: some town driving, a highway stretch, a stop and a turn.

Write the time out and the time back on the log. A buyer who wants the car overnight is asking for something else, and it is fine to say no.

Before you hand over the keys

Four things, and they take two minutes:

• See the driving license. Photograph it. Check it is current.
• Check the name matches the person standing there.
• Ask whether they carry their own insurance.
• Go with them. Or send somebody who can.

Write down who drove it

Who, when, license details, mileage out, mileage back. One line, one minute. That is the test drive logwe have this one.

Then a toll charge arrives. Or a camera ticket. Or a scrape nobody mentioned. Now you know who had it and when.

It also puts off the small number of people who never wanted to buy the car.

Pick the place and the route

Daylight. Somewhere public. Somebody with you. A route you chose.

Search your town plus safe exchange zone. Plenty of police departments keep a monitored bay for private sales — free, and no appointment.

A test drive log

Ours has license details, mileage out and back, and a signature line. Free, no account.