Selling private party and test drives

[ostbob]

Selling our 2006 Lexington ourselves and was wondering if it's common to let potential buyers test drive it.

[WinnieView]

We don't have an issue with a test drive when selling although it rarely happens.
We ask to take a picture of the driver's license if they want to go alone.

[CLIFFTALL]

You need to be sure they know how to drive it or you do the driving. I would also make sure that’s the last item before getting a commitment and depending on the situation, I’d want a deposit.

[Mr_D]

I wouldn't buy a used MH without a test drive.

[Mallie]

I would want to be confortable with their driving skills for sure. and only on open, no traffic roads. I would never let anyong take my coach out alone, never. Why would they not want you there anyway, to show all you know?

[mobilemike]

Test drive is a requirement in my book.

However the test drive is allowed AFTER a price and condition agreement is reached. Its called a contingency clause. Buyers agree to purchase contingent on it passing a drive test and inspection. If I were buying, the drive test would be performed on the day of the professional inspection. Anything that is discovered on the drive and inspection is negotiated on an addendum.

[chinobob]

Sold 2 rigs ourselves, private party, over the last 5 years and have let buyers take for a test drive as close to making the sale as possible. As others noted, not many tire kickers want to take a test drive, and we did our best qualify them before. Also, always went with them. One asked if he could take it alone with his wife and I said, sure...right after you buy it! LOL. Funny story, on one of the few test drives, an older gentleman wanted to feel it on the fwy so I accommodated. I drove it close to the fwy onramp and let him behind he wheel. Only a few minutes later, as we are talking about the rig wandering a bit on the highway, highway patrol turned on lights and pulled us over. Once we shared the new owner was test driving it, we had a chuckle as the officer thought there was possibly a drunk driver behind the wheel. The potential buyer was so shaken up, he didn't finish the drive and requested to just get back to his car. He said no thanks, they are not buying a big MH and will search out trailers instead! Later sent me a message apologizing for the episode and thanking me for my help.

[Do26]

Check your insurance. May be expressly not covered...

[TonyMac]

I drove my mom's rig on several test drives. Get them to the highway and then let them drive. I am always with them on these test drives, end of discussion.

[BillJinOR]

Funny to see all the posts on forums with the question that if a dealer requires some commitment before a test drive the prospective buyers are upset but if your the private owner well, the perspective changes [emoji6]
If you sell yourself you make more money but you also deal with the tire kickers and dealers get a lot more of them
If the buyers seem serious then an accompanied test drive is in order part of the “cost “ of selling it yourself .. you have to be a good judge of people , or just not care if they drive it. Test drives before signing on the line on a used coach is pretty much required.

[Russ Silber]

Originally Posted by BillJinOR

Funny to see all the posts on forums with the question that if a dealer requires some commitment before a test drive the prospective buyers are upset but if your the private owner well, the perspective changes [emoji6]
If you sell yourself you make more money but you also deal with the tire kickers and dealers get a lot more of them
If the buyers seem serious then an accompanied test drive is in order part of the “cost “ of selling it yourself .. you have to be a good judge of people , or just not care if they drive it. Test drives before signing on the line on a used coach is pretty much required.

License, deposite,, never alone. Ask about past rv experience.
Not really hard to sort out buyers from liars.[emoji16]

[SlowJoe]

I would let them drive it if they put the asking price into my hand in the form of cash. I would happily offer to drive them on any roads they wished in order to put it to the paces and demonstrate everything worked. This forum has many posts about long time owners and operators banging into something, so it is obviously very risky to trust another person with it. I use the same rules when selling motorcycles. People always comment about what dealers do, but I am not a dealer and must act differently to avoid risk.

[Isaac-1]

This is one of those questions that I can see both sides of, and have given a bit of thought to. I think if I were selling, that I would allow test drives, with me in the passenger seat for people that appear to be serious potential buyers. My definition of serious buyer does not necessarily include putting down money, or being ready to sign paperwork, instead it would generally include anyone that has put some effort into looking at the coach, either through travelling some distance to view it, or having spent considerable time inspecting the coach and asking questions.

I would also scout out a test drive route ahead of time, preferably a route with a good road that would allow highway speed driving, with light traffic, ample shoulders, as well a good places to pull over and stop.

[Skiddy]

Originally Posted by Isaac-1

This is one of those questions that I can see both sides of, and have given a bit of thought to. I think if I were selling, that I would allow test drives, with me in the passenger seat for people that appear to be serious potential buyers. My definition of serious buyer does not necessarily include putting down money, or being ready to sign paperwork, instead it would generally include anyone that has put some effort into looking at the coach, either through travelling some distance to view it, or having spent considerable time inspecting the coach and asking questions.

I would also scout out a test drive route ahead of time, preferably a route with a good road that would allow highway speed driving, with light traffic, ample shoulders, as well a good places to pull over and stop.

this is what my po did with me, my dad did the same when he sold his MH. no way I would buy something and not know how it handles.