Letting a stranger drive it

Whose insurance covers it?

Call your insurer and ask before the first appointment. One short call, and the answer is specific to your policy and your state.

It is often the owner’s cover that answers first, with the driver’s own behind it. Often is not always, and this is not a thing to find out afterwards.

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.