InVue

Thinking of Selling Your Car? Read This First!

If you're planning to sell your car privately, especially via platforms like Adverts or DoneDeal, be extra cautious during test drives — it could cost you more than just a sale.

A recent case highlighted how a car was stolen during a test drive when the “buyer” asked to inspect the engine, then jumped back in and drove off. The seller had handed over control of the vehicle without confirming who the person really was.

What many sellers don’t realise:
If your car is stolen under false pretences — for example, during a test drive arranged online — your insurance may not cover you. Most policies have exclusions for theft by deception, especially if you:

Hand over the keys without verifying the buyer’s identity

Leave the keys in the ignition while unattended

Tips to Protect Yourself:

Always check ID and insurance before a test drive

Don’t leave the keys in the vehicle

Never let someone test drive alone

Meet in a public place or near CCTV

Trust your gut — if something feels off, don’t go ahead

You’ve worked hard for your car. Don’t make it easy for someone to take it — and leave you without cover.

Stay safe, stay smart. Share this with anyone selling a car!

Driver found asleep at wheel in broad daylight with engine running and vodka bottle.

Nearly 5× above legal limit for learner drivers.

Already banned, driving on a learner permit.

Guilty plea, five-year driving disqualification, four-month suspended sentence.

Here we have a man who was already serving a three-year driving ban, caught asleep at the wheel of a running vehicle, with an empty vodka bottle beside him and nearly five times over the legal alcohol limit. And yet, despite the extreme recklessness and potential for danger, he avoids jail entirely.

If the goal is to deter dangerous behaviour on our roads, this case sends the opposite message.

https://www.independent.ie/regionals/dublin/dublin-news/extremely-dangerous-driver-serving-road-ban-found-asleep-at-wheel-while-almost-five-times-over-the-limit/a513673370.html

Irish IndependentAn Garda SíochánaRoad Safety Authority IrelandEuropean Road Safety Charter RoadPeace Road Traffic Injuries Research Network Road Safety GB Learner Driver Support ProgrammeLahinch Driver Training - LDT

'Extremely dangerous' – Driver serving road ban found asleep at wheel while almost five times over the limit A banned driver, who was almost five times over the alcohol limit when he was found asleep at the wheel of his car in broad daylight with an empty vodka bottle in the passenger seat, has avoided a jail term and been disqualified from driving for five years.