Insurance for a test drive
Discussion
I am debating changing car and was wondering about insurance when taking a test drive.
When I have gone to large dealers they take a copy of your licence and the test drive is covered by their insurance, has to be accompanied, etc, etc.
When I have spoken to smaller dealers they don't give a straight answer on this.
I looked at my insurance policy and it covers DOC 3rd party only but says nothing about covering a test drive.
I will call the insurer tomorrow to see what's what.
When I have gone to large dealers they take a copy of your licence and the test drive is covered by their insurance, has to be accompanied, etc, etc.
When I have spoken to smaller dealers they don't give a straight answer on this.
I looked at my insurance policy and it covers DOC 3rd party only but says nothing about covering a test drive.
I will call the insurer tomorrow to see what's what.
lersler
I recently had a test drive at a Volvo main deale,r coverred by their insurance and accompanied,
Mini main dealer covered by their insurance, unaccompanied "because of Covid" I'd have to pay the first £1000 of any damage and was told "please be careful and don't write it off"
FMOB said:
I am debating changing car and was wondering about insurance when taking a test drive.
When I have gone to large dealers they take a copy of your licence and the test drive is covered by their insurance, has to be accompanied, etc, etc.
When I have spoken to smaller dealers they don't give a straight answer on this.
I looked at my insurance policy and it covers DOC 3rd party only but says nothing about covering a test drive.
I will call the insurer tomorrow to see what's what.
Depends upon the dealers.When I have gone to large dealers they take a copy of your licence and the test drive is covered by their insurance, has to be accompanied, etc, etc.
When I have spoken to smaller dealers they don't give a straight answer on this.
I looked at my insurance policy and it covers DOC 3rd party only but says nothing about covering a test drive.
I will call the insurer tomorrow to see what's what.
I recently had a test drive at a Volvo main deale,r coverred by their insurance and accompanied,
Mini main dealer covered by their insurance, unaccompanied "because of Covid" I'd have to pay the first £1000 of any damage and was told "please be careful and don't write it off"
As you say with larger Dealers I’ve never even questioned Insurance - as you say they take the copy of the DL first and you sign a form.
I’ve not bought from many smaller dealers but when we bought our first Defender from one they never asked for anything and I didn’t think to mention !
I’ve not bought from many smaller dealers but when we bought our first Defender from one they never asked for anything and I didn’t think to mention !
Pretty much every dealer will have a trade policy, which covers any vehicle the trader currently owns, and any employee using said vehicle for business purposes or customer performing a test drive.
It would be my assumption that this would be the case should I do a test drive from a dealership with premises. If I was dealing with a back street trader, then I'd make sure I asked.
If I was buying a car off a private individual I would assume that I was not covered by their policy, but I know that my policy DOES cover me to drive other cars 3rd Party and I would assess my comfort in doing so based on the cost of the vehicle I was test driving. For a shed, that would be a solid yes, for something a bit more posh, I'd probably do a dayinsure for it or possibly ring my current insurer to see if they would cover me on it for 24hrs.
It would be my assumption that this would be the case should I do a test drive from a dealership with premises. If I was dealing with a back street trader, then I'd make sure I asked.
If I was buying a car off a private individual I would assume that I was not covered by their policy, but I know that my policy DOES cover me to drive other cars 3rd Party and I would assess my comfort in doing so based on the cost of the vehicle I was test driving. For a shed, that would be a solid yes, for something a bit more posh, I'd probably do a dayinsure for it or possibly ring my current insurer to see if they would cover me on it for 24hrs.
Cyberprog said:
Pretty much every dealer will have a trade policy, which covers any vehicle the trader currently owns, and any employee using said vehicle for business purposes or customer performing a test drive.
It would be my assumption that this would be the case should I do a test drive from a dealership with premises. If I was dealing with a back street trader, then I'd make sure I asked.
If I was buying a car off a private individual I would assume that I was not covered by their policy, but I know that my policy DOES cover me to drive other cars 3rd Party and I would assess my comfort in doing so based on the cost of the vehicle I was test driving. For a shed, that would be a solid yes, for something a bit more posh, I'd probably do a dayinsure for it or possibly ring my current insurer to see if they would cover me on it for 24hrs.
The grey area with dealer policies for test drives is: How much excess do you pay in the event of an accident? What if the accident wasn't your fault. Do you still pay an excess? What if you sign a document agreeing to an excess? Many times I've not signed anything, not seen any notice on the sales desks and gone out for an unaccompanied test drive - what would the excess be and would I have to pay it? I know that many dealers have really high excesses. On most personal cars the excesses range from £0 to £250 and I've seen dealer excesses of £2,500.It would be my assumption that this would be the case should I do a test drive from a dealership with premises. If I was dealing with a back street trader, then I'd make sure I asked.
If I was buying a car off a private individual I would assume that I was not covered by their policy, but I know that my policy DOES cover me to drive other cars 3rd Party and I would assess my comfort in doing so based on the cost of the vehicle I was test driving. For a shed, that would be a solid yes, for something a bit more posh, I'd probably do a dayinsure for it or possibly ring my current insurer to see if they would cover me on it for 24hrs.
vikingaero said:
Cyberprog said:
Pretty much every dealer will have a trade policy, which covers any vehicle the trader currently owns, and any employee using said vehicle for business purposes or customer performing a test drive.
It would be my assumption that this would be the case should I do a test drive from a dealership with premises. If I was dealing with a back street trader, then I'd make sure I asked.
If I was buying a car off a private individual I would assume that I was not covered by their policy, but I know that my policy DOES cover me to drive other cars 3rd Party and I would assess my comfort in doing so based on the cost of the vehicle I was test driving. For a shed, that would be a solid yes, for something a bit more posh, I'd probably do a dayinsure for it or possibly ring my current insurer to see if they would cover me on it for 24hrs.
The grey area with dealer policies for test drives is: How much excess do you pay in the event of an accident? What if the accident wasn't your fault. Do you still pay an excess? What if you sign a document agreeing to an excess? Many times I've not signed anything, not seen any notice on the sales desks and gone out for an unaccompanied test drive - what would the excess be and would I have to pay it? I know that many dealers have really high excesses. On most personal cars the excesses range from £0 to £250 and I've seen dealer excesses of £2,500.It would be my assumption that this would be the case should I do a test drive from a dealership with premises. If I was dealing with a back street trader, then I'd make sure I asked.
If I was buying a car off a private individual I would assume that I was not covered by their policy, but I know that my policy DOES cover me to drive other cars 3rd Party and I would assess my comfort in doing so based on the cost of the vehicle I was test driving. For a shed, that would be a solid yes, for something a bit more posh, I'd probably do a dayinsure for it or possibly ring my current insurer to see if they would cover me on it for 24hrs.
I did buy a car from a dealer a few years back where I had to sign a bit of paper regarding their insurance - the excess was £5k.
BertBert said:
If you've not agreed to an excess, you wouldn't pay one surely? If you've agreed one you'd pay what you agreed. Not sure how it's very grey?
I suspect that you will have signed something that specifies an excess - whether you read it it and/or were told about it is another issue.If you haven't signed anything - I would say your shouldn't be driving it. As the driver, it's your responsibility to ensure you have all legalities covered.
Pickled Piper said:
As somebody else stated, you can purchase “day” insurance on line. Just use any of the standard price comparison websites for the best deal.
Be very careful assuming this as most insurers have started to stop this.I'm insured as a named driver on both my two kids cars and when my wife checked her policy it states that she is not insured to driver other vehicles.
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