Paying for a test drive?

[genericguy]

Went to view a couple of cars today, dealer was happy to leave keys with me but when I mentioned a test drive he said there was a £10 fee, refunded if you bought the car.
He actually had a sign about this in his office so wasn't just trying to get rid of me (I had raised the fact that the Volvo with "Full Service History" had a two year/50,000 mile gap so maybe he only enforces it with difficult customers?)

Am I going mad or is this not normal at all?

[Jakg]

Although the principal sticks a little, I get it and £10 is low enough I wouldn't refuse, especially if it weeds out time wasters.

However, I wonder how it'd pan out if the test drive shows an undeclared fault that causes you not to buy - then I'd be wanting my £10 back, but I doubt that would be forthcoming.

[Mexman]

Did you test drive it? Did you buy it?

[genericguy]

Didn't bother with a test drive just walked out.

Agree ten pounds isn't a lot in the grand scheme of things but it's a lot for fk all.

Have every sympathy if they've had a lot of time wasters but I do find it hard to believe lots of people are driving to an industrial estate in the arse end of nowhere just for the chance to say they've driven a mid-range diesel Volvo.

[AmitG]

Never seen this before. However, if the dealer is nice, I usually offer them 20 quid petrol money in return for a proper test drive - meaning 20+ miles on a range of roads, not a quick trundle round the block with a salesperson begrudging every minute of it.

I've found it to be an effective tool.

• The dealer knows I'm not a time waster.
• The dealer gets money for basically no work.
• I get a proper drive which includes bringing the car up to temperature and driving it at higher speeds - both of which can reveal faults that you wouldn't see otherwise...
• I don't feel pressured into doing a deal. I've paid for the drive, so I don't feel that I owe the dealer anything further. I don't feel bad about walking away.
• If I do want to proceed, the negotiations are faster, because there's less guesswork on my side.

So I'd be fine with the policy as long as it means you get a proper test drive and you agree what that means upfront.

And if the dealer isn't nice? I move on, because life's too short!

[Mexman]

genericguy said:

Didn't bother with a test drive just walked out.

Agree ten pounds isn't a lot in the grand scheme of things but it's a lot for fk all.

Have every sympathy if they've had a lot of time wasters but I do find it hard to believe lots of people are driving to an industrial estate in the arse end of nowhere just for the chance to say they've driven a mid-range diesel Volvo.

So, were you 'intent' on buying it?
Would you have purchased the car if the drive went OK?
It's not a practice I necessarily agree with, but I can sympathise with dealers who do this.
They must be doing it for a reason.
Perhaps he qualified you correctly? (Please don't take it the wrong way).
It does weed out the timewasters , there is nothing worse than doing pointless test drives particularly in this weather, when you get back from test drive and the car is filthy dirty and has to be cleaned again before being put back up for sale.
There is nothing more annoying when the punter is 'just looking around', 'not ready to buy yet' blah blah blah, and you have wasted your time/fuel/mileage and are now staring at a minging car you now have to go and wash in the freezing cold/pissing down with rain.

[talksthetorque]

I'd be voting with my feet on this one. It's a coward's way out of deterring test pilots, but must cost many sales.

[WaferThinHam]

AmitG said:

Never seen this before. However, if the dealer is nice, I usually offer them 20 quid petrol money in return for a proper test drive - meaning 20+ miles on a range of roads, not a quick trundle round the block with a salesperson begrudging every minute of it.

I've found it to be an effective tool.

• The dealer knows I'm not a time waster.
• The dealer gets money for basically no work.
• I get a proper drive which includes bringing the car up to temperature and driving it at higher speeds - both of which can reveal faults that you wouldn't see otherwise...
• I don't feel pressured into doing a deal. I've paid for the drive, so I don't feel that I owe the dealer anything further. I don't feel bad about walking away.
• If I do want to proceed, the negotiations are faster, because there's less guesswork on my side.

So I'd be fine with the policy as long as it means you get a proper test drive and you agree what that means upfront.

And if the dealer isn't nice? I move on, because life's too short!

Useful tip this. Personally I only seem to buy sheds at the moment so £20 is around 5% of the purchase price (Last dealer in the sticks let me take it for a quick test drive on my own, and I bought the car). That said, last bike I bought without a test ride the gearbox exploded 500miles later. Go figure!

There is a bike dealer near me that deals with Ducati and Aprilia amongst others that apparently has a £20 test ride fee. Last bike that was bought from them, they didn't ask for any money up front. Mainly the saleman wasn't sure about you or thought you were a drug dealer.

Edited by WaferThinHam on Saturday 30th December 18:46

[Wacky Racer]

WaferThinHam said:

AmitG said:

Never seen this before. However, if the dealer is nice, I usually offer them 20 quid petrol money in return for a proper test drive - meaning 20+ miles on a range of roads, not a quick trundle round the block with a salesperson begrudging every minute of it.

I've found it to be an effective tool.

• The dealer knows I'm not a time waster.
• The dealer gets money for basically no work.
• I get a proper drive which includes bringing the car up to temperature and driving it at higher speeds - both of which can reveal faults that you wouldn't see otherwise...
• I don't feel pressured into doing a deal. I've paid for the drive, so I don't feel that I owe the dealer anything further. I don't feel bad about walking away.
• If I do want to proceed, the negotiations are faster, because there's less guesswork on my side.

So I'd be fine with the policy as long as it means you get a proper test drive and you agree what that means upfront.

And if the dealer isn't nice? I move on, because life's too short!

Useful tip this. Personally I only seem to buy sheds at the moment so £20 is around 5% of the purchase price (Last dealer in the sticks let me take it for a quick test drive on my own, and I bought the car). That said, last bike I bought without a test ride the gearbox exploded 500miles later. Go figure!

To be fair, even if you had test rode the bike for 50 miles or so the gearbox would have (probably) been OK.

Then the seller would say "Well you had a decent 50 mile test ride and were happy enough to buy it"

[Hennerz1994]

I have recently been for 2 test drives this week.
First one was a vw golf Sv it’s for my nan and she needs a auto and the only car they had was a manual. Which was the sales persons own personal car as they no longer got demos.
The second was a q3 this time a used model however of the same spec and engine which my nan was intrested in.
If either place had asked for money to have a test drive we would have walked out.
Depends on the price of the car you are buying however if it’s in the tens of thousands I would have felt quite put out by them asking for money.

[RDMcG]

Not a chance.
In principle would walk immediately. Not about the money but just a bad way to treat potential customers.

[33q]

I think it is a good idea.

A number of times the test drive I have taken has been inadequate....and their response has been something like....'that's their standard test route'.

Now if I was paying £10 or so for a test then I'd consider I ought to be able to test on my route....within reason of course.

I much prefer unaccompanied test drives as it gives me a chance to consider how I'd feel about owning the car....not just driving it.

On the last two new cars I've bought I have brought them home and fitted them into my garage.

I must add I'm not a test drive jockey and only test when if I'm on the point of buying

I have been offered test drives after looking at cars for only a few minutes and delayed or rejected them if they do not really interest me in the showroom.

[akirk]

If a dealer puts blocks in the way / is unhelpful or awkward before purchase, let us guess what they will be like after purchase if there is an issue?!

would be a total red flag

[Trevor555]

akirk said:

If a dealer puts blocks in the way / is unhelpful or awkward before purchase, let us guess what they will be like after purchase if there is an issue?!

would be a total red flag

I don't agree with charging, think I'd feel the same.

But look at it from the dealers view for just a moment.

We spend a great deal of time valeting the cars to put them on sale, park them nicely on the front with all the signage.

I have absolutely no problem taking someone for a drive if they want to buy it.

But we get plenty of people who have no such intention. The car goes out, sometimes needs re cleaning, the risk is on our insurance.

Most dealers I know have had at least one car damaged on a road test.

Heard so many times "did 8 test drives today with no sales"

My procedure differs from every customer, and I'm sure I've got it wrong a few times, but I always do a road test as the very last part of the process, after the PX value, talking money, talking when etc....

Sometimes people don't even bring the docs/history for their PX, how serious are they?

Try to think if you were selling your 911 of your driveway, would you actually let some one test drive it before knowing for sure they were going to buy it?

I don't agree with charging though, with you all on that one.

[0a]

I'd walk out. If they can't even organise a sales opportunity without charging me, can you imagine how difficult they will be if you have a post purchase issue?

[Gooose]

Would never pay for a test drive, what’s all that about!

Most of the time I don’t even get to the test drive though, mostly because I can’t stand the salesman spiel, and they sense it and get all awkward, I don’t know why, maybe they just want the woman pensioner with the money there and then who they can charm.

Went to Kia in Newport South Wales and questioned the guy about their warranty, just wanted a print out of the terms and conditions and how to keep it going and what is covered and all that, they said it’s the first time they have ever been asked!

Asked for test drive and the bloke said it would be a waste of time going for a test drive in a vehicle that you don’t want to buy just because it is the same style. Walked out won’t be back

[mike80]

Last couple of cars I've bought (one 9 years ago, then one a couple of months ago) I've been offered test drives with no quibbles. The one from a few years ago they gave me the keys, suggested a few varied routes and said bring it back when you're ready. The latest were happy to give me a test drive when I was just browsing, to get an idea of what the car was like.

Maybe they "saw me coming"!

Both were 2 year old decent spec Fords if that makes any difference.