Dealer Test Drives - Insurance?
Discussion
Following on from a recent post in the car buying section, I've just had a thought about the insurance for test drives at "dealers". By this I don't mean main dealers, as they almost certainly will have the correct insurance, but by your independents/backstreet companies.
About four years ago, I went to Slough and test drove my current car. I asked if their insurance covered it and was told yes but they had to hold my physical driving licence.
Last week I test drove a van, asked the same question and was tossed the keys and told to be as long as I wanted.
But this got me wondering.. where would I stand if it turned out their insurance did not cover me/a prospective purchaser? Or did, if I was accompanied by the sales person (which I wasn't either time). Discovered either through having an accident or being stopped by the Police (both times the vehicles were untaxed and had no trade plates). I know there is a defence if the vehicle was a vehicle provided to you by your employer, used for work and you had every reason to believe you were covered.
Any ideas or real life experience/comments from those in the Police?
About four years ago, I went to Slough and test drove my current car. I asked if their insurance covered it and was told yes but they had to hold my physical driving licence.
Last week I test drove a van, asked the same question and was tossed the keys and told to be as long as I wanted.
But this got me wondering.. where would I stand if it turned out their insurance did not cover me/a prospective purchaser? Or did, if I was accompanied by the sales person (which I wasn't either time). Discovered either through having an accident or being stopped by the Police (both times the vehicles were untaxed and had no trade plates). I know there is a defence if the vehicle was a vehicle provided to you by your employer, used for work and you had every reason to believe you were covered.
Any ideas or real life experience/comments from those in the Police?
edthefed said:
Driving without Insurance is an absolute offence
Very difficult to avoid being prosecuted even if you had no knowledge you were not insured. Google no insurance absolute offence
The dealer would also be liable under the "use /cause/ permit provisions.
That's what I thought. I imagine that many people daily commit this offence in the same situation as I outlined. How far can you go to prove their insurance covers you? Request certificate? Unlikely to say on there (I'd imagine?). Request full policy documents and spend half an hour reading them? Very difficult to avoid being prosecuted even if you had no knowledge you were not insured. Google no insurance absolute offence
The dealer would also be liable under the "use /cause/ permit provisions.
I'm very precise when it comes to insurance, especially after I was hit by an uninsured driver in 2017. That's why it crossed my mind.
Road2Ruin said:
Most fully comp car policies allow you to drive a car under third party, as long as the car does not belong to you etc.
Sadly, being under 25, mine doesn't. My current insurer (a naval rank) also stipulates that it has to be insured elsewhere (whereas my future MIL and FIL would be fine as theirs does not, and their DOC covers vans (Aviva)). If they are a bit dodgy then there may not even be trade insurance in place to satisfy that requirement.Edited by Powerfully Built Company Directors Secretary on Sunday 17th April 20:01
944 Man said:
Special reasons argument. There is a statutory defence of you are driving an employers vehicle so I would expect it to have some chance, providing that it was completely honest.
I have to admit, that I actually voice recorded the conversation regarding insurance when I test drove the van. I'd like to hope that, if there was ever a situation like this, that it would be looked at by a court pragmatically. I know it's an absolute offence mind.
Motor Traders purchase either a road risks or motor trade combined insurance policy.
All offer an extension of cover for test drives. Sometimes these carry conditions such as;
Only for drivers aged over X
Driver held a licence for X years
Copy of licence held on dealer file
The extension for test drives is either accompanied or unaccompanied.
Don't blame you for asking for proof, if they don't show you then you are free to take your business elsewhere
All offer an extension of cover for test drives. Sometimes these carry conditions such as;
Only for drivers aged over X
Driver held a licence for X years
Copy of licence held on dealer file
The extension for test drives is either accompanied or unaccompanied.
Don't blame you for asking for proof, if they don't show you then you are free to take your business elsewhere
Road2Ruin said:
Glosphil said:
A number of years ago I went to a Saab dealer for a test drive. The dealer wanted me to sign to take responsibility for the first £500 of any insurance claim. I declined & bought a different car.
My Saab dealer didn't do that to me. Did they see you drive in? 
Glosphil said:
A number of years ago I went to a Saab dealer for a test drive. The dealer wanted me to sign to take responibility for the first £500 of any insurance claim. I declined & bought a different car.
I'd agree with you there! An excess on a courtesy car is one thing (and my trusted garage has an excess of £350 for those which is decent IMO) but for a test drive? No chance.MOMACC said:
Motor Traders purchase either a road risks or motor trade combined insurance policy.
All offer an extension of cover for test drives. Sometimes these carry conditions such as;
Only for drivers aged over X
Driver held a licence for X years
Copy of licence held on dealer file
The extension for test drives is either accompanied or unaccompanied.
Don't blame you for asking for proof, if they don't show you then you are free to take your business elsewhere
All good points to note. I wonder if some places take a chance by hoping that the potential purchaser has a DOC extension sometimes. All offer an extension of cover for test drives. Sometimes these carry conditions such as;
Only for drivers aged over X
Driver held a licence for X years
Copy of licence held on dealer file
The extension for test drives is either accompanied or unaccompanied.
Don't blame you for asking for proof, if they don't show you then you are free to take your business elsewhere
ConnectionError said:
Road2Ruin said:
Most fully comp car policies allow you to drive a car under third party, as long as the car does not belong to you etc.
Only if the car being driven is also insured.If it is on a forecourt uninsured they you will not be covered
Shame on you for repeating this ignorant made-up nonsense. If that is a term imposed then it will be written on the certificate - to suggest that it is always the case makes you look particularly foolish.
944 Man said:
ConnectionError said:
Road2Ruin said:
Most fully comp car policies allow you to drive a car under third party, as long as the car does not belong to you etc.
Only if the car being driven is also insured.If it is on a forecourt uninsured they you will not be covered
Shame on you for repeating this ignorant made-up nonsense. If that is a term imposed then it will be written on the certificate - to suggest that it is always the case makes you look particularly foolish.
So hardly rubbish: indeed pretty common. So rather than shame, well done for flagging up the pitfalls of assuming what your insurance covers or doesn't cover.
Of course, I am one of the few who have memorised the t&c of every contract I've ever entered into, so would never be caught out by this.
Even so, worth digging out policy summary before test driving another car.
944 Man said:
It is far from common and the wally stated that it was a fact, which even your stilted figures do not support. I have insured cars for 30yrs and 'insured elsewhere' has never, ever been a condition.
I think the person talking rubbish and being particularly foolish is youMy certificate doesn’t state that the 3rd party car may be insured. It is in the t&c’s’s that form part of the contract
Read your t&c’s you wally
Edited by ConnectionError on Monday 18th April 14:43
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff