Test drive insurance
Discussion
Dear all,
I've been looking into buying an M3 Evo for the last few months, I've done all the reading, searched the classifieds and I have kindly been shown around a few cars by forum members. I'm at the point where I'm pretty much ready to buy the right car when it comes along, although I have a bit of a dillemma:
- It's generally accepted you should never buy a car without test driving it (I'm inclined to agree)
- My current insurer won't allow me to extend my cover to include driving other cars.
- Some sellers request evidence of fully comp insurance before test driving.
I'm 24, have held my license for 6 years with no points or disqualifications, and have built up 4 years NCB so far (I wasn't insured on a car for the first two years after passing my test).
What is the legal situation regarding test driving a private sellers vehicle? Must I be covered on other vehicles -in which case how do drivers who have just passed their test ever test drive cars legally as presumably they won't have insurance yet?
Does the situation differ depending on the type of insurance the seller has? How much legal weight would a written declaration of intent to pay for any eventual damages hold - is this commonly done and would a seller be likely to accept such an arrangement?
The other option I was thinking of was to get temporary insurance for test drive purposes however a quick scan on the internet seems to suggest that for high insurance group cars I would have to be over 25, and the vehicle cannot be modified in any way - which many M3 Evos obviously are!
The other problem with temporary insurance is that I would want to drive quite a few vehicles on different days, probably several weeks apart as it would always be at the weekend... I don't really want to think about what kind of a quote I'd get for 1 months temporary (i.e. ridiculous rate) fully comp cover on someone else's M3!!!
I'm sure I'm not the first or the last person to be in a similar situation - does anyone have any helpful suggestions or solutions?
Many thanks,
Dan
I've been looking into buying an M3 Evo for the last few months, I've done all the reading, searched the classifieds and I have kindly been shown around a few cars by forum members. I'm at the point where I'm pretty much ready to buy the right car when it comes along, although I have a bit of a dillemma:
- It's generally accepted you should never buy a car without test driving it (I'm inclined to agree)
- My current insurer won't allow me to extend my cover to include driving other cars.
- Some sellers request evidence of fully comp insurance before test driving.
I'm 24, have held my license for 6 years with no points or disqualifications, and have built up 4 years NCB so far (I wasn't insured on a car for the first two years after passing my test).
What is the legal situation regarding test driving a private sellers vehicle? Must I be covered on other vehicles -in which case how do drivers who have just passed their test ever test drive cars legally as presumably they won't have insurance yet?
Does the situation differ depending on the type of insurance the seller has? How much legal weight would a written declaration of intent to pay for any eventual damages hold - is this commonly done and would a seller be likely to accept such an arrangement?
The other option I was thinking of was to get temporary insurance for test drive purposes however a quick scan on the internet seems to suggest that for high insurance group cars I would have to be over 25, and the vehicle cannot be modified in any way - which many M3 Evos obviously are!
The other problem with temporary insurance is that I would want to drive quite a few vehicles on different days, probably several weeks apart as it would always be at the weekend... I don't really want to think about what kind of a quote I'd get for 1 months temporary (i.e. ridiculous rate) fully comp cover on someone else's M3!!!
I'm sure I'm not the first or the last person to be in a similar situation - does anyone have any helpful suggestions or solutions?
Many thanks,
Dan
In my experience private buyers have not normally expected to drive a car they are considering. They would presumably try a trader's car, which will be insured for demonstration purposes, and then assess private sellers' cars from the passenger seat.
It is extremely difficult to get insurance to cover a car you do not own.
The easiest way to achieve what you want is probably to ask the seller to add you to their insurance as a named driver - some would be willing and able to do so, but presumably only if they thought you were a serious potential buyer. There would be a fee (perhaps about £20) and you would presumably be responsible for losses for the very least up to the amount of the excess - which at 24 in an M3 would probably be quite high.
Interested to see other answers. Good luck.
It is extremely difficult to get insurance to cover a car you do not own.
The easiest way to achieve what you want is probably to ask the seller to add you to their insurance as a named driver - some would be willing and able to do so, but presumably only if they thought you were a serious potential buyer. There would be a fee (perhaps about £20) and you would presumably be responsible for losses for the very least up to the amount of the excess - which at 24 in an M3 would probably be quite high.
Interested to see other answers. Good luck.
Can insure an M3 for one day for £22.50 using Norwich Union short term insurance policy - http://www.norwichunion.com/short-term-car-insuran...
Provide the seller with a written indemnity covering any damage to the car whilst on the test drive. The only concern the seller would then have is whether you are good for the money as the indemnity would not be backed by an insurance policy. Not sure what your current vehicle is but the seller could take some comfort from that perhaps.
The only thing that the above does not sort out is whether the seller will accept this. Legally it is a reasonable solution, but if he's holding out for evidence of a fully comp policy, my suggestion won't work. Find a more reasonable seller!
The only thing that the above does not sort out is whether the seller will accept this. Legally it is a reasonable solution, but if he's holding out for evidence of a fully comp policy, my suggestion won't work. Find a more reasonable seller!
Hello Dan,
How's the search going ?
If not sorted already these may be useful.
http://www.ecarinsurance.co.uk/
http://www.dayinsure.com/
http://www.insuredaily.co.uk/uses/testdrive.html
http://www.churchill.com/car-buyer/test-drive.htm
Dave.
How's the search going ?
If not sorted already these may be useful.
http://www.ecarinsurance.co.uk/
http://www.dayinsure.com/
http://www.insuredaily.co.uk/uses/testdrive.html
http://www.churchill.com/car-buyer/test-drive.htm
Dave.
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