Hi all,
I don't have a car at the moment as my last one died about 2 months ago.
My car insurance ran out shortly afterwards so I had no reason to renew it but now, as I am about to go car-hunting, I don't know where I stand with regard to having insurance to test drive any cars that I look at?
Some people have told me that any test drive that you do from a new/used car dealer means you are covered by the dealer's insurance but, um, that sounds more like an old wives tale than legal reality?
So what do you do if you do not have a car yourself, and hence no car insurance, but you wish to go and test drive some cars?
Thanks for any advice,
T.
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 06/08/2008 at 14:43
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its true you are covered on the dealers insurance they will have you fill out a form there and then to be covered, but be warned there will be a heavy excess on their insurance so the best tip is DONT CRASH!!!!! also make sure you have your driving license with you they will need to take a copy
Edited by welshlad on 06/08/2008 at 02:27
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You are certainly unlikely to be covered if buying privately - not many people have fully comp, any driver these days. And not all dealers have insurance that will cover you comprehensively (welshlads advice here is sound!). Reputable dealers shoudl be OK - bewarethe back street garages though. And please make sure that the car IS insured BEFORE you test drive AND check the MOT and Tax are valid, and that all tyres are serviceable. Otherwise you COULD land yourself with many many points on your license and hefty fines! (Sorry, don't mean to be patronising here)
Edited by grumpyscot on 06/08/2008 at 07:36
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I'm not sure I'd automatically assume that personally driving the car was the best way of testing it. I think sitting as a passenger one is much more able to concentrate on listening for noises, watching for twitches, feeling poor power, glancing at the exhaust, etc, without the distraction of negotiating traffic as well.
If you are uncertain about something, get him to repeat it - just leave it in second a bit and let me listen, just go over that bump again, is it pulling to the left a bit there? etc.
Obviously you need to try sitting in the driver's seat to make sure it hasn't collapsed, and test the feel and position of the controls, but I don't really see the need to actually drive it.
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Cliff
With all respect that is the worst advice I have heard in a long time. Of course the buyer has to test drive the car. You have to know if the gear change is smooth, the brakes are responsive and all the other things which makes a car feel "right". None of these things can be done as a passenger.
I know what you are saying that it's easier to hear noises but this can be done in a two part test. The first part the owner/dealer drives the car and the second the prospective buyer drives.
Andyfr
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The other thing is to tell the seller to shut up. If you have to undertake a complicated conversation with the vendor, whilst trying to evaluate the car, you cannot. Old salesman's trick.
And in response to OP's question, I think there is some doubt whether your "drive other cars" element of your policy exists if your car no longer exists. Even if you've not stopped paying for your insurance, you no longer have a car to insure.
Edited by Mapmaker on 06/08/2008 at 11:53
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Cliff With all respect that is the worst advice I have heard in a long time. Andyfr
SNIPQUOTE!
You may well be right - it's only a mild observation based on my own experience. I have sold a car to someone who insisted on being driven as a passenger and refused to drive it, and he was far more critical and aware of possible faults from that position.
I expect it depends on one's general sensitivity to cars.
I certainly find in general from the passengers seat that I am usually more aware of faults, noises or quirks of driving behaviour to circumvent them than I am as a driver of a strange car, or than the driver is himself.
There is I suspect a psychological element too unless one is very careful. In the driver's seat one is already settling into the frame of mind that this could be my car. In the passengers's seat you are like an examiner in someone elses's car, and he is being asked to prove to you that the car is worth buying. It's like being lent something on approval - if they can persuade the purchaser to sit at the controls, good salesmen know the deal is already half done.
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 06/08/2008 at 13:37
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Thanks all for the advice.
So I basically have to check that the dealer has insurance, fill in a form and show them my driving licence? Cheers.
I have to admit I like the idea of both sitting in the passenger seat and listening/observing and, of course, driving the car myself. Good points.
T.
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Ask the seller to drive the car to a sparse traffic area and then drive yourself for a short time to test it.
If too worried, buy a day's insurance from some web based insurer, usually costs £10 or so for a day.
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its true you are covered on the dealers insurance they will have you fill out a form there and then to be covered but be warned there will be a heavy excess on their insurance so the best tip is DONT CRASH!!!!!
I think you're thinking of courtesy cars - I've never filled out a form for a test drive in my life and I wouldn't dream of paying an excess.
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Mrs gsb test drove a mini recently at a main dealers and had to sign an insurance document. Upon asking she was told she would be liable for an excess of a couple of hundred pounds, on actually reading said doc it stated liable for all damage if caused by neglect. Presumably meaning if any accident her fault, as other 3rd party would pay if not. Some insurance!!!
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I think you're thinking of courtesy cars - I've never filled out a form for test drive in my life and I wouldn't dream of paying an excess.
recently before deciding on my new car i test drove 6 other vehicles all six dealers required me to sign an insurance form to be covered (all with hefty excess to pay one even stated a £2000 excess if the car was damaged) so no im not thinking about courtesy cars
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I've never filled out a form for test drive
It depends on dealer. In my town, only Toyota asked me to sign a form with £500 excess.
Others (Honda/Suzuki/Kia/Ford/Nissan/Hyundai) didn't ask me to sign on anything before test drive, although some did take photocopy of my license.
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