Just wondering whether dealers offer potential customers unaccompanied test drives nowadays?
I'm a private buyer, looking to buy new/nearly new, have a short list of three or four makes/models. I don't intend to rob a bank or trash a car but would really rather try the car out for half an hour or so without having to make small talk with the sales exec.
The last new car I bought a few years ago, i was able to borrow a demo for a couple of hours by myself because the garage staff knew me personally and just handed me the key, but unfortunately, they don't have one of the franchises I'm toying with this time.
I realise that if solo drives are available I'd probably have to fill a form out etc, but don't mind that!
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You are more likely to get a short test drive accompanies and once they have qualified you as serious you might get a car for 24-48 hours depending on make and also dealer.
You might not make you mind up you want a car in 30 minutes but if you're like me you might decide what you don't want.
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Our main dealer does ( daihatsu/ford ) but then maybe thats because they have known me for years. They even stuck trade plates on an unregistered showrrom car and let me and my dad take it out for 40 mins, which is exactly what you need.
Anything less than that, id find a dealer that will.
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Alternatively, you might think that you DO like the car after only 30 minutes, then buy the car and live to regret it.
If you buy new, then you can't get rid of the car quickly without suffering from tear-jerking depreciation (usually).
A variation of the old saying "Marry in haste - repent at leisure" (Or "The fate of Men" for short! )
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He should try the cars and then have an extended test drive (at least 24 hours) to see if he really likes it. Especially if a new car and therefore dealers more likely to allow this.
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It depends entirely on the individual dealer.
If you post which makes/models you have shortlisted and where you live, someone here might know a dealer local to you that does unaccompanied test drives.
Kevin...
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Was looking to buy for SWMBO. Our local Honda dealer took some details, gave us the keys and said to bring it back when we'd finished with it (an FRV) without us even asking! Had it for the day and took it on a bit of motorway, country lanes and town driving. We even took it home to see how it fitted on the drive and how easy it was to get the child seat in. VW, Mazda, Toyota and Ford didn't offer un-accompanied tests.
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Was looking to buy for SWMBO.
Well, did you buy??
MD
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Well did you buy?? MD
Yes, she went with the Honda. The relaxed test drive helped make the decision but obviously wasn't the only factor.
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My experience:
Yes
Toyota
Volvo
Saab
Volkswagen
Audi
Skoda
Citroen
No
Mazda
Ford
BR regulars will notice that I have chosen vehicles from four of the top list and none of the lower one.
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When I enquired about a SAAB I was told that I would have to be accompanied for test drives, but ended up driving three including a 260bhp 9-5 Aero before I bought it, and wasn't accompanied once!
Regards.
FTF
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Our local Mazda dealer let us test drive an MX-5 unaccompanied.
The Alfa dealer had to be in the car "for insurance purposes". As it was only a two seater car, it meant my wife and I had to take separate test drives and compare notes afterwards. He didn't seem to mind when I tried to see how fast the car could go in third gear, or how grippy it was in the corners.
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Ayr Skoda gave us the keys to a Scout Octavia and off we went, Phoenix Mazda paisley and Brown Brothers Mazda Peebles unaccompanied MX5 Test Drive. Murray Mazda and Border Cars Mazda Salesman Came. Lloyd Volvo Carlisle, signed a "rental agreement (£300xs) and gave us the keys to a V50 off we went. Parks Volvo, Ayr. Salesman took a 2yr old V50 off the forecourt and drove 3 miles I drove the 3 miles back. Very poor sales experience throughout however I did buy off them as around £300 less than elsewhere. Most likely I will not go back for servicing.
In areas you don't know it may be better for the drive to be accompanied so you can drive a decent route without worrying about where you are going.
A mixed bag really, no pattern of what manufacturer does what. Some take an imprint of driving licence some don't even want to see it. If I were in the shoes of the garage I would insist on the licence possibly retaining the original till the car was returned.
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When I was looking to purchase my last two new cars, and my wife purchased her last new car. We found the only dealership in all 3 cases that let us test drive the vehicles un-accompanied was Mazda. None of the other dealerships including Ford, Toyota, VW, would allow us out on our own. Needless to say that all of our last three new cars have been Mazdas.
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Our local Honda dealer has let me loose on many occasions with SWMBO for unaccompanied test drives of an hour or so and as a result I have the Accord. I have a test track of Motorway, country and A roads which gives me a good idea of the performance of the car.
SWMBO has a Yaris obtained at two years old from the same Honda dealership which had taken it in part ex. Again they allowed a test drive without a quibble.
Toyota dealer did not let us loose unaccompanied.
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For the record
If you are driving on an unaccompanied test drive with trade plates in the window you are driving illegaly
You are probably driving uninsured as it wont be covered on your insurance as it is a trade car and it isnt covered on the garage insurance because you are unaccompanied.(THINK ACCIDENT)
The easiest way to confirm legality is if the garage take your name address and driving licence number because think on this,you take a car out at 1.30pm sunday the 9th of august and you return it at 2.35pm,
At 2.46 pm someone else takes the same car out and it goes through a speed camera,who is going to collect the points and fine,the garage will do everything in its power to avoid this scenario so they should have a log in book all carefully written out with your times in and out
someone i know had to take the points because he didnt have a log
i personally dont ever let customers do unacompanied test drives
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Thanks for the comments.
Of course, all I have to do is to ask, but before I started to, I just wanted to see if it could be a realistic question and I wouldn't be laughed off the phone or out of the showroom, and understand that dealers will differ etc.
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Locally: Ford - we never do this; Fiat - all weekend; Kia - we don't supply free transport; Hyundai - take it all day, we'll brim the tank for you. Bought a Hyundai.
Watch insurance however. My insurer will only give cover for a test drive for a full week and charge accordingly.
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I had an unaccompanied drive in an MX5 (well with the friend who bought one) we also had a Z4 out on our own - but the sales guy knew me.
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Recent experience of small cars: had unaccompanied in Suzuki Swift and Note. Others were all accompanied: Ford, Fiat, Nissan, Toyota.
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Mitsubishi dealer in North Devon couldn't have been more obliging. All day unaccompanied if you want it. That was in a Colt. I wonder if they would have been as generous with an Evo?
MD
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