insurance for test drives

[funbobby]

well im trying to buy a chim but as expected most owners want to see fully comp insurance for a drive which i understand. problem i have is my company i use wont give me temporary cover because of the type of car it is.anyone got any ideas? im thinking maybe the company i will use for classic insurance once car is bought might do some temporary scheme? many thanks

[Pied Piper]

Norwich Union used to do a one day insurance for this sort of thing, IIRC it was free too. Not sure how many times they will let you do it though.

[Chiefbadger]

When I went to Fernhurst (I'm 26 and was wearing jeans and a t shirt) they didn't even ask. I test drove 4 Chim's and left with a deposit on one of them. I think that if you turn up looking genuinely interested, then they will offer a test drive rather than you having to ask.

[Munter]

Lots of sites advertising one day car insurance or short term cover.
http://www.theaa.com/insurance/short-term-car-insu...
www.dayinsure.com
www.insuredaily.co.uk

etc

[WISHY]

This is always a pain but the best way is often to get the owner to put you on their insurance and if there is a small admin cost you pay it, as your company will not insure you on it as it is insured with somebody else.

this is what i have found out whilst looking a while ago - hope it helps

[JackHolroyde]

Their motor traders policy should allow anyone to drive any vehicle of theirs...
Tell them to contact their brokers...

[Munter]

JackHolroyde said:

Their motor traders policy should allow anyone to drive any vehicle of theirs...
Tell them to contact their brokers...

I think we are dealing with private sellers in this case. Hence no insurance for "anybody" to drive the car.

[plasticman]

I am sure if I was selling a TVR I would never let anyone else drive it even if they had fully comp insurance to cover it .

[funbobby]

thanks for replies. im talking private sellers here hence the problem. regarding getting the owner to insure that seems to be the way to go from what ive been told today. the point is some people are more concerned about it than others.went to see a car the other day and forgot my documents but he was fine.

[griffter]

The way round it is to buy the car - ie put cash on the table - subject to test drive. That way the buyer only insures the car if they've bought it. If there's a deal-breaker wrong with the car, cancel the insurance. I'm pretty sure a cooling off period means a full refund must be given. This approach benefits sellers because only buyers with the readies get to drive the car.

[funbobby]

daily insurance wont seem to cover tvr,s. bit of a catch 22 really.

[hab1966]

I used the good folks at dayinsure.com when i test drove two T350's

Both owners saw the paperwork and were happy for me to proceed with the test drive.

[funbobby]

just tried daily insure but site says they dont insure tvr,s. getting rather annoyed now,no one wants to touch a tvr

[Tripps]

funbobby said:

just tried daily insure but site says they dont insure tvr,s. getting rather annoyed now,no one wants to touch a tvr

I sed dayinsure.com (Norwich Union) last December for the V8S, sounds like they've had a change policy.

[skwdenyer]

plasticman said:

I am sure if I was selling a TVR I would never let anyone else drive it even if they had fully comp insurance to cover it .

Then I doubt you'll be selling it at all, except on eBay. Who in their right mind buys a TVR without driving it?

[skwdenyer]

griffter said:

The way round it is to buy the car - ie put cash on the table - subject to test drive. That way the buyer only insures the car if they've bought it. If there's a deal-breaker wrong with the car, cancel the insurance. I'm pretty sure a cooling off period means a full refund must be given. This approach benefits sellers because only buyers with the readies get to drive the car.

1. If you're not the legal owner (which would be an unconditional deal) then you might be in a sticky place with the insurance company.

2. Having just insured a car and read a great deal of small print, the 14-day "cooling off period" under the regulations does seem to allow the ins co to charge an admin fee (typicall seems to be £25 - £50) plus the cost of the insurance. If dealing with an actual insurance company then this should be pro-rata, but if you deal with a broker then the broker (in order to ensure that you were legally insured) will have to retrospectively buy short-term cover for the term the policy actually ran, which they will charge you for (quite heavily).

[griffter]

skwdenyer said:

griffter said:

The way round it is to buy the car - ie put cash on the table - subject to test drive. That way the buyer only insures the car if they've bought it. If there's a deal-breaker wrong with the car, cancel the insurance. I'm pretty sure a cooling off period means a full refund must be given. This approach benefits sellers because only buyers with the readies get to drive the car.

1. If you're not the legal owner (which would be an unconditional deal) then you might be in a sticky place with the insurance company.

2. Having just insured a car and read a great deal of small print, the 14-day "cooling off period" under the regulations does seem to allow the ins co to charge an admin fee (typicall seems to be £25 - £50) plus the cost of the insurance. If dealing with an actual insurance company then this should be pro-rata, but if you deal with a broker then the broker (in order to ensure that you were legally insured) will have to retrospectively buy short-term cover for the term the policy actually ran, which they will charge you for (quite heavily).

Good points thanks. Situation not helped by ins cos normally asking who is the 'registered keeper' - again unresolved in a 'conditional' deal. Just goes to show what a grey area it is.

[nikman]

I'd suggest the seller contacting his/her insurer explaining the need to demonstrate the vehicle to a third party for the purpose of selling it and requesting temporary additional cover for the day in question SUBJECT to: 1) The additional driver being over (say, 26) and holding a valid driving licence (with no convictions if applicable), 2) the policy holder accompanying the additional driver for the entire duration of the demonstration which would not exceed xx miles.

Although I haven't done this it would seem unreasonable for an insurer (especially ones who specialise in TVR cover) not to quote a nominal additional premium for such a limited and qualified extension. I would then ask the buyer to pay the sum required and allow it against the price of the car if the sale goes ahead.