Car insurance - no test drives

SteveB_NI · 10 Oct 2007 at 11:10

As some of you may remember I was asking about insurance to cover my old car for test drives when I advertise it.

I took out a policy with DirectLine & they offered me a temporary policy on my 2nd car (the one I'm going to sell) for a month or so - until it's sold. They were going to match NCB I believe on this second card.

Just called them & received a nice quote - was about to take this nice fully comprehensive policy out until I asked the question "does this cover my car for test drives by 3rd parties" - I was told a resounding NO.

I'm now stuck with a car sitting at my house with no insurance at the mo with no requirement other than to probably give test drives before selling it. I know people recommended DayInsure but is there any other way? I would have to take out a proper policy probably & cancel but I'd be hit by cancellation fees then.

Do most people require a test drive where they can drive the car really or is it sufficient usually for the owner of the car to drive them?

jamief · 10 Oct 2007 at 11:16

SteveB_NI said:
As some of you may remember I was asking about insurance to cover my old car for test drives when I advertise it.

I took out a policy with DirectLine & they offered me a temporary policy on my 2nd car (the one I'm going to sell) for a month or so - until it's sold. They were going to match NCB I believe on this second card.

Just called them & received a nice quote - was about to take this nice fully comprehensive policy out until I asked the question "does this cover my car for test drives by 3rd parties" - I was told a resounding NO.

I'm now stuck with a car sitting at my house with no insurance at the mo with no requirement other than to probably give test drives before selling it. I know people recommended DayInsure but is there any other way? I would have to take out a proper policy probably & cancel but I'd be hit by cancellation fees then.

Do most people require a test drive where they can drive the car really or is it sufficient usually for the owner of the car to drive them?

Every car I've ever sold I've had someone test drive it. If you don't let them drive it they will most likely walk away, I know I would.

But, saying that, it is up to them to have DOC insurance, not upto you, so if they turn up and aren't insured, they can't drive it. Worst case I'd go to the quietest industrial estate you find and let them drive it there.

Le_Petit_Lapin · 10 Oct 2007 at 11:19

Don't the viewers own insurance policies cover them driving other peoples cars?

Confused · 10 Oct 2007 at 11:22

It wouldn't usually be your own insurance that covers the viewer driving it - I would want to see proof that THEY are insured to drive it.

The only way would be a policy which has an "plus ANY additional driver" clause - I haven't seen one of those in a while either (not since I was insured with CIS 6 years ago)

If someone who is viewing wants to drive it - they will have to provide me with proof that they are insured to drive it.

SteveB_NI · 10 Oct 2007 at 11:30

I presume my car must be properly insured at the time to allow other drivers to drive it under their DOC insurance though.

I don't really know the best way forward in this one really - I was rid of the car ASAP because it's losing it's current tax! It's taxed until Dec '07 - I want to use this as a selling point still!

Scuzi · 10 Oct 2007 at 11:33

Le_Petit_Lapin said:
Don't the viewers own insurance policies cover them driving other peoples cars?

Usually that is the case with DOC cover but one of the conditions is that the car has an insurance policy on it with the owner.

www.dayinsure.com is the answer. It's simple, really quick and relatively cheap.

jamief · 10 Oct 2007 at 11:33

Why would your car have to be insured? It doesn't AFAIK. It is upto the other party to have valid insurance allowing them to drive the car.

Confused · 10 Oct 2007 at 11:38

Scuzi said:
Usually that is the case with DOC cover but one of the conditions is that the car has an insurance policy on it with the owner.

No, no, no, no! Not necessarily!

It depends entirely on the explicit wording of the policy!! Lets leave it at that and not get into this argument again!

Scuzi · 10 Oct 2007 at 11:41

ConfusedTA said:
No, no, no, no! Not necessarily!

It depends entirely on the explicit wording of the policy!! Lets leave it at that and not get into this argument again!

Hence why I used the word "usually".

SteveB_NI · 10 Oct 2007 at 12:31

So in my situation where I have no insurance on the 106 but want to sell it within the next month - what is the best option for me?

insure fully comp under my own name & that allows me to drive interested people around - if they want an open road test drive they have to apply for DayInsure?

Confused · 10 Oct 2007 at 12:33

Legally, yes.

However I'd say the majority of test drives for private sales have been done without valid insurance, not that it's right!!

Scuzi · 10 Oct 2007 at 12:33

SteveB_NI said:
insure fully comp under my own name & that allows me to drive interested people around - if they want an open road test drive they have to apply for DayInsure?

If it's insured in your name then you can be almost certain that their DOC cover will be valid for them to drive the car providing they have it. If they don't have DOC, then they will have to use Dayinsure to insure themselves on it. If they use dayinsure, it doesn't matter whether or not you are insured on the car.

therealnerd2 · 10 Oct 2007 at 12:41

jamief said:
Why would your car have to be insured? It doesn't AFAIK. It is upto the other party to have valid insurance allowing them to drive the car.

I've found it generally a lot more difficult to get insurance on another (temporary) car if the car itself is not insured at all...

Fishman · 10 Oct 2007 at 12:55

Dont forget that DOC cover is 3rd party only. If you let someone test drive your car on DOC and they bin it I cant imagine you getting any money out of them.

Adz · 10 Oct 2007 at 13:01

I've always just let the prospective buyer drive the car in the past, no questions asked but I've never sold a car for more than £2000.

If I were to be selling a more expensive car, I'd probably just trade it in against the new one but if I were to sell privately, I'd insist they use Day Insure. Being insured by their own policy will not give them fully comprehensive insurance on your car so, if they did smash it, you would be left with nothing if they were unable/unwilling to pay.

!bluetonic! · 10 Oct 2007 at 13:23

Fishman said:
Dont forget that DOC cover is 3rd party only. If you let someone test drive your car on DOC and they bin it I cant imagine you getting any money out of them.

I agree that if you sell a car, the buyer would expect a test drive.

I know that DoC is only 3rd party.

I guess it's just another cost to factor in when selling or test driving with the aim to buy a car.

SteveB_NI · 10 Oct 2007 at 14:18

Ok I could arrange fully comp insurance for a month for the car - which enables me to drive it about / take people out in it.

If they wish a quick drive of the car & have DoC cover they must do it in a quiet industrial estate or carpark. Any other road tests must be accompanied with a nice DayInsure policy.

Car is worth £2000 - but even still I want to make sure it's covered!

Fr0dders · 10 Oct 2007 at 14:24

ive seen quite a few car adverts that say "no insurance no test drive"

so if you did say this, you wouldnt be on your own.

and ive allways wondered, are they going to be asking for proper insurance through day insure, or just DOC cover ?

Adz · 10 Oct 2007 at 14:27

Depends on the car. Nobody in their right mind is going to let you take their BMW M5 out on DOC cover.