Test Drive Insurance

Amraam · 15 Jan 2015 at 16:42

Hi all,

I want to test drive a used car, in a private sale. My insurance is suspended whilst I don't own a car. I just need to ring admiral up and start it up again once I've bought a car. Trouble is, I don't have insurance so I'm not comfortable driving a use car, as well, it's illegal. So what are my options?
Get the seller to put me on as a named driver for the day at my expense? Have his car added to my current policy for a day, then suspend it again afterwards?

Cheapest quote I've found using tempcover is £43 with Haven, whom I've never heard of.

Thanks!

ote1 · 15 Jan 2015 at 17:19

Best option I would think, if you must test drive, is to ask the owner to put you on their policy for the day and pay them. It will be a hassle for them and you'd have to offer up a lot of details re: yourself for it.

You could ask the owner to take you out and give it some welly etc.? As a passenger you can often pick out more as you spend less time focusing on driving an unfamiliar car and more time listening out. Sitting in the back whilst being driven during a test drive once helped me notice one of the rear shocks was knocking and needed changing. I've bought privately before without test driving. The owner was very trustworthy in fairness (very up front with everything) and happily took us for a good test drive.

If you're concerned about how it drives you can either ask them to take you to an empty industrial estate/huge car park if they are happy with that. Failing that be cheeky and go to a main dealer that has an all-covering insurance policy and ask for a test drive in the equivalent? You will have to pose as a buyer quite convincingly, dealers don't hand out keys without asking questions nowdays in my experience.

Amraam · 15 Jan 2015 at 17:25

ote1 said:
Best option I would think, if you must test drive, is to ask the owner to put you on their policy for the day and pay them. It will be a hassle for them and you'd have to offer up a lot of details re: yourself for it.

You could ask the owner to take you out and give it some welly etc.? As a passenger you can often pick out more as you spend less time focusing on driving an unfamiliar car and more time listening out. Sitting in the back whilst being driven during a test drive once helped me notice one of the rear shocks was knocking and needed changing. I've bought privately before without test driving. The owner was very trustworthy in fairness (very up front with everything) and happily took us for a good test drive.

If you're concerned about how it drives you can either ask them to take you to an empty industrial estate/huge car park if they are happy with that. Failing that be cheeky and go to a main dealer that has an all-covering insurance policy and ask for a test drive in the equivalent? You will have to pose as a buyer quite convincingly, dealers don't hand out keys without asking questions nowdays in my experience.

I've driven one before so I'm happy with how they drive, but obviously I want to look out for faults. I've already seen the car in question, and he's taken it out with me as a passenger and I heard/saw nothing untoward. I'm going back on Sat morning with my car savvy friend who is going to test drive it for me. Do you think I should just go this route? He lives rural so I'll probably get away with a quick drive myself on his land, but I'd rather not go on public roads for obvious reasons.

ote1 · 15 Jan 2015 at 17:33

Amraam said:
I've driven one before so I'm happy with how they drive, but obviously I want to look out for faults. I've already seen the car in question, and he's taken it out with me as a passenger and I heard/saw nothing untoward. I'm going back on Sat morning with my car savvy friend who is going to test drive it for me. Do you think I should just go this route? He lives rural so I'll probably get away with a quick drive myself on his land, but I'd rather not go on public roads for obvious reasons.

Your mate driving is a good idea. Sorted. What car is it you're looking at?

flexo786 · 15 Jan 2015 at 17:35

don't know if it'd be possible due to insurance being suspended but admiral do temp cover. ive used it quite a few times before. all I did was ring up say I wanted to insure a car temporarily and theyd do it. normally it would cost about £25 a week. also from previous experience if you ask for a day theyd normally charge the same as a week

Amraam · 15 Jan 2015 at 18:54

flexo786 said:
don't know if it'd be possible due to insurance being suspended but admiral do temp cover. ive used it quite a few times before. all I did was ring up say I wanted to insure a car temporarily and theyd do it. normally it would cost about £25 a week. also from previous experience if you ask for a day theyd normally charge the same as a week

yeah I've used it before when we've driven to Alton Towers to Newcastle and back on the same day (I'm diabetic so it's not wise to do all that driving on my own). £25 for a week as you say.

I'm just going to rely on my mate's 'report' and have a quick blast on private land which the seller is happy about.

The car is a 59 plate Octavia VRS with 60k miles.

Kaeo · 16 Jan 2015 at 04:14

Day insurance was invented for this exact reason

mrk · 16 Jan 2015 at 06:36

^ Aye: http://www.dayinsure.com/

rodenal · 16 Jan 2015 at 07:04

tbh your current plan sounds fine, just make sure the short drive you do get try and cover all the basics off, if you're taking someone else who can drive it legally and knows a bit about what they're looking for it'll be fine.

Amraam · 16 Jan 2015 at 10:54

rodenal said:
tbh your current plan sounds fine, just make sure the short drive you do get try and cover all the basics off, if you're taking someone else who can drive it legally and knows a bit about what they're looking for it'll be fine.

Yeah that's what I'm going to do. If I feel like I really need/want to drive it myself before I commit, I'll contact DayInsure when I'm there.