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- Test Drive Car Insurance
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Test Drive Car Insurance
Take a test drive with peace of mind
- Comprehensive cover for an hour or two
- Only pay for the time you need
- No impact on no claims discount
What is test drive insurance?
Going for a test drive is an important part of the process when looking for a new car. It’s the first and sometimes only opportunity to see if there are any issues with the vehicle.
Comprehensive test drive insurance lets you try before you buy without any risks or worries, especially as it doesn’t impact on any no claims discount.
Find out more about the test drive process with our test drive guide.
Do I need insurance for a test drive?
Yes, you need insurance for a test drive. Even if it’s just a quick spin around the corner, you need to be insured to drive any vehicle on a public road in the UK.
It is the responsibility of the vehicle owner to ensure whoever is driving their vehicle is properly insured to do so.
If you are buying from a garage or dealership, they will likely have some form of test drive insurance, however, you must check before getting behind the wheel.
If you are caught on a test drive without insurance, you could face a range of penalties including:
- Penalty points
- Fines
- A driving ban
Ensure you buy a policy for the entire duration of the test drive as any second you’re not legally insured, you risk a penalty.
Do I need test drive insurance during a private sale?
Yes, if you’re buying privately you will need to be covered by some form of insurance to drive the vehicle.
To ensure you are insured to test drive a car for sale, there are a couple of different options.
Adjust their policy
Adding yourself to the owner’s policy will allow you to drive the vehicle, but this is a long process.
Buying annual insurance
You could take out a pre-emptive annual policy on the car you want to test, but this could be a costly mistake if you don’t buy the vehicle.
Multi-car insurance
You could ask your current insurance provider if they’ll allow you to drive another car as part of your cover, but they may say no.
Temporary insurance
A separate, standalone temporary car insurance policy that won’t impact any existing cover. Available from 1 hour to a month, depending on how long the owner lets you test drive for.
If you’re selling the vehicle, you have the same options as the person buying, and you’ll probably want them to take out test drive car insurance before you let them drive your car.
How do I get temporary test drive car insurance?
- Enter a few details about yourself and the vehicle you’re test driving
- Confirm you’re happy with the price and details of your policy
- Pay for your policy and get your documents emailed instantly
Can I get insurance to test drive a car?
Test drive car insurance is available to a wide range of drivers, but you will need to meet a basic level of eligibility to get a quote.
To get insurance to test drive a car, you must:
- Be aged 17-77 years old.
- Have no criminal convictions.
- Not had a previous policy of insurance declared void by an insurer.
To get insurance to test drive a car, the car you want to test must:
- Be taxed and in a roadworthy condition with a current and valid MOT (unless you are using the insurance policy to take the vehicle to a pre-booked MOT).
- Not be a hired or rented vehicle.
- Not be modified in any way except if designed to aid disabled drivers.
- Be a right-hand drive car with no more than 8 seats.
- Not be declared SORN (unless you are using the insurance policy to take the vehicle to a pre-booked MOT).
Please be aware that each insurer on our panel has its own eligibility criteria and so you should pay close attention to their Proposer’s Declaration.
What should I look out for when test driving a car?
It’s important you make the most of it and try to enjoy your test drive, but there’s a lot to think about and assess while you’re out there. Check out our how to test drive a car blog post for further tips.
Whether you like the car’s appearance and how it drives will often come down to personal taste, but there are a few things you should always look out for:
- Tyres. Are they fresh, or do they look worn and in need of replacement? If the latter is the case, you’ll want to include the cost of new tyres in your decision as to whether you purchase the car.
- Strange noises. Keep an ear out for any unusual noises, especially where the engine is concerned. Loud knocks could be the sign of a major problem.
- Dashboard. Check the dashboard. Ensure there are no warning lights illuminated.
- Accelerator. Experimenting with this should give you a good idea of the health of the engine, and how powerful it is.
- Steering. See if it works with your driving style, and also take note if there’s any pulling in one direction or delayed reaction times, as these are signs of a problem.
- Brakes. Make a mental note of their reaction time and stopping distance. Brake pads can always be replaced if worn, but if this is needed, you’ll want to include the cost of this as a factor in whether you buy.
You’ll also want to test that the parts you use most often work properly. These areas include:
- Air-con and heating
- Handbrake
- Infotainment systems
- Windscreen wipers
- Headlights
- Electric windows
- Folding seats
There are plenty of other aspects of test driving good practice. You should always get set up properly behind the wheel for your size and posture, as the current set-up of the seats and mirrors may not be suited to you.
While on the road, aim to try the car on a variety of routes, from small narrow lanes to large, busy carriageways. And most importantly of all, don’t be afraid to ask the owner lots of questions.
Insurance for driving a new car home
Like what you saw on the test drive? You might choose to buy the car there and then.
If you do this, you can also use temporary car insurance to drive the vehicle home.
Fully comprehensive drive away insurance gives you time to find the best annual policy while still being able to get around.
