Can I Get Insurance to Test Drive a Car
| A former insurance producer, Laura understands that education is key when it comes to buying insurance. She has happily dedicated many hours to helping her clients understand how the insurance marketplace works so they can find the best car, home, and life insurance products for their needs. Full Bio → | Written by |
| Joel Ohman is the CEO of a private equity backed digital media company. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, author, angel investor, and serial entrepreneur who loves creating new things, whether books or businesses. He has also previously served as the founder and resident CFP® of a national insurance agency, Real Time Health Quotes. He has an MBA from the University of South Florida. Jo... Full Bio → | Reviewed by Joel Ohman |
UPDATED: Sep 15, 2020
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Here's what you need to know...
- In many cases, you can test drive a vehicle without having your own insurance policy
- When test driving a car at a dealership, typically the dealer's insurance will be sufficient for anyone driving the vehicle
- When test driving a car owned by a private party, there are several questions you should ask to ensure you'll have adequate coverage while driving
There are not many scenarios where you can legally drive without insurance, but one scenario where you are commonly covered without insurance is when you are on a test drive.
While it is possible to test-drive vehicles as a prospective buyer without worrying about liabilities, there are still moments where prospective buyers will not have liability coverage or physical damage coverage for the car in question.
A small hesitation when braking, overlooking a stop sign or a failing to account for a blind spot could land you in civil court if you do not know when you need personal auto insurance and when you do not.
Start comparing car insurance rates now by using our FREE tool above! Anyone who is planning to buy a vehicle should know about the following test drive scenarios and how insurance works.
Does my insurance cover a test drive?
New drivers are taught that driving without insurance is against the law, and to an extent this is true. What these new drivers do not know is that they are not always responsible for the insurance that is on the vehicle.
It is the owner's responsibility to purchase auto insurance on vehicles that they own. You must have an insurable interest to comply with mandatory laws and insure a specific car.
Buying from a Dealership
When buying a car from a dealer, the party with an interest in the vehicle is the dealer. Since the car is not registered and titled like a personal automobile, it needs special garage liability insurance that is written specifically for a commercial new or used car dealership.
The coverage that is purchased by the dealer will provide protection when lot vehicles are damaged or when a third-party suffers damages or injuries while a lot vehicle is being driven.
Both employees and customers who are test driving cars on the lot are covered for liability and for physical damage claims.
Buying from a Private Seller
When you are buying a car from a private seller, you still do not have an interest in the car. With that being said, a private party will only carry standard personal auto insurance on the car.
This is why it is essential that you check with the owner to verify that they are insured and that they have sufficient limits of liability.
There are legalities and you have protections, but no one wants to end up in a long legal battle because they simply did not ask a straightforward question.
Even if you do experience a loss, the owner of the vehicle will be the one responsible to pay for the damages that are sustained at the hands of a driver in their vehicle.
Verifying there is third-party liability and physical damage coverage will just help eliminate some of the issues that can arise if you do suffer an accident on your short test drive.
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Test Driving a Car at a Dealer
After browsing the lot at a dealership and finding a car that strikes your eye, it is finally time to ask for the keys so that you test how the vehicle handles and if it has any power.
The dealer will ask for you to provide your driver's license, which will be verified before you can drive any lot vehicles.
What many buyers do not know is that the sales agent starts qualifying you as soon as that license is handed over.
You may not need to have insurance but in order for the dealer's insurance to cover you, having a valid driving license is required.
This is why you are asked for your license and not for any type of proof of insurance.
Personal insurance is not necessary until you buy the car and finance it. When you sit in the finance department and discuss interest rates, you will need to provide a copy of your insurance cards before the agent is going to let you leave the lot.
Since you now have an insurable interest in the car, you can buy coverage for that car to protect your assets and to protect the bank's asset.
Test Driving a Private Car
The process to test drive a car is a bit less formal with a private seller. If the seller trusts you, they may not even ask to see your driver's license.
Just because a seller looks responsible and trustworthy does not mean that you should take them at face value.
You need to ask the right questions just so that you know that you are driving a vehicle that has coverage even though you do not have insurance of your own.
There is nothing worse than having an accident in a vehicle that you do not own when the seller decided to take the risk by canceling the cover.
Here are some questions you should have the answers to:
- Does the owner have liability insurance? You do not want to unknowingly drive an uninsured vehicle. Ask the seller if the car has coverage and let them know you do not have your own. All of the leading insurers will offer cover for permissive users who are licensed to drive in the United States, but this should still be verified
- Does the owner have collision?Collision pays to either repair a vehicle or replace it when it is totaled. You should verify the car has collision cover and that you are not responsible for paying deductible if you had an unintentional accident. If you can come to an agreement before anything happens, you will be at ease if anything does
It is natural to wonder why it is okay to test drive a car without coverage but now that you know that reason, you can start to window shop.
If you have a specific car in your sight, get quotes for insurance coverage so that you can price monthly expenses.
You can start comparing car insurance rates now by using our FREE tool below before you car shop so you will not be startled with sticker shock when you see the premiums.
Can I Get Insurance to Test Drive a Car
Source: https://www.carinsurancecomparison.com/how-do-you-test-drive-a-car-without-insurance/