How am I insured while taking a test drive?
Buying a new car? Then it's wise to take a test drive first, both with a new car and a used one. Even when taking a test drive, there is of course the chance of damage. So the big question is: how are you insured when taking a test drive? And who is responsible?
Test Drive
While driving a test drive, you get involved in an accident, causing serious damage to the car. When someone else, a possible other party, is liable for the accident, the vehicle's damages can be recovered from their liability insurance. But what happens at the time when you are the liable party for the accident.
Legal liability
If you are found liable, you will have to cough up the damage to the other driver's vehicle. That is why it is important to find out before the test drive whether and exactly how the car is insured. Damage to someone else's car can be covered if you have third-party car insurance. In addition, it is required by law to have third-party car insurance anyway. Given that you are not (yet) the owner of the car at the time of the test drive, this car insurance falls under the responsibility of the seller.
All-risk coverage
With a third-party insurance you cover damage to others, but what about the damage to your "own" car? A car insurance with WA + Casco coverage (All-risk) compensates, besides the damage you cause to others, also the damage to your own car. If no All-risk coverage has been taken out for the car, you risk having to pay for the damage yourself. If this is the case, claiming the damage will affect the premium and claim-free years of the car insurance, ultimately putting the seller at a disadvantage. This is because this car insurance is also the responsibility of the seller.
Own risk
At the time the car is insured while making a test drive, there is probably a deductible applied by the insurer. It is wise to inquire about the amount of this deductible in advance. The deductible implies the amount that will be for your own account if you have caused damage during the test drive. In addition, it is wise to put down on paper exactly how the car is insured. This way you will not be faced with unexpected outcomes in case of damage.
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