Is Insurance Necessary to Test Drive a Four Wheeler?

Taking a test drive is one of the essential steps in finalizing a particular model of a car. There are a plethora of models that are available when buying a new car. Numbers can help you shortlist a few based on the budget and performance figures, but a test drive is what gives the real feel of the car. You can check for the different features of the car in person whilst gaining a hands-on experience of the different elements in it. As a buyer who is about to select a car, you must be aware of the requirement that car insurance is mandatory. But does a test-drive vehicle need to be insured? This article helps elaborate on this exact question while providing an answer.

Do cars need to have insurance at the time of a test drive?

The Motor Vehicles Act of 1988 makes it mandatory to have insurance for all vehicles to ply on the roads. This includes all types of cars, be it the ones that are registered, as well as the ones that aren’t. Driving an uninsured vehicle attracts fines and even imprisonment. To comply with the law, the auto dealers need to purchase a motor insurance plan for all vehicles, including the ones that are dedicated to test drives. So, when taking a test drive, make sure to talk to the dealer about the vehicle having insurance cover. When taking a test drive, you are not completely familiar with the car and its controls. At such times, it is even more critical to have insurance cover for a test-drive car. Some insurance companies have separate insurance plans for auto dealers that provide an insurance cover for a shorter duration until these vehicles are sold. * Standard T&C Apply

Which motor insurance plans cover test drive vehicles?

A test drive car is covered by the auto dealer’s insurance policy. Similar to cars that are registered, test-drive cars must have mandatory third party insurance, but a comprehensive plan can also be purchased by the dealer. Third-party plans only provide a safeguard against the damages or injuries to a third person, and offer no coverage for the dealer’s car, its employees, or the customer taking the test drive. Comprehensive motor insurance plans, on the other hand, provide 360-degree coverage by compensating for the damages to the car as well as third-party liabilities. * Standard T&C Apply

What should you know about insurance when taking a test drive?

• It is the responsibility of the dealer to insure the test-drive car such that it is compliant with the regulations concerning insurance policies.
• On the sale of the car, it is your (i.e., the buyer’s) responsibility to avail an insurance cover and no longer the dealer’s responsibility.
• The dealership generally carries both, third-party as well as own-damage cover, providing financial protection for any damages to the test-drive vehicle as well as to third parties.

* Standard T&C Apply

Conclusion

Insurance is the subject matter of solicitation. For more details on benefits, exclusions, limitations, terms and conditions, please read sales brochure/policy wording carefully before concluding a sale.