I'd like to take a Fabia for a test drive and my local dealer (Clock Garage Derby) say they require me to insure myself if I want to take one out for a test drive.

Their idea of a test drive was a couple of miles along the road and back accompanied by one of their salespeople, my idea of a test drive is borrowing it for an hour or so and taking it on my local roads, pulling it on my drive and in the garage to compare it with what I'm familiar with.

Do they honestly expect someone to make a purchase decision for possibly the 2nd biggest amount you'll spend in your life based on a 2 mile test drive?

I could possibly understand this if I was wanting to take out a sporty car and I was under 25 but, I've been driving now for almost 21 years and it's a diesel I'm interested in!

Interested to find out if anyone has also been subjected to this?

Or whether they just didn't like my face! :wonder:

Cheers

I'd like to take a Fabia for a test drive and my local dealer (Clock Garage Derby) say they require me to insure myself if I want to take one out for a test drive.

Their idea of a test drive was a couple of miles along the road and back accompanied by one of their salespeople, my idea of a test drive is borrowing it for an hour or so and taking it on my local roads, pulling it on my drive and in the garage to compare it with what I'm familiar with.

Do they honestly expect someone to make a purchase decision for possibly the 2nd biggest amount you'll spend in your life based on a 2 mile test drive?

I could possibly understand this if I was wanting to take out a sporty car and I was under 25 but, I've been driving now for almost 21 years and it's a diesel I'm interested in!

Interested to find out if anyone has also been subjected to this?

Or whether they just didn't like my face! :wonder:

Cheers

Ive had plenty of skoda test drives as well as hire cars from them and on all but one occasion it was on their insurance, the one that wasnt i chose to put on mine. Try one of the Farmers Garage be it Leicester or Nottingham as they will let you have it for a couple of hours no worries.

On all the test drives both myself and my dad have been on, from Progress letchworth have been on their insurance and accompanied. We were allowed to drive where we wanted and never under pressure to get back to the show room. My local now ex. skoda dealer just chucks me the keys and the trade plate, and says bring it back in an hour or so. I do know them though, and we as a familly have bought a few cars from there over the years.

My mates Dad wanted a Polo but didn't know if it would fit in his garage. Our local dealer let him take one home for the day to see. He ended up buying one.

I'd like to take a Fabia for a test drive and my local dealer (Clock Garage Derby) say they require me to insure myself if I want to take one out for a test drive.

Their idea of a test drive was a couple of miles along the road and back accompanied by one of their salespeople, my idea of a test drive is borrowing it for an hour or so and taking it on my local roads, pulling it on my drive and in the garage to compare it with what I'm familiar with.

I test drove a Fabia TDI (PD100) from Clock Garage about 8 and a half years ago. And yes they let me borrow it for an hour, exactly in the way you'd think they should (and I eventually bought one from them). I guess times have changed...

The only times I have been accompanied on a test drive has been if they need to use trade plates. At other times it was: "here's the key, see you in half an hour", or an hour and a half with the Fabia vRS

No, I've never been asked to insure myself.

Edited 22 August, 201015 yr by Mike Wrightson

I have never had a problem....

I've nevern been asked to insure myself.

In most cases (where we've been able to provide both bits of licenses to copy,) we've been given the keys, and a time limit.

When I just had the photocard with me, the guy came along, and as also just mentioned, there was one case where tradeplates were used, and the dealer insisted on coming along

Never been asked to insure the car, I've always been taken out in cars with trade plates and the garages insurance.

At Rainworth Skoda they filled in a form with my details, handed me the keys and said see you in a bit, no need to rush! Test drove a Fabia and a Yeti and was out at least an hour for each one.

Makes a change from Honda where they take you on a specific route and insist on coming along.

It depends on the garages insurance policy.

Perhaps the garage should take out sufficient insurance cover to allow prospective buyers to have an hours unaccompanied test drive . Don't they want to sell cars? I've used 2 Skoda dealers who gave me the keys and said see you in an hour or two. That was a Fabia vrs (twice) and a Roomster (twice).

told in insure it yourself?? i hope you told them to do one!!! :wonder:

I'm not sure this is totally an insurance issue in the way you may think.

Historically I have never been asked to pay insurance for taking a Skoda out on a test drive. Usually (but not always) the salesman has accompanied me, but they have not placed any restrictions on how long or where I went.

But there are two flies in the ointment. Firstly insurance companies are getting worried about theft through fraud, so won't cover a car that goes out unaccompanied. There are lots (and I mean lots) of hookey driving licences and personal identities out there. So the insurance company simply won't cover theft for cars stolen whilst on an unaccompanied test drive.

Secondly you may have noticed there are now lots of speed cameras and CCTV out there. Prospective purchasers may go racing around the countryside, get snapped and leave the dealer to sort out the problem. If you think that they are covered by a signed piece of paper with a date on it think again. The DVLA will hound them to the end of time. Logic or reason does not enter into it.

Unfortunately its another example of the situation for the majority being ruined by the crooked minority.

Enjoy it whilst you can - if you can get a totally unfettered test drive, but it won't last for much longer.

Surely its the same thing with a courtesy car. Does this mean we'll have to drive around all day with a garage employee on the back seat?

Surely its the same thing with a courtesy car. Does this mean we'll have to drive around all day with a garage employee on the back seat?

Possibly. Courtesy cars are an issue as well for insurance companies. It is probable we are going to have to accept full hire terms and conditions (and the associated insurance premiums payable by whoever is hiring the vehicle) in the not too distant future.

Here is a stat for you to ponder on for those of you wondering why insurance premiums are going through the roof. This year it is costing £44 out of your premium to cover uninsured drivers. Last year there were 30,000 accidents which were deliberately staged to defraud insurance companies.

I'm not saying dealers are saints (cos they aint) but you have to cut them some slack - the exponential growth in insurance claims it not their fault.

I give my insurance company details of the courtesy car and they extend my insurance to cover it. I then only have my normal excess in the event of a claim.

No never had to pay to insure myself for a test drive or even to use the free courtesy car that my Skoda dealer gives me to drive around in at service times.

I test drove a Greenline last november, at Trans-city, Leyton. They just gave me the keys, showed me around and left me to it saying "Bring it back in about an hour or so"!

They did'nt ask my name, address, I.D. or anything at all. I COULD have just drove off!

That trust is few and far between!