Test drive insurance
Insurance for a test drive
Buying privately? The seller's policy almost certainly does not cover you. An hour or two of cover in your own name means you can test drive properly, and a day policy gets the car home once you have shaken hands.
From £9.15 for one hour, including Insurance Premium Tax. No admin fees, no renewals.
Good for
- Test driving a car, van, motorbike or camper from a private seller.
- Driving a newly bought vehicle home from the seller.
- Viewing several cars in one afternoon.
- Checking a car for a friend or family member who is buying it.
One hour for the test drive
Enough for a proper drive on mixed roads, with two and four hour options if you are seeing several cars.
A day to drive it home
Once you have bought it, a one day policy covers the journey home while you arrange annual insurance.
Comprehensive
If the worst happens on the test drive, damage to the seller's car is covered, less the excess.
Before you set off
Ask the seller for the registration number when you arrange the viewing. Get your quote and set cover to start shortly before you arrive. The policy is emailed to you, so you can show the seller a certificate on your phone before you take the keys.
Check the car is taxed and has a valid MOT. Both are free to check on the government website with the registration alone, and you confirm at the quote stage that the vehicle is roadworthy.
After you buy
A one day policy covers the drive home and gives you time to arrange annual insurance without pressure. If you already have an annual policy on another car, check whether it can be transferred, but do not assume it covers the new car from the moment you buy it.
The standard excess is £500 (£1,000 for drivers under 25). You can reduce it to £250 with the excess reduction option at the quote stage. Cover applies in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. For trips of a day or longer you can add the European driving extension.
See your price in about two minutes
Every factor listed before you pay. No account needed.
Questions
Test drive insurance: common questions
- Does the seller's insurance cover me on a test drive?
- Usually not. Most private policies cover only the policyholder and named drivers. A temporary policy in your own name removes the doubt.
- How long should I buy for a test drive?
- One hour is enough for most test drives. If you are viewing more than one car, or the seller is some distance away, choose two or four hours.
- Can I use one policy for several cars?
- No. Each policy covers one registration. Buy a separate short policy for each car you drive.
- Can I buy cover to drive the car home straight after buying it?
- Yes. A one day policy is the usual choice, and you can set it to start as soon as fifteen minutes from now.
Related cover
Other ways to use SureHour
Hourly car insurance
Buy one hour of comprehensive car insurance in about two minutes. Also two, four and eight hours. Cover starts within fifteen minutes of paying.
Daily car insurance
Comprehensive one day car insurance from £16.76. Also two, three and five day policies. Quote in two minutes, documents emailed immediately.
Temporary car insurance
Comprehensive temporary car insurance from one hour to four weeks. Quote in two minutes, price shown before you pay, documents emailed straight away.
Temporary motorbike insurance
Short-term motorcycle insurance from one hour to four weeks. Comprehensive cover for a borrowed bike, a new purchase or a weekend ride, priced before you pay.