Test drive insurance: are you covered to drive it?

You must be insured to drive any car on a public road, including on a test drive. At a dealer you are usually covered by the dealer's motor trade policy. In a private sale you usually are not, and you need to arrange cover before you get in: your own policy if it allows it, the seller's policy with you added, or short-term cover. If you cannot show that you are covered, do not drive. Let the seller drive you instead, and watch.

Buying from a dealer

Dealers carry motor trade insurance that normally covers customers on accompanied test drives. Before you drive, the dealer will usually:

• ask to see your driving licence
• ask for a check code from the GOV.UK view or share your driving licence service, so they can see your entitlement and any points
• ask a member of staff to come with you, or set a route and a time

Policies differ, so ask the dealer to confirm in writing or by message that you are covered and whether there is an excess you would have to pay if something happened. Some policies have age limits or exclude drivers with certain convictions.

Buying privately

A private seller's insurance covers the people named on their policy. You are not one of them, so in most cases their policy does not cover you.

Your own policy

Some comprehensive policies include "driving other cars" cover. Many no longer do, and where it exists it is often third party only, may be limited to emergencies and may exclude cars you are thinking of buying. Read your policy documents or ask your insurer before the viewing. Do not assume.

Added to the seller's policy

The seller can ask their insurer to add you as a named driver for the day. The insurer may charge a fee, and the seller may not want to. It is a reasonable request but not one you can expect.

Short-term cover

Several insurers sell temporary car insurance by the hour or by the day. For a test drive you would normally need:

• the seller's permission to insure their car
• the registration number
• your licence details

Check that the policy covers driving a car you do not own and that it starts before you get in. Keep the confirmation on your phone.

If the seller drives

If you cannot be covered, the seller can drive while you sit beside them and watch. You still learn a lot: how it starts from cold, any warning lights, knocks over bumps and how the gears change. Our test drive checklist works for passengers too.

What the car needs as well

Insurance is not the only thing that makes a test drive legal. The car also needs:

• Vehicle tax. During the test drive the seller is still the keeper, so their tax applies. Tax does not move to you after the sale. See does car tax transfer.
• A valid MOT, if it needs one. A car without one can only be driven to a pre-arranged MOT test or to or from somewhere it is being repaired. See our guide to driving without an MOT.

The penalties for driving uninsured

GOV.UK sets out the penalties. At the time of writing:

• the police can give you a fixed penalty of £300 and 6 penalty points
• if the case goes to court, you could get an unlimited fine and be disqualified from driving
• the police can seize the car, and in some cases destroy it

These apply to the driver, which on a test drive is you. "I was only trying it out" is not a defence. Penalties can change, so check the GOV.UK vehicle insurance page for the current figures.

How continuous insurance enforcement works

The rules on insurance do not only apply to driving. In Great Britain, the registered keeper must keep a vehicle insured unless it has been declared off the road with a SORN. This is called continuous insurance enforcement.

Insurers report the cars they cover to the Motor Insurance Database, which is run by the Motor Insurers' Bureau. DVLA compares that database with its own records. If a car has not been declared off the road with a SORN and has no insurance on the database, the keeper gets a warning letter. If they do not act, GOV.UK says they can be fined £100, the car can be clamped, impounded or destroyed, and a court prosecution can bring a fine of up to £1,000.

This matters when you buy. From the moment you become the keeper, the car must be insured or SORN. Arrange your own policy to start before you drive it away. Our guide to SORN explains when declaring a car off the road makes sense, for example if you are buying a project car on a trailer.

Checking cover is in place

GOV.UK points keepers to the askMID service to check whether a vehicle appears on the Motor Insurance Database. It is a useful check that your new policy has gone through. A new policy can take a short time to appear, so keep the insurer's confirmation as proof.

Frequently asked questions

Am I insured to test drive a car at a dealer?

Usually, yes. Dealers carry motor trade insurance that covers customers on test drives. Ask them to confirm it, and ask whether you would pay an excess if anything happened.

Does my own car insurance cover me to test drive another car?

Only if your policy includes driving other cars and does not exclude cars you are thinking of buying. Many policies no longer include it. Check your documents or ask your insurer before the viewing.

What happens if I test drive a car without insurance?

You are driving uninsured. At the time of writing GOV.UK lists a fixed penalty of £300 and 6 penalty points, or an unlimited fine and disqualification if the case goes to court, and the car can be seized.

Can I drive a car home straight after buying it?

Only once it is insured in your name or covered by your policy, taxed by you, and has a valid MOT if it needs one. Tax does not transfer from the seller.