Do I need insurance to test drive a car?

The rule

GOV.UK says it is illegal to drive a vehicle on a road or in a public place without at least third party insurance. It adds that even if the vehicle itself is insured, you can be penalised if you are not correctly insured to drive it.

The police can give a fixed penalty of £300 and 6 penalty points. If the case goes to court you can get an unlimited fine and be disqualified from driving, and the police can seize, and in some cases destroy, the vehicle.

The seller is responsible as well

Section 143 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 says a person must not use a motor vehicle on a road unless insurance is in force for their use of it, and must not cause or permit another person to use it unless insurance is in force for that other person’s use. Breaking either is an offence, so a seller who lets an uninsured person drive is committing one too.

Whose insurance covers you

The GOV.UK and nidirect pages on buying a car do not say whose policy covers a test drive. nidirect’s advice for a private sale is to take a test drive if you have adequate insurance cover.

So ask the dealer or seller which policy covers you, and what it covers, before you drive, and get the answer in writing. If you are relying on your own policy, check that it covers you when driving a car you do not own.

Checking the car

GOV.UK says you can check whether a vehicle is insured on askMID. That tells you about the vehicle, not about you: you can still be penalised if you are not correctly insured to drive it.

Northern Ireland

GOV.UK says the rules for vehicle insurance are different in Northern Ireland, and section 143 extends to Great Britain, so check nidirect if you are buying there. nidirect’s advice to take a test drive if you have adequate insurance cover applies to a private sale in Northern Ireland.