Conference terri::cars_uk

    
    
    Yup I rang Citroen Fleet this morning several times, all to no avail. 
    Th guy seemed quite worried that other Digital employee may have been
    driving Citroen cars without insurance. 
    
    I'm going to ring Volvo, as they do a similar test drive scheme, to see
    what their insurance policy is. Let you know.
    
    Martin.
    

    
    
    Blow me Volvo do the same. Looks like first timer without fully comp
    that covers other cars can't test drive cars, due to the change in
    Digitals insurance. This was done to save some money, a good reason I
    suppose.
    
    Martin M.
    

    but the change in insurance was NOT publicised. It seems to me half
    baked to put it on VTX and just ASSUME that it will get read!.
    
    Whoever gave you the information should have this clearly pointed out,
    so that it can be communicated to the WHOLE of digital through the
    PROPER channels.
    
    What would happen if you didn't know about this, had assumed the cover
    was still there (as it has been for many many years), and took on a car
    and had an accident?. What would be the position then?.
    
    Richard

I expect that from a legal point of view, the onus is on the driver to take
explicit steps to ensure he is insured to drive a particular vehicle...

Scott

    I spoke to Ford re their 24 hour Test Drive. On the phone she said
    Ford's insurance will cover me as long as long I have a clean licence.
    She did say something about the minimum age limit but I was well past
    it, so, it didn't register with me.
    
    Perwesh

    >Test Drives and Demonstrations must be covered by the Dealer's
    >Insurance Digital's Insurance does not provide Comprehensive Cover
    >for this.
     
    The second part of this has always been the case, i.e. Digital
    does not provide comprehensive cover even for it's lease cars.
    Therefore test drive cars have only ever been covered by third
    party insurance.  So if an employee writes off the car the test
    drive company would probably have to sue the employee to get their
    money back.  Or, previous to this statement on VTX, since Digital
    admitted to covering test drive cars perhaps the employee would be
    justified in expecting the cost centre to pay up.  
    
    Trev  (Well I'm glad I got my test drive done in time and didn't
    crash the car :-)
                     

I find I'm now having problems getting insurance for 1 day. I am test driving a
BMW 318i on Monday for a day, but am told I have to get my own insurance.
I rang my insurance company (GRE) and they have refused to insure me fully
comp (only 3rd party). I also contacted my boyfriends insurance company (i'm
a named driver) and they won't cover me either.

I then rang another insurance agent ("Alan & Alan", recommended by BMW) and they
were very surprised that GRE wouldn't cover me, because they (alan & alan)
would cover me if I had a fully comp. insurance policy with them. Unfortunately,
since I don't I can only get cover for a min. of 3 months ! loads of $$$$$$$.

So what can I do ? It looks like I can't test drive any cars.

Karen

P.S. I will phone BMW and find out why they dont have their own insurance.

This may not help, but...

I recently borrowed a Land Rover Discovery for a day's test drive, and the
garage handled it like this:

1) I left my PHH-mobile with them for a service (which was due, incidentally)

2) they lent me the Disco as a "courtesy car"

thus since "temporary replacement vehicles" are insured everything was OK

/. Ian .\

    
    Karen,
    
    
    How about `hiring' a 318 for a day ? I think you'd get a discount
    as a DEC Employee and no hassle over insurance...
    
    Don't know whether there's a cost benefit though.
    

I'm not a DEc employee though, I'm a contractor. I did enquire about hiring a
BMW 520i for a day and was quoted a price of 136 pounds. I'm not that rich !

Re. taking the car in for a service. I would like to test drive several cars
in the next few weeks, so I think having the car serviced every time will be
expensive !

the only alternative I can think of at the moment is to see if BMW are happy
for me to only be insured 3rd party. If it comes to the crunch (literally)
though, I'm worried I might find myself liable for the damage.

Thanks for the replies, keep them coming.

Karen

    May I be so rude as to ask how old you are, or if you have any little
    extras on your license - I have been refused (by hire companies for
    being under 21) and for have certain classes of license decoration
    (both on seperate occasions).  This was many years ago, but I guess
    they will both still be a major factor - both times I just added the
    vehicles to my current fully comp insurance (for free - but at that
    time I was paying an arm, a leg and ... for insurance anyway!).
    
    Another tactic I have used is to borrow one of my dads cars (after a
    little pleading) when looking for a test ride - it does make a
    considerable difference! - unless you drive the car throught the plate
    glass showroom window (poor guy - he was very embarassed :-0 ).
    
    Rob

Re -1 

I'm 28, have no convictions/points and have never had an accident. I've been
driving for 5 years now.

My age is not the problem - my insurance just does not cover me for any car
I do not own (well not full comp. anyway).

I heard a story recently about a young driver (21) who wanted to buy an
RS Cossie - the dealer wouln't let him anywhere near the car, even for a
short test drive. The salesman said "You can sit in the car and watch me
drive it".

Karen

Well, it looks like the people I spoke to yesterday at GRE didn't have a clue.
I got the BMW dealer to phone for me and as if by magic I am covered at no extra
cost to drive the BMW for a day. In fact I can drive the BMW and my boyfriend
can drive my car at the same time - they will both be covered.

The motto of this story is never talk to the drongo who picks up the phone -
speak to the supervisor.

Karen

By the way - BMW do have their own insurance policy, but it costs 30 pounds...

Kaz