Opel 3 Day Test Drive - Insurance?

DivingDuck · 20-02-2015 08:04PM #1

Has anyone tried this who can tell me what the situation is regards insurance? Interested in taking a test drive in the next month or two, but I'm not sure how the insurance issue works out.

I wouldn't like to leave my own car uninsured for the weekend, but obviously driving without insurance is not an option! Any insight into the process would be appreciated.

Cass · 20-02-2015 08:17PM

According to Opel's website insurance transfer may be required.

So i assume, on the basis that Opel will not provide insurance, you must transfer insurance from your own car onto the one for the test drive.

DivingDuck · 20-02-2015 08:19PM

That "may" leaves room for other alternatives, though, surely? What do they do with people who don't currently own a car?

Cass · 20-02-2015 08:25PM

It's not a case of walking in and taking a car for three days, as i'm sure you're well aware off. You need to fill in the online "application" at which point i'm guessing they contact you to iron out such details as do you have insurance, can they provide cover, what car, how long, is it safely parked, are you to be trusted, etc, etc.

I signed up to Opel's informational/promotional offers years ago (e-mail notifications of them), and i eventually started to ignore most of them because the "offers" came with so many addendum, conditions, and fine print as to make it too much grief.

Not to say you cannot take full advantage of such offers, just it's not going to be as simple as it seems.

bazz26 · 20-02-2015 08:26PM

Just give a dealer a ring tomorrow and ask them.

Not already having a car could complicate things and they may look for some sort of deposit or credit card as security but I'm just guessing. A dealer should be able to answer you correctly.

DivingDuck · 21-02-2015 12:22AM

I do have a car (and obviously insurance), so that shouldn't be an issue, it's just that I'm not happy with the notion of leaving it uninsured for three days. Mine would be quite securely parked at home for the duration, and security for parking their loaner motor shouldn't be an issue either, but I still don't like the idea of leaving my car uninsured. The one time it's not covered would probably be the time something happened to it!

I will indeed speak with the dealer during the week, but I thought it might be nice if anyone who had already been down this road before could give me a run-down of how it worked and how they found the experience. I'm not looking to get a fancy car for a laugh, just considering a much bigger one than I'm currently using. I'm worried about dropping that kind of money only to discover it doesn't meet my needs a week later! I want to know how I'd feel using it in city traffic, on the motor way, for long journeys, when trying to park, etc.

I don't feel a standard test drive will give me enough experience to make an informed decision, which is why I'm considering this. Maybe it will work out too complicated to bother with if what everyone so far has said is any indication-- has nobody here done it before, no?

StereoSound · 21-02-2015 02:49AM

If you only have third party you may have to risk paying a gigantic excess if you put a scratch on it before your insurance will pay any damage. I'd only do it if I had comprehensive cover. Personally I probably wouldn't do it anyway as I can imagine the fine print. Its not like a free car for three days to ponder about in. We would all be doing it then.

Pedro32561 · 21-02-2015 06:51PM

I've done this test drive recently. You must have comprehensive insurance and check in advance that your insurance company will allow you to transfer. Apparently some won't, because it's a test drive.

The whole process is fairly straightforward. The dealer will tell you when they have slots available. Then you just drop in, transfer the insurance, fill out all of your details on a form and take the car. Make sure you check it for damage and have it noted, or even take photos. Dealer offered to let me leave my car there but I took the opportunity to have some work done on it in my usual garage.

I did a good bit of mileage in the three days. Wasn't that impressed with the car so didn't buy in the end. Dealer didn't put any kind of pressure on at all so it was grand.

zzantara · 21-02-2015 07:28PM

You need to have Comp nsurance and transfer it for the period of the test drive.

DivingDuck · 21-02-2015 10:54PM

I do have comprehensive insurance, but the issue is that I don't want to transfer it and thus leave my own car uninsured.

Will have to speak with them and see if there is anything they can do other than this. If not, I may leave it as I'm not sure the information is worth the risk of leaving myself a couple of grand out of pocket if something were to happen to my own car while I was using the loaner.

Thanks for the responses, though.

zzantara · 22-02-2015 07:56PM

Practically everyone leaves their Car with the Dealership while they take the Opel Experience Car , "generally" this is in a safe secure Security controlled compound although this obviously depends on the individual Dealers facilities,

mickdw · 22-02-2015 08:02PM

Leave your car with dealer. Im sure it will covered once on their premises. As long as its there related to normal dealer business, it would have to be covered just the same as any car they take in for repair work etc.
I once got a lexus on a weekend test and left my car with them. No issue at all. They told me to park it in the secure lot to the rear. I signed for their car and it was noted that my car was being retained on site.
All good in my opinion.

Opel 3 Day Test Drive - Insurance?

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