What If You Crash During a Dealer Test Drive?
You’re at a local Kia Dealer checking out a brand new Rio5. A small, fuel efficient ride with enough room for your partner and their 5 cats. On a test drive down I-287, with a sales rep talking your ear off about lifetime warranties and 12.5% finance options, a Dodge Ram plows into the rear passenger side, unfortunately missing the car dealer.
Depending on what car insurance coverage you have, or what dealership you were at, this may or may not be a problem. Most dealers have all vehicles covered in the event an over-enthusiastic customer slams their 2009 BMW into a tree. If the dealer feels you purposefully smashed up their new ride for some bizarre reason, they can hold you liable for costs, but also have criminal charges brought up against you…if they can prove anything.
If it truly is an accident don’t worry too much. Most car dealerships, especially large franchises, have all vehicles covered by insurance. If you wreck a car on a test drive. You may be responsible to pay any deductible they have. If you’re head is chopped off and you die you can probably not count on any sort of compensation. Of course, you’ll be dead, so you probably won’t care that much.
If you shop at one of those Mom and Pop Used Car lots it may be more of an issue. Dealership plates, like the ones seen at larger companies, are attached to a special insurance plan. Cars sitting on a tiny lot are probably not covered. If you have your own plan it should cover you, if collision is on it. No insurance? Get ready for a hefty bill or lawsuit headed your way. Sp when you’re out checking out a 2009 Mazda or Ford, drive carefully.
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