Most motorists and vehicle enthusiasts take a new car on a test drive to understand if it suits their tastes and preference.
This also offers dealers an opportunity to demonstrate the features and capabilities of the car while at the same time allowing clients to ‘feel’ the vehicle.
While this happens, what would occur when a client/driver commits an accident during these test drives?
Kenyans.co.ke sought the opinion of a car salesman Mark Mchuma to get his input on insurance during test drives.
Is it possible to test drive a car without insurance?
Mchuma revealed that all motor vehicles must be insured, whether private, commercial or test-drive cars.
“Most of the cars are registered with the dealers' plate numbers on them such that when an accident happens, the insurance pays,” he stated.
He also added that driving uninsured vehicles would incur penalties from the authorities.
“The Comprehensive Car Insurance policy is undoubtedly a better coverage for a motor vehicle. It covers both third-party liabilities as well as damages to the insured car. We always ensure the test drive car is comprehensively insured,” he added.
Mchuma advised that when test driving, the driver must check if the car is insured before getting behind the wheel.
Can you test-drive a used car without insurance?
On test-driving without insurance, Mchuma stated that all cars should be insured, including second-hand cars.
He opined that used cars should be insured with the mandatory Third-party Liability plan (TP).
“Test driving a second-hand car without insurance could result in hefty traffic penalties. Since car insurance plans can differ, it is imperative to enquire about the specific coverage of the used car you will be test driving,”
He advised that the following should be observed;
Third-party liability coverage: The Third-party Car Insurance plan pays for injuries or property damage to a third party in case of an accident while test-driving a car.
Own damage coverage: Own Damage (OD) cover provides coverage for repairs or replacement of damaged parts of the used car if it is damaged in an accident while test driving the vehicle.
This also covers damages or losses due to natural calamities, man-made calamities and even theft.
On documents required for a test-drive
Mchuma reiterated that the documents needed for test driving either a new or a used car was a valid driving licence to determine a driver's competence.
Equally, for a driver to be allowed to test drive, they ask for a copy of their identification cards, (ID).
"The car you are test driving should be comprehensively insured so that you can be secured against an accident or liabilities arising from third-party injury or damages to their property.
On whether there was a need for proof of insurance to test drive a car, Mchuma intimated that one did not need car insurance.
"Car insurance for the test drive car is typically taken care of by the dealer. When you book your test drive, make sure you check if the car carries valid insurance to drive the vehicle on our Kenyan roads," he advised.
Mchuma also informed that dealerships must insure their test drive cars so that the vehicle is legally compliant to drive on public roads.
Accidents due to human errors have been estimated at 85 per cent based on challenges related to driving.
The number of road accidents witnessed on Kenyan roads with statistics according to the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), indicating that at least 3,000 people die every year due to accidents.
