Buying a new and getting car insurance to drive it away.

incurable

Having just passed my test and looking to buy a new car, how do I go about getting insurance on a new car. Is it best to take out insurance now on the type of car I'm getting and then go looking around at the ones I've seen, or is that not advised.

It'll probably be a private sale btw, thanks for any information.

SailorSam

Could you take someone with you when you buy the car, that already has insurance that covers them to drive other vehicles.

Trentenders

SailorSam wrote: »

Could you take someone with you when you buy the car, that already has insurance that covers them to drive other vehicles.

Don't do that! The car needs to be insured also.

Agree to buy the car, then pick it up a few hours later when you've had chance to check for quotes online and buy cover.

incurable

Yeah I thought as much, picking up the car at a later date sounds the best option, thanks for the replies :T

mikey72

Trentenders wrote: »

Don't do that! The car needs to be insured also.

Agree to buy the car, then pick it up a few hours later when you've had chance to check for quotes online and buy cover.

(pantomine style)

Oh no it doesn't.

I can drive any other car, on my insurance, without any other insurance in force.
It falls foul of the "continuous insurance" just brought in, whereby the car should be taxed, and have it's own insurance.
But saying as the first warning will be to either sorn it or insure it in it's own right, I'll still be ok to drive it home.

But to answer the op.

Run some quotes on gocompare etc, use a dummy name, nearby address, generic car, and see what you can afford to insure.
When you find a car you like, buy it, then take out the insurance, get the tax if it needs it, then go back for it.

incurable

How would I conduct a test drive? I suppose the only way is again to bring someone and ask them to do it if they're insured to drive other cars.

System

incurable wrote: »

How would I conduct a test drive? I suppose the only way is again to bring someone and ask them to do it if they're insured to drive other cars.

It depends if the car is still taxed and insured by the seller. If they have declared it SORN and cancelled their insurance, then it would be too risky to have a test drive without tax and insurance on the car (even if your nominated driver has their own insurance to drive any vehicle).

Also, the owner may not want your nominated driver to drive because that type of insurance does NOT cover damage to the car, so if you crash whilst on the test drive, they would not get anything towards the damage.

P.S.
If the seller still has it taxed and insured, they can drive the car during the test drive, which will allow you to concentrate on listening for noises, looking for vibrations, rattles, or any other issues, without having to concentrate on driving a strange car. (Strange being a car you have not driven before)