7 days drive away insurance?

[Deleted User]

I notice some dealers are offering free, 7 days drive away insurance.

Is there anything I should know about this free insurance?

For instance, is it TP only, or something?

Has anyone here ever actually claimed on it, and what was the outcome?

Jonboy_1984

I used it to insure a Renault I bought last month. They gave me a code, I went home and entered my code and then personal details. It then emailed covering note directly to dealer so they could tax the vehicle before collection.

It was full comp cover with Swinton. They then offered a quote for cover for the next year. This was twice the price I paid online.

I have not claimed on it though.

[Deleted User]

So when they say it's "drive away insurance", it doesn't actually mean you can arrive, decide to buy the car, pay for it, and drive it straight away?

londonTiger

there is no concrete "definition" of drive away insurance, it will differ great.

In my experience drive awaway insurance was literally test drive insurance.

Well it was a dealer who I'm acquaintend with, he said if you get stopped by police or an in an accident just tell the police you are test driving.

So after I paid, I "test drove" the car home and got insurance with my provider from then on.

[Deleted User]

That sounds a bit iffy londonTiger.

Once you have filled in the V5C (and what dealers is going to let you run up FPNs in his/her name?) the vehicle has moved into your possession, so the dealer's Trade Insurance won't cover you.

Yolina

I had 3 days free insurance when I bought my Yaris last year, it was "proper" fully comp (Toyota's own insurance). They sorted it when I ordered the car and gave me the paperwork when I collected it few weeks later. Didn't claim on it plus I had my own arranged anyway.

That was obviously for a new car so had to wait for it to be built, not sure how it works if they have a car there that you want to drive away on the day.

daveyjp

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

So when they say it's "drive away insurance", it doesn't actually mean you can arrive, decide to buy the car, pay for it, and drive it straight away?

The 7 day policy is often used so they can tax the car prior to pick up. Very few cars where 7 day insurance is provided are ready to drive away there and then.

Nebulous2

Wife bought a car last month. Despite the dealer saying she had 7 days insurance she didn't believe it and tried to change her existing policy on the date of pick-up. Direct Line wouldn't play however and said they didn't allow double insurance so insurance certificate started a week later.

w50nky

This is cover in your name. The insurers send details to the dealer as stated above to enable them to tax your car for you. It is valid for the 7 days as a fully comp insurance. It will carry conditions such as excess and various limitation to the cover.
If you have existing cover on your px for example, then you can transfer your cover to your new car. (assuming your insurer will cover your new car) with premium adjustments as required. You will no doubt be contacted by the provider of this temporary cover in an attempt to get you to take out a 12 month policy with them.

[Deleted User]

Yolina wrote: »

That was obviously for a new car so had to wait for it to be built, not sure how it works if they have a car there that you want to drive away on the day.

I'm going to look at a used car tomorrow, and the dealer says they provide the 7 days drive away insurance.

However, if I decide to buy the car, I'll just ask to use their phone, to ring my own insurance company, and swap the cover onto the new car.

That way, I know I'm covered.

Iceweasel

Two months ago I had free 7 day fully comp cover on a used BMW. It covered myself and my wife driving.

As others have said the car was taxed for me and waiting to go when i went to pick it up.

Very handy it was too - drove home to Scotland with it and transferred my own insurance to the vehicle at the end of the 7 days.

That meant that we had the use of 2 vehicles for the week.

They did send me a quote to extend it for a year which was fairly competitive, but I didn't take them up on it as my own policy had still 9 months to run.

It wasn't 'pushy' at all.