The cost of test rides

[Renegade]

Now that's an interesting thought and it makes great sense. If we as indivuals have an insurance policy that covers us for all situations (a bit like having public liability) so that we are fully covered for what we are riding or driving provided that we are licensed correctly to do so and are not breaking any laws or rules then that would make great financial sense as currently we have to have insurance on each and every vehicle that we own and operate.
Just a thought i guess but probably would'nt be accepted by the insurance companies as it would mean less money in premium payments.

its great for driving related claims but say some one stole ya bike and ya car off the front lawn, you wouldnt be covered unless you had vehicle cover which would mean a vehcile premiumon top of a personal premium

im surprised or should i say i shouldnt be so surprised that shops insurance companys would stitch people up like they do, i thought you just paid the excess, may have to reconsider taking bikes for test rides in future

[Robbo]

its great for driving related claims but say some one stole ya bike and ya car off the front lawn, you wouldnt be covered unless you had vehicle cover which would mean a vehcile premiumon top of a personal premium

im surprised or should i say i shouldnt be so surprised that shops insurance companys would stitch people up like they do, i thought you just paid the excess, may have to reconsider taking bikes for test rides in future

Good point Renegade and one i had overlooked, so therefore the existing system needs to remain as it is i suppose. Rather scarey though as Pete has said he phoned his insurance company to clarify this matter and found that he was'nt covered for test rides.
As a matter of interest, how many of us actually require a test ride before purchasing your bike? I have always either ordered mine in or bought it directly off the shop floor without a test ride. This has been based on the make and model of bike and my past experience with the brand and knowing what i wanted and i have never been disappointed with any of my purchases as yet.
Any one else do it this way or is a test ride essential for you?
Cheers

[Owl]

My insurance policy covers me for test rides whether the bike is owned by a dealer or privately.
Most policies also have an "Additions & Deletions" clause, which covers you if you purchase another bike or trade in your bike on another one. This has provisos in it, like paying additional premium, notifying insurer within so many days, and a maximum sum insured depending on each policy.

[Coyote]

On what grounds is an insurance company allowed to come after the person that damaged the vehicle? If the insurance company insured the vehicle as a test vehicle and understood it wouldn't be ridden by the owner, they morally should pay out.

Though morals don't have much to do with insurance...

[alanzs]

As a matter of interest, how many of us actually require a test ride before purchasing your bike? I have always either ordered mine in or bought it directly off the shop floor without a test ride. This has been based on the make and model of bike and my past experience with the brand and knowing what i wanted and i have never been disappointed with any of my purchases as yet.
Any one else do it this way or is a test ride essential for you?
Cheers

No, it's not essential. I have purchased a few bikes off the floor of a dealer without a test ride and never been unhappy. I have also bought a few with having a test ride, and wasn't unhappy either.
One bike that I was unsure of getting, I ended up buying, as the test ride sold me.
I also think when you ride into a dealer on a bike, have a motorcycle license and aren't 18 years old, they take you a little more seriously.

I have gone to shops here and they'll try to get me to test ride a bike, but I don't as if I'm not going to buy it, it's just a waste of their and my time. I was in sales for many years and time wasters are a pain in th ass, so I respect their sales pitch, but decline the ride, even though I may want to. I was lusting after a B-King a few weeks ago and the dealer wanted me to ride it, but I had no real intenetion of buying it, so I politely refused.

[barty5]

My insurance policy covers me for test rides whether the bike is owned by a dealer or privately.
Most policies also have an "Additions & Deletions" clause, which covers you if you purchase another bike or trade in your bike on another one. This has provisos in it, like paying additional premium, notifying insurer within so many days, and a maximum sum insured depending on each policy.

i was going to point this out our policy has a 48 day clause to advise them of any new vehicle so guess it would be a case of have bike shop sell you bike and advise insurance co of the crash although dont know i would want to test this out for real but i will ask when speaking to them next week in a "what if manner"

[Owl]

i was going to point this out our policy has a 48 day clause to advise them of any new vehicle so guess it would be a case of have bike shop sell you bike and advise insurance co of the crash although dont know i would want to test this out for real but i will ask when speaking to them next week in a "what if manner"

I just heard of a case where a lady bought a vehicle, forgot to insure it, had an accident after owning the vehicle for nearly 3 months (90 day limit) and then claimed on her other vehicle policy.

[Meanie]

I just heard of a case where a lady bought a vehicle, forgot to insure it, had an accident after owning the vehicle for nearly 3 months (90 day limit) and then claimed on her other vehicle policy.

How do you forget to insure a vehicle ?

[Owl]

How do you forget to insure a vehicle ?

Not too sure Meanie, but I understand it was a farm policy, so she may have had several vehicles.
My own bike policy has pretty poor wording in that area (10 day limit), but it has the advantage of providing a seperate wording, specifically covering me for riding someone elses bike.

[Patch]

If you crash a test bike, why not just buy the damn thing (obviously for what the sticker price was) an fix it, provided you are able to walk/talk after such incident. Dealer won't mind, less paper work for them.


Test riding for the hell of it, is very risky. Hence I won't do it.

[Matt_TG]

On what grounds is an insurance company allowed to come after the person that damaged the vehicle? If the insurance company insured the vehicle as a test vehicle and understood it wouldn't be ridden by the owner, they morally should pay out.

Though morals don't have much to do with insurance...

Morality aside the Insurance Co's have the right to pursue costs because of a process known as subrogation.

This means they take on all the rights of the owner, as if they were the owner - which includes being able to try and get the money back. I see it this way : If it wasn't insured elsewhere the bike shop would pursue the test rider to pay ..they just wouldn't say "she'll be right mate, shit happens, take another bike". Subrogation is a standard doctrine of insurance practice.

The circumstances of the crash can matter too. Depends if it's your fault or not.

It can get messy though as to what is insured and when it's insured. There is usually a blanket cover on vehicles that are stock and could be used as a test ride bike - then some bikes are the subject of a finance arrangement, they could be on loan from the dealer, could be part of a bailment agreement and so on. Usually dealers don't own the new bikes on their lot for a certain time period, but are responsible to insure and look after them.

I don't know what the answer is, maybe see if your insurer will extend liability cover for test rides - specifically for the bike itself, not just other people's property you may hit whilst on the bike, double check the limit of your liability with the dealer at the time (ensure that it is just for their excess - maybe see if you are mentioned as the 'insured' rider at the time you are riding it).

Sorta takes some of the edge of test riding

[Meanie]

Sorta takes some of the edge of test riding

Yea it does but its dam good advice

[sefer]

I just heard of a case where a lady bought a vehicle, forgot to insure it, had an accident after owning the vehicle for nearly 3 months (90 day limit) and then claimed on her other vehicle policy.

Most, if not all, comprehensive car insurance policies will cover you for any vehicle your driving providing you have a full licence and are over 25 (and probably even on a restricted/under 25, but I'm neither so I can't say for sure). Of course it won't cover the car if stolen, hit on the side of the road etc, only when your driving it.

[Owl]

Most, if not all, comprehensive car insurance policies will cover you for any vehicle your driving providing you have a full licence and are over 25 (and probably even on a restricted/under 25, but I'm neither so I can't say for sure). Of course it won't cover the car if stolen, hit on the side of the road etc, only when your driving it.

We're talking about two different things dude.

I’m talking about the “Additions & Deletions” clause.
This lady's car would have been covered in those situations! She had 90 days from the day of purchase to contact the insurance company and get cover on this vehicle, because of her existing policy on another vehicle. She had to pay back-dated premiums to the day of purchase, but she WAS covered!

[cowboyz]

If you crash a test bike, why not just buy the damn thing (obviously for what the sticker price was) an fix it, provided you are able to walk/talk after such incident. Dealer won't mind, less paper work for them.

who wants to buy a bike that is faulty and doesnt handle well. Afterall, if it crashed it must have been the bikes fault.