No - you need to insure your new car before you drive it home. If you’re driving straight home after a test drive, and the policy you bought for it is still active, you can drive home under the same policy.
There are a couple of options available to you if you need to arrange new cover for the car to drive it home:
Buy a drive away insurance policy to cover you to drive the car home, which also gives you more time to find the best insurance deal. You need to extend your temporary insurance or declare your car SORN after your policy expires until you’re ready to fully insure it.
Buy an annual car insurance policy as soon as you buy the car, which means you're fully insured straight away. But if you need to return the car for any reason, you may have to pay a cancellation fee.
"It takes less than 2 minutes to find test drive cover, so you’ll be able to set it up even if you’re already at the dealership or with a private seller. Driving without cover could land you with points, a fine or worse so it’s just not worth the risk, especially if you’re driving an unfamiliar car."
Our trusted partner Tempcover is a leading provider of short-term car insurance and has been helping customers find temporary cover for over a decade.
They compare fully comprehensive insurance policies from a range of insurers to help you find the cover you need.
is a legal requirement if you're driving in the UK. Find out more about choosing the right cover at the right price.
Making sure you’re insured to drive doesn’t just protect you, it’s also a legal requirement.
The ability to drive other cars on your policy isn’t something that’s always automatically included. In fact, not all providers even offer it.
Third-party insurance covers you if you damage another vehicle, or another motorist claims against you. But it offers you zero accident protection for your car.
Adding a named driver to your car insurance policy doesn’t need to be confusing.
Page last reviewed: 12 June 2023
Reviewed by: Marc Pell
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