Drivers urged to be careful as they face risk of driving cars 'illegally'

Millions of drivers are at risk of “illegally” getting behind the wheel as a result of a little-known road rule. New data has found that over 1.3 million illegal test drives could be taking place in the UK every year.

Rules state that motorists must have car insurance in place before driving a vehicle, even for a quick spin around the block. A new study from Tempcover found that of the drivers who privately bought a car in the last five years and took a test drive, 15% took to the wheel knowing they didn’t have the correct cover. The latest warning comes ahead of a planned surge in second-hand car sales expected as a result of the launch of new ‘75’ plates on September 1.

Claire Wills-McKissick, temporary car insurance expert at Tempcover stressed “millions” could be left exposed by the simple issue. She explained: “The risk of an uninsured test drive goes beyond just fines. The safety of pedestrians and other road users are also at risk and it’s simply not worth the danger to yourself and others.

"Many drivers mistakenly believe they’re covered for a test drive when they’re buying privately, when in reality, these sellers have no legal obligation to insure a prospective buyer. This misunderstanding leaves millions of drivers exposed, especially in casual private sales if you don’t check."

The data, which are the result of a survey conducted by Mortar Research between August 12 and 14 on 2,000 UK adults, shows that many individuals were breaking the law without even realising what could be a far more serious blow to individuals.

A whopping 37% of road users who have privately test drove a vehicle thought that they would be covered by the seller’s car insurance policy. Meanwhile, 40% of those polled didn’t even realise that test driving a vehicle without the proper cover was even illegal.

28% of road users polled believed that their fully comprehensive insurance would cover them for a test drive with a further 14% agreeing that they were not completely sure.

Claire added: “Fully comprehensive insurance doesn’t automatically allow a motorist to drive any vehicle unless explicitly stated. In fact, many annual insurers began removing this cover in the early 2000s, and today, the vast majority of policies no longer include it by default.

"Sellers should always ask for proof of insurance and buyers have a responsibility to ensure they are properly covered - even if it’s a quick 10 minutes round the block."