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The Daily Horizon

Can you test drive a car that is not insured?

Author

Christopher Martinez

Published Jan 19, 2026

You can’t test drive a car without insurance and the police will not accept ‘I’m test driving a new car’ as an excuse for not having insurance. Most recognised dealers will have insurance in place that will cover you on a test drive. Short term insurance offers comprehensive cover that’s perfect for test drives.

Should you test drive a car before buying?

If you are thinking about buying your first car or a new car, you should test drive several vehicles before making a decision. Most car dealerships will allow you to take a short drive in any of their cars. A test drive will enable you to imagine yourself as the owner of that particular car.

Does your insurance cover test drive?

So, for most states, your personal auto insurance covers your vehicle, and a dealership’s car is covered by their insurance policy — meaning if you get into an accident while test driving a car at the dealership, it’ll most likely be covered by their insurance.

Do you need insurance to test drive a car at Carmax?

Yes. All customers must show proof of insurance when buying a car. You will either need to provide evidence of existing coverage or a VIN-specific binder.

What happens if someone crashes your car during a test drive?

According to Joyce J. Sweinberg, a car accident lawyer via Avvo, allowing someone to drive your car, even on a test drive, in most cases means that your insurance company covers them. As a result, if someone gets into an accident during a test drive, your insurance company will have to pay for the damage.

Does everyone get approved at CarMax?

CarMax Credit Check Customers report online that CarMax commonly pulls Equifax, but it may pull from any or all of the three major bureaus in the process of matching you with a lender. While CarMax will run a credit check, it won’t decide to approve or deny based solely on your credit score.

Can you drive a new car in Missouri without a license plate?

You, you can drive a new car home without license plates in Missouri within 30 days from the day you buy the car. If you do not obtain your license plate after 30 days, you will be fined $25 on the 31st day.

Do you have to have insurance to test drive a car?

You may not need to have insurance but in order for the dealer’s insurance to cover you, having a valid driving license is required. This is why you are asked for your license and not for any type of proof of insurance.

What do you need to know about driving in Missouri?

Driver Examination Testing – Take the driver license examination or commercial driver license examination. Information and services related to titling and registering a motor vehicle, trailer, boat/vessel, or all-terrain vehicle. If playback doesn’t begin shortly, try restarting your device.

Do you have to have liability insurance in Missouri?

Missouri law requires that all motor vehicle drivers and owners maintain some type of motor vehicle liability insurance coverage. Learn how to pay a speeding ticket or other driving violations online . The accident caused property damage costing more than $500, or someone was injured or killed.