Crashed Into Another Customer's Car During a Test Drive

**kpc** · 05-27-2012, 09:00 PM

Hello Everyone,
This happened in Califirnia. I was just test driving with diller car an got a collision in his campus it self. His car has damaged with one of his customer car.

I am new one here and have permit only to drive. I do not have any insurance.

What i need to do, What i am liable for any thing. I have just got a collision report now. Please help in this matter ASAP.

Thank

**blackbird345** · 05-28-2012, 01:20 AM

It's a little bit hard for me to understand the sequence of events the way you wrote them. It's possible that your collision is covered under an insurance policy. You should first determine if the insurance of the owner of the car will cover your collision. If not, ultimately you will be liable so you'll have to work out how to pay for the damage with the vehicle's owner.

**kpc** · 05-30-2012, 01:44 PM

I am having only driving permit not a driving licence...what dealer insurance will cover the damage?

**Who'sThatGuy** · 05-30-2012, 08:32 PM

If you were test driving a vehicle from a licensed car dealer, the dealer itself should have adequate insurance to cover a lose to one of there vehicles as well as property damage and personal injury.

What doe's the car dealer have to say?

jk · 05-31-2012, 08:25 AM

Quoting kpc

I am having only driving permit not a driving licence...what dealer insurance will cover the damage?

who was at fault for the accident? If it was you, expect to have both the dealer and the customer (or their insurance company if they make a claim on their own insurance) to seek to have you pay for the damages.

If it was the other party, you shouldn't be liable for any of the damage as the other driver's insurance should cover everything.

**kpc** · 06-18-2012, 09:42 AM

Now , i have got a latter from insurance company...in this latter they mentioned that i am liable for the damage.
But my concern is...i have not sign any doc with dealer for the test drive and dealer knows that i do not have insurance and they allow me to take a drive on there own responsibility. In this case what i can do....how i am liable... dealer do not suppose to take me test drive.
Any one can help me what i need to do?

**That Guy** · 06-24-2012, 08:18 PM

Quoting kpc

Now , i have got a latter from insurance company...in this latter they mentioned that i am liable for the damage.
But my concern is...i have not sign any doc with dealer for the test drive and dealer knows that i do not have insurance and they allow me to take a drive on there own responsibility. In this case what i can do....how i am liable... dealer do not suppose to take me test drive.
Any one can help me what i need to do?

OK, this is really simple... You have a valid permit, correct?

With you, in the car as you drove, was the salesperson who is presumably over 25 years old and is a licensed driver. Correct?

That means that you were driving legally.

So trying to pin it back to the dealer for letting you drive is NOT going to work for you!

Bottom line is, you owe for the damages you caused to both vehicles.

You could have purchased an insurance policy before going to the dealer (and yes, their are insurers who will sell you such a policy), but you didn't!

Which means that when you opted to get behind the wheel of the dealer's car, you assumed (as in accepted) responsibility for any damages that you may have caused.

Of course at this stage you can turn around and sue the dealer for "letting you drive"... But all you're doing there is wasting the filing fee for a law suit you cannot win! You still owe for damages!

How much are the damages? It sounds like they could be minor damages (at parking lot speeds) but you're looking at damages to 2 cars which could add up, I presume!