Motor trade cover explained

Demonstration Vehicle Insurance

Demonstration vehicle insurance covers declared dealer stock or demonstrators used to let prospective buyers experience a vehicle. It may cover dealership staff and approved prospective buyers, but the rules for accompaniment, driver age, licence, radius and use must be clear.

What is normally covered

  • Accompanied test drives by prospective buyers
  • Demonstration use by authorised dealership staff
  • Accidental damage, theft and third-party liability
  • Movement between the showroom, fuel station and approved events
  • Specified demonstrators or qualifying stock vehicles

What is normally excluded

  • Unaccompanied drives unless extended
  • Long-term personal use by staff or family
  • Rental, racing or performance testing
  • Drivers outside age or licence requirements
  • Undeclared high-value or exotic vehicles
  • Mechanical breakdown and depreciation
Realistic claim example

A buyer collides during an accompanied test drive

A prospective buyer with a verified licence misjudges a turn while a salesperson accompanies the drive and damages the demonstrator and a boundary wall.

How cover may respond: The motor-trade road-risk section may pay for vehicle damage and third-party liability, less the applicable inexperienced-driver or test-drive excess.

Important: The dealership must show that its prescribed test-drive procedure was followed.

Who needs this cover

  • Franchised and independent dealerships
  • Used-car traders
  • Motorcycle and commercial-vehicle dealers
  • Dealers taking vehicles to exhibitions or buyer appointments

Information insurers require

  • Number and value of demonstrators
  • Test-drive form and licence-check process
  • Accompaniment and route rules
  • Staff and prospective-buyer driver criteria
  • Tracking and key-control procedures

What affects the premium

  • Vehicle performance, value and theft risk
  • Volume of test drives
  • Driver restrictions and excesses
  • Accompanied versus unaccompanied use
  • Claims and loss-control record
Relevant trade pages

Cover should match the way you trade

Related cover

Get cover based on your actual risk

Tell us what vehicles you handle, where they are kept and how they are used. A specialist can compare suitable terms and explain the important conditions before you bind cover.

Start my quotation

This is a general explanation, not advice or a policy contract. Cover is subject to the insurer’s schedule, wording, limits, excesses and conditions.