VW test drive. Why do I need to bring my insurance details?

I've just booked a VW test drive online, and it says that I need to remember to bring my driving license "and insurance details".

Surely they have their own insurance for their test drive cars?

What if I don't have a car currently?

Why don't you ask vw?

because if you crash their car they'll be claiming off your insurance, or their insurance company will claim off yours, if you were considered negligent. you have a duty of care.

Because your insurance may or may not give you cover in other vehicles. If you have a bump their insurance will need to know if there are any other insurers who are sharing the risk.

Their policy may require any test drivers to have their own insurance. That's how you are normally insured to drive other folks' cars.

You'll be lucky if they let you in the car.

I went in to my local VW dealer and asked for a test drive. The guy said "how do I know you are actually going to buy a car off me? I might be wasting my time". It turns out he was. Still, I got his card for when they ring me about one of the 11 other vehicles we've got out of the same place.

To be fair it does seem unique to VW, we test drove half a dozen different marque's cars a couple of weeks ago, none of them even wanted to see our driving licenses let alone insurance.

Hmm, my MIL was asked the same question "will you buy the car" Her response was pretty much "It depends on whether I like to drive it" We didn't buy one of his cars…

Exactly. I've never had to provide insurance info for any other manufacturers test drives.

Are they saying I can't try one if I don't currently have a car?

Still, if they ask me "are you actually going to buy a car from me" then I'll 'politely' point out that of course I'm not going to if you don't let me drive one first!

Perhapse they just need all the details youd normaly need on a policy? Makes it easier than them sitting there with ou asking 101 questions if you can just hand over a sheet.

If thats the case you best check with them who will have to pay as
fully comp only gives you thired party when driving someone elses
car.

I don't know if this is down to local dealer policy or not or whether because you booked online?

I have had both VW and Audi dealers just give me the keys and let me do my own thing (not Demo cars obviously for road tax reasons). Never been asked for any Id, or driving license and certainly not insurance.

"how do I know you are actually going to buy a car off me? I might be wasting my time"

I'd have said 'how do I know I want to buy one of your cars either? Isn't that was test drives are for?'

At our VW dealer (Sinclair of Cardiff) one of the guys was really pushy and annoying. Even though I eventually decided to get the car, I almost didn't because the guy was such a tool.

While a driving licence is a very sensible ask, I for one wouldn't be giving any details regarding insurance – ask them.