As someone who wants to buy a car, it is normal and wise to test drive the car before paying for it to be sure the vehicle is working as expected. There are so many reasons why test-driving a car before purchasing it is very important but can you test drive a car with a permit?
Yes, you can test drive a car with a permit if the policies of the dealership or rental agency and the laws of your state of residence allow you. However, if the dealership does not allow individuals with a learner’s permit to test drive their cars, then you won’t be able to do so.
Can You Test Drive a Car With a Permit?
Yes, it is possible to test drive a car with a permit.
However, the policies of the dealership have to accept individuals with a learner’s permit to test drive their cars before they can be allowed to test drive the car.
In a situation whereby the policies of the dealership where you wish to purchase or rent the car do not allow individuals with a learner’s permit to test drive their cars, then, you won’t be allowed.
However, there are so many exceptions to these answers. Don’t forget that a learner’s permit or provisional license is a permit that allows individuals to operate a vehicle under certain conditions, usually with supervision, and for specific purposes such as learning to drive or gaining driving experience before obtaining a full license.
Therefore, it is within the dealership’s discretion to decide whether someone with a learner’s permit is experienced enough to test drive their cars or not. Whatever they decide is final.
If you’re test driving the car to purchase it, some dealerships may allow you to do so with a permit but might require the presence of a licensed driver in the car during the test drive or limit the test drive route to less busy streets to minimize risk.
But if the test driving is simply a test driving for the experience, the dealership may not allow you to do so unless you present a valid driver’s license. A learner’s permit may not be sufficient in this case.
In all, it’s worth noting that, whether you will be allowed to test drive a car with a permit or not depends on the policies of the dealership you wish to test drive the car.
When Can You Test Drive a Car with a Permit?
Here are scenarios when a dealership might permit you to test drive their car with a learner’s permit:
1. When the Test Drive is Supervised by a Licensed Driver
As reiterated earlier, it is within the discretion of the dealership to allow someone to test drive their cars with a learner’s permit. They may allow you to conduct the test drive but with the supervision of a licensed driver.
When a dealership permits a test drive supervised by a licensed driver, it means that someone with a learner’s permit or provisional license is allowed to operate the vehicle, but only under the direct supervision of an accompanying individual who holds a full and valid driver’s license.
The essence of this is to ensure that there is a responsible and experienced driver present in the vehicle who can take control if necessary and who is legally authorized to operate the vehicle.
The dealership believes that once there’s a licensed driver who supervises the test drive, he has already assumed the role of a mentor or instructor during the test drive.
As a licensed driver, he may offer guidance, advice, and instruction to the permit holder, helping him/her to drive the road safely and confidently.
To them, there is someone with the necessary skills and experience to handle any unexpected situations that may arise during the test drive.
2. When the Test Drive is Restricted to Some Routes
The dealership may allow you to test drive their cars with a permit by limiting the test drive route to less busy streets or areas where there is less traffic to reduce the risk of accidents and provide a safer environment for you to gain driving experience.
They may also choose routes that are familiar to their staff and have been pre-determined as safe and suitable for test drives to ensure that they’re not unexpectedly confronted with unfamiliar road conditions or threats that could increase the risk of accidents.
The dealership may approve these routes to allow you to experience aspects of the vehicle’s performance, such as acceleration, handling, or braking.
For example, a dealership may choose a route that includes winding roads or sharp turns to showcase a car’s agility and responsiveness.
This is true. I remember the day I purchased the car I’m currently driving (Lexus IS350), I had a valid license and have been driving for years. However, the dealership suggested the routes where I did the test drive for the same reason given in the example above.
The routes suggested by them were perfect as I was able to test drive the car to my satisfaction, and was convinced before paying for it. I drove the car at different speeds, testing the brakes and how the car handles in corners. It was perfect.
3. When the Test Drive is Limited to Certain Vehicles
Some dealerships may only allow you (a learner’s permit holder), to test drive some types of vehicles such as smaller cars or vehicles with automatic transmissions to minimize risk and ensure that you’re comfortable and capable of safely operating the vehicle.
When a dealership limits test drives to some vehicles, it means that individuals with permits are only allowed to test drive these limited types of cars or models of cars, rather than having access to the entire inventory.
- For example, as someone with a learner’s permit, you may not have enough driving experience to handle all the cars in their inventory.
- Some vehicles may have advanced safety features or technologies that require specialized training or familiarity to operate safely.
The dealership may not allow you to test drive these cars with your learner’s permit, rather, they may limit the test to vehicles with simpler or more intuitive features to reduce the risk of accidents or misuse.
Furthermore, larger or more powerful vehicles may require more skill and experience to handle safely, especially in certain driving conditions or environments.
The dealership may restrict test drives to smaller or less powerful vehicles that are considered more suitable for individuals with permits or novice drivers.
Don’t blame them. They do this to manage risk, elevate resources, and channel the test-driving experience to the needs and preferences of their customers.
4. When they Have Insurance Policies that Cover Test Drives
Another scenario a dealership may allow you to test drive a car with a permit is if they have insurance policies that cover test drives. They will permit the test believing that if anything should happen, the insurance will cover the cost.
The insurance coverage does not only protect the dealership alone, but it may also protect you from financial liabilities in the event of an accident or damage to the vehicle.
However, it’s important to note that the coverage may be subject to deductibles or limits, and the driver could still be held personally liable for any damages that exceed the coverage limits.
Moreover, some dealerships may offer additional insurance coverage or waivers for individuals with permits who wish to test-drive vehicles.
These options may provide extra protection and peace of mind for both the driver and the dealership, but they often come with additional costs or fees.
Therefore, in line with insurance coverage, before a dealership allows someone with a permit to test drive their cars, they may verify that the driver is covered by insurance, either through their insurance policy or through additional coverage provided by the dealership.
5. When There’s Parental Consent
If you’re a minor (under the legal age of adulthood) and wish to test drive a car with the hope of purchasing it, the dealership may require written consent from your parent or guardian before allowing you to conduct the test drive.
The consent serves as an acknowledgment from your parent or legal guardian that they are aware of and approve their child’s participation in the test drive which makes more sense since those under the age of 18 are considered legally incapable of entering into contracts or making certain decisions without the consent of a parent or legal guardian.
Therefore, when a minor wishes to test drive a car with a permit, the dealership may require written consent from his/her parent or guardian before allowing him/her to proceed, to protect both the dealership and the parent from legal liabilities in the event of an accident or injury during the test drive.
They might even go to the extent of communicating with your parent or guardian to discuss the details of the test drive, negotiate any concerns or questions they may have, and ensure that they are fully informed about your participation in the activity.
Furthermore, they may require your parents to confirm their willingness to assume financial responsibility for any damages or liabilities that may occur during the test drive.
6. When They Evaluate Your Driving Skills
A dealership may allow you to test drive their cars with a permit if they evaluate your driving skills and discover you’re good. They can do this to assess your level of driving proficiency, confidence, and readiness to safely operate a vehicle.
Before the test drive begins, the dealership staff may conduct a brief pre-test assessment to gain information about your driving experience, knowledge of road rules, and comfort level behind the wheel.
He/she may do this by asking questions about your previous driving lessons, practice hours, and any specific concerns or limitations you may have.
During the driving test drive, the dealership staff or any licensed driver accompanying you will observe your behavior behind the wheel, paying attention to your ability to control the vehicle, follow traffic laws, and react to different driving situations. This observation will allow them to gauge your confidence, awareness, and decision-making skills while driving.
They may ask you to drive through common driving scenarios such as intersections, lane changes, parking maneuvers, and traffic signals, during which the dealership staff will assess how effectively you handle these situations, including your use of mirrors, signaling, braking, and acceleration.
Furthermore, the dealership staff may go to the extent of providing you with guidance, instruction, and feedback and observing how well you respond to the instructions and corrections to help them determine your ability to learn, adapt, and improve your driving skills during the test.
If after all the evaluations, you seem good, the dealership may allow you to test drive more cars on your own without the supervision of their staff or licensed driver.
But, if the result of the evaluation is bad, they may modify the test drive conditions by requiring additional supervision by a licensed experienced driver, or recommend further training or practice before doing the test drive.
How Long Can You Test Drive a Car With a Permit?
You have between 15 minutes to an hour to test drive a car with a permit. Some dealerships may give you more testing time and even overnight depending on their schedule and policy.
Moreover, the duration to test drive a car with a permit is determined by the dealership policies, insurance considerations, safety concerns, and regulatory requirements.
If the car dealership had scheduled multiple customers for the same test drive, they may limit the time to 15 minutes to an hour to accommodate the customers and manage their scheduling effectively.
What’s the Longest You Can Test Drive a Car?
The longest you can test drive a car is 24 hours which may involve taking the car home for a more extended period like 24 hours or even a weekend. However, if you want longer testing hours, you can negotiate with the dealership.
For example, according to Carmax, they offer a 24-hour test drive to let you see firsthand how the car you wish to buy could work for you in real life.
So, if you express a genuine interest in purchasing the vehicle and request an extended test drive to help finalize your decision, the dealership may be willing to accommodate your request, especially if it increases the likelihood of a sale.
Conclusion
You can test drive a car with a permit if the dealership allows you but if the dealership policies do not allow test driving with a permit, you will not be allowed to test drive the car.
Even if you’re allowed to test drive the car, you may be limited to the type, model, and brand of car you can test drive. If you are below 18 years old, you may be asked to present your parent’s consent before you can be allowed to conduct the test drive.
