$290k Ferrari in test-drive disaster
An Auckland luxury car dealership will be having a “serious conversation” with its insurer after a potential customer crashed a $290,000 Ferrari during a test drive.
The car, believed to be a 2013 Ferrari 458 Italia coupe, crashed in the Victoria Park tunnel on Saturday. The Herald understands it was on a test drive at the time.
Continental Cars, the dealership thought to have been selling the car, declined to answer questions, saying the matter was confidential.
The Motor Trade Association, which represents car dealerships, advised its members to always get test
drivers to fill out a comprehensive form for insurance purposes before taking the keys, spokesman Greig Epps said.
Crashing during a test drive is rare even in a normal car.
“But if it was a test drive I suspect they will be having some serious conversations with their insurer and the driver about what happened.”
Police are still investigating the crash and have not charged anyone.
Epps said the form filled out before a test drive should cover what liability drivers would take in a crash.
“That should include some form of acceptance of liability by the test driver — for example, one that would take responsibility for the excess, whatever it might be, or the cost of repair,” Epps said. But how much would depend on how risk-averse the company was. A luxury car dealership would hold a much higher level of insurance and probably much higher excess for the driver.
“We would certainly be suggesting that the company take as much identifying information as they can — the driver’s license, name, address, phone number, that sort of thing.
“You don’t want to seem as though you distrust every person that comes on site. But you want enough information so you can follow up.”
Whether a sales rep would join the drive would depend on factors including available staff, how they judged the driver, and if they wished to talk up the car as they drove.