The reluctant test driver

I did my first new car shop a couple of days ago, and I was not supposed to take a test drive. The sales guy invited me to sit in the driver's seat, so I did that. He said to check the feel of the gas pedal, so I press down. The car moves forward. This is an electric car, and it doesn't make any noise when it's on. I start to panic as we are rolling toward the exit. He hadn't asked if I wanted to take a test drive, and he hadn't asked for my driver's license. It was evening, so I told him that I didn't like to drive in the dark. He said I could turn around a little ways down the road and return. I included the story in my report, and I'm hoping it doesn't get rejected. Isn't it unusual for a sales person to take you on a test drive without looking at your driver's license? BTW, this guy had an unusual name, so I googled him and found he had a felony conviction. At least he also neglected to take my contact info.

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There appears to by no rhyme or reason to the driver's license. I test drove a BMW 7 series, no check of the license was required. Did a Corvette test drive and had to have a copy of my license made. Go figure, the Bimmer was more than twice the cost of the Chevy.

The only objection I could see being raised to your taking the test drive is why didn't you stop while you were still in the lot? I.e. take your foot off the pedal and use the brake to stop. The way it reads, you had time to stop before getting on the road. OTOH, as long as you made it perfectly clear that you didn't ask for the test drive, I don't see any reason for the report to be rejected because you got hoodwinked into it.

"To be persuasive we must be believable; to be believable we must be credible; to be credible we must be truthful." Edward R. Murrow

Thou shalt not steal. I mean defensively. On offense, indeed thou shall steal and thou must.--Branch Rickey

I should have stopped in the lot, but I was sort of frozen with indecision. I didn't want to make a big fuss and draw attention to myself, so I didn't know what to say.

My instructions on some car shops say I don't have to take the test drive, I've never seen one that said DON'T take the test drive. Did yours?

the one I did this past week that required a drive, they did not ask to see my DL at all. But I had driven in there and he saw me get out of the car, so presumably I did have one and I'm well over the age where I might only have a learner's permit, LOL.

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I pray it does not occur that the last thing I did before I died was vacuum the house or eat broccoli.

My thoughts are they ask for your driver's license mostly so they can collect the data. Or perhaps it's a liability thing. Maybe some car salespeople can weigh in on this one officially. But I get the sense it's up to each individual dealership to set thier own parameters.

But I agree there seems to be no hard and fast rules about it. I do a lot of these car shops and I've been asked for my driver's license to drive a Chevy Cruze and not asked for it to drive a BMW 3 Series.

As for the test drive, your instructions seem odd. Most shops I've done require test drives if offered. A few say you can go on one if you want, but you don't have to. I've never seen a shop where they said not to go on one if offered.

The instructions say, "if offered, decline a test drive." So I guess I'm okay, because it was never offered! It's interesting that dealers have varying practices asking for driver's licenses. I've read posts here from people who did not want to leave their license at the dealer's during the test drive, which made me think it was routine to be asked for it.

For insurance purposes they need to be sure you have a valid DL and for safety reasons a copy should be left at the dealership. I strongly advise everyone to be sure they give you the actual license prior to the test drive. On mine they always have, but there are stories of them keeping the actual license. If you get pulled over by the police, it will not be the dealership or the sales associate's butt on the line.

And take it from me, you do not want to have to go back when someone forgets to return the damn thing, like the time I was shopping apartments on a road trip and didn't know mine was gone until reaching the next stop

Thank the video gods, the complex was at least in the same town.

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.

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The reluctant test driver

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