Well like everyone has stated before, the dealer has insurance for this purpose. If they didn't then before each test drive the dealer would need to keep a copy of the customer's insurance on file before a test drive to ensure that the vehicle is covered.


If it comes to light that your insurance has to take care of it then let it be so. You should not care if that vehicle gets an accident reported on it, it isn't yours. I would go to the dealer and tell them that they can deal with the damage themselves or you will go through your insurance. The dealer might consider just fixing the car themselves and not losing money on the car. No one will pay new car price on a car already having been involved in an accident. Just my $.02

 

This happens more than you would think it would. It happens in transportation. Cars are hit fall off the truck damaged in shipping. Anything that happens before the first sale does not have to be claimed to the customer. it will be repaired and sold as new.

I'm with everyone else here. Tell them to pound sand. If they took your car for a test drive if you were trading it in and they did that to your car they would tell you to fix it.

 

Wouldn't pay it, if it were me. Furthermore, I'd buy a car from a different dealership for suggesting I pay retail. It would cost them almost nothing to repair the vehicle in their shop and sell it as new.

 

Had something similar happen to a friend--I believe when he notified his insurance they went after the dealer's insurance and he was let off the hook. I'd let them call your insurance if I was you.

 

Not to de-rail the thread, but I recently went on a test drive of a "demo" Jeep Cherokee at a dealer. It had about 6000 miles on it and was being used as a daily driver by a female employee of the dealership. It had all are personal belongings in the console, glove box, etc. and was pretty dirty. After the test drive I asked the dealer what the demo price was and he said (paraphrasing) .'well it's still a new vehicle and its being sold and titled as such so the price is what you see on the sticker. There is no discount because it is a demo vehicle...and there is really no negotiation on Jeep sticker prices.' I got up and walked out pretty quickly. He had all my contact info but hasn't even sent a follow up. I guess SOMEone out there will possibly pay full sticker (plus dealer extras of $1000 they had on EVERY car on the lot for pinstripes, paint sealer, and nitrogen) for essentially a used vehicle but its not gonna be me.

 

That's...crazy.

I would have asked the salesman how he justifies selling a car with 6000 miles on it as a "new" car, when CarMax across town would sell me the same Jeep with about half the miles on it for 5K-10K less. In short, I would tell him to do his job as a "salesman" and explain to me why I should buy his Jeep under those circumstances.

If he can't do this, I would go to the sales manager and request a new salesman. I might even write a letter later on to the owner of the dealership asking him whether he knows his salespeople are trying to pass off used cars as new ones.

 

I would have just left. What is so special about a Jeep that makes him think people will pay sticker price?
I love the BS add ons for paint sealant and pinstriping. I always tell the salesman that I am not paying for the gimmicks.

 

If there is insurance for, great. If not he should pay for it. Why should the dealer take the loss, he damaged the rim and tire.
Hey let me come drive your car and damage the wheel, lets see what you say about it.

 

My buddy is a tech at a local dealer. He was a passenger in a truck as a customer was trying to show him a "sound" his F-250 was making. The customer proceeded to take out 2 fiesta's in the parking lot with the side of his F-250. The dealership didn't even approach the customer. They just let him go and made the customer happy (fixed his sound issue on his truck).

This dealer sounds awful and I wouldn't pay a penny. At the most I would contact my insurance, tell them what happened, and let them deal with it. I would also never set foot into this dealership again.

 

Because the dealer is trying to turn it into a windfall.

 

in 2007 I was at my dealer getting my mustang serviced. After a few minutes I see a flat bed roll in with a brand new roush stage 3 that's totaled and then some pull up. I jumped to my feet and walked over along with a few dealer employees. They let some young guy test drive it and he totaled it. The sales manager walked over white as a sheet and said "its was that kid we let test drive it. our insurance isn't going to like this". They told me that the dealer owns the car and test drives are at the risk of the dealer. I then asked for the keys to the other roush they had while making turbo noises "wiiii tish weeeeeiii tiiiissssh".

 

I'm not in the business of taking that risk - much less profiting from a customer that may drive it and buy it. The stealership is.

 

Here is an easy fix.. Just walk into the dealership with a neck brace and tell the manager that your experiencing pain and discomfort from the low impact of curbing the wheel. Neck pain can develop days later if not weeks and can be caused from unexpected rapid movement. Tell him that you are also experiencing anxiety attacks from the harassment caused by the dealerships unprofessional manner in the way this matter has been handled. Let them know you need.... WANT to make a claim on their insurance. Demand for the information or let them know you will file a formal complaint with the state and also Ford customer service. Good Luck!

 

I would like to know the name of the dealer so I never go near that place. I shop for my cars at NJ dealers.

 

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't they blatantly lying about it being an accident report on the car's record? Wouldn't this just be a comprehensive claim?

Sounds like they are trying to strong arm you. I won't give advice because I don't know anything about test drive insurance, but hope it works out for you.

 

Actually it would be a collision claim.

Collision is defined as overturn/upset of vehicle, or impact with another vehicle or object.

 

Thanks! So curb rash would technically go on the car's record as an accident?

 

Only if there's a police report or if an insurance company discloses it, as I understand the Carfax reporting process.

 

I personally would dispute it and would be reluctant to pay ESPECIALLY that they are marking up your costs.


If you didn't sign any waivers. Fight it. $1,900 is not chump change.

 

OP I work at a dealership and I can tell you that A) they have no real recourse for this and can't hold you to it unless you signed something & B) that's what their insurance is for.

Don't do it. Tell them to kick rocks.