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What was supposed to be a thorough evaluation of a Toyota Corolla turned into an expensive lesson for a Vancouver man last week. On July 17, around 6:15 p.m., British Columbia Highway Patrol officers on Highway 97C near Elkhart recorded a gray Toyota sedan traveling at 172 km/h (107 mph) in a posted 110 km/h (68 mph) zone. When pulled over, the 30-year-old driver told police he and his girlfriend were on an overnight test drive from Vancouver to Kelowna—a round trip of roughly 480 miles. That’s an unusually long time to spend with a car you haven’t yet bought, and it ended with far more than a purchase decision.
“The driver told police that he and his girlfriend were on an overnight test-drive from Vancouver to Kelowna,” said Sergeant Michael McLaughlin of BC Highway Patrol. “The vehicle successfully demonstrated that it can speed and that it fits on the back of a tow truck.”
Rather than returning the car to the dealership as planned, the driver racked up a serious list of penalties. Police issued a CA$483 ($351) excessive-speed ticket—because he exceeded the limit by more than 37 mph. On top of that, the driver had to pay towing costs, and the registered owner of the Toyota was stuck with the bill for a mandatory seven-day impound. The BC Highway Patrol also noted that the speeding conviction would trigger at least three years of high-risk insurance premiums, pushing the total estimated financial hit to nearly CA$2,500 ($1,820). Whether the prospective buyer ever went back to complete the purchase remains unknown; authorities said they have no information on whether the Toyota eventually found a new owner.
The case raises questions about how dealers handle extended test drives, especially when vehicles are taken out of province. In the U.S., most dealerships limit test drives to 20–30 minutes with a salesperson present, but some high-end or used-car lots allow overnight loans. “An extended test drive can be a great way to help a buyer decide, but it also shifts liability to the driver,” said Mark Jenkins, a former auto finance manager based in Phoenix. “If a customer gets a ticket or wrecks the car, the dealer typically goes after the driver’s insurance or files a police report. This Canadian case is a textbook example of why dealers demand a copy of the driver’s license and proof of insurance before handing over the keys.”
While speeding penalties vary by state, the U.S. has its own versions of excessive-speed fines and impound laws. For example, in Virginia, driving 20 mph over the limit or above 85 mph is reckless driving—a criminal offense. In some states, a vehicle can be impounded immediately at the driver’s expense. The Canadian fine here is comparatively moderate, but the three-year insurance surcharge makes the total sting far larger than a single ticket.
For anyone considering a long-distance test drive, experts recommend sticking to posted limits and treating the car as if it were already their own. “You’re not just testing acceleration; you’re testing responsibility,” Jenkins added. “One bad decision can turn a car-shopping trip into a financial nightmare.”
As of July 22, 2024, the incident serves as a cautionary tale for both buyers and sellers. The Toyota Corolla, a popular compact sedan known for reliability and efficiency, certainly proved it can hit triple-digit speeds. Whether that’s a selling point depends on what you’re looking for—and whether you plan to keep it legal.
