Corvette Test Drive Goes Wrong, Leaving Driver With Whopping $17K Bill for a Car He Never Bought

A man who decided against buying a Chevrolet Corvette during a test drive ended up owing more than $17,000 after damaging the sports car.

Kirby Sewell had ordered the high-performance Corvette through Gardner Chevrolet Buick GMC in British Columbia, Canada, but the vehicle arrived without the upgrades he expected. The anticipated purchase price was $121,000.

According to an October 8 court ruling, Sewell took the Corvette for a test drive on June 12, 2024, and decided he wasn’t going to buy the vehicle.

During the drive, he stopped at a Flying J truck stop to inspect the vehicle and take photos.

When a truck driver became impatient with where he had parked, Sewell got back into the Corvette to move it. He then drove into a concrete barrier with exposed rebar, damaging the passenger side.

The dealership spent approximately $10,000 repairing the Corvette before selling it for $115,000 — well below the car’s original asking price.

According to the court documents, a small claims judge found Sewell negligent and ordered him to pay $17,182.23, including interest and costs.

Sewell appealed and attempted to argue that, in part, British Columbia law effectively made him an employee of the dealership while he was driving the Corvette.

Unfortunately, the Supreme Court wasn’t buying it and rejected the argument while upholding the judgment.

Neither Sewell nor the dealership had discussed insurance coverage before the test drive. However, the court determined that the law Sewell cited was intended to protect innocent third parties, not drivers responsible for damaging a vehicle.

The dealership was also awarded legal costs associated with the appeal.