A Guide: Buying or Leasing A Car

How To Test Drive A Car

Everyone like to test drive cars. The fun and excitement of taking a machine out on the road and seeing what it can do. But there are many details that most people forget when they go for a test drive. Below are some tips for what to do on your test drive.

Tips:

• Once you have found a car you’d like to take for a test drive, arrange it with a sales representative. Make sure you have your license!
  
  
• Ask to drive the car yourself instead of having the representative drive. (The dealership may have to photocopy your license before you can drive the car.)
  
  
• Sit in the driver's seat with both feet in the car as if you're driving. Close the door and place your hands on the wheel.
  
  
• Adjust the seat as necessary. Check the fit and the interior layout. Note the location of window controls, signals, gauges and the gearshift.
  
  
• Adjust the mirrors and check the blind spots.
  
  
• If the car has a manual transmission, check the clutch pedal's stiffness and run through the gears.
  
  
• Sit in the passenger seat. Move the seat all the way forward and check the leg room.
  
  
• Move the driver's seat to your preferred position and move the passenger seat, if separate, all the way back.
  
  
• Sit in the back seat and check leg room on each side.
  
  
• Put any passengers in the seats they are likely to normally occupy.
  
  
• Drive on city streets first. Check steering ease, turning radius and braking response. Adjust the mirrors and the radio while driving to check for convenience.
  
  
• Head to a highway. Check engine performance and pickup and listen for any noise.
  
  
• Open the windows to check for buffeting.
  
  
• Return to the dealership and thank the dealer.