When deciding on buying a new car, the test drive can have great influence on how you make your final decision. This is when you can really feel whether the car feels comfortable and suits your needs.
You might be concerned, however, as to whether you’ll get the most out of a car test drive. You not only need to consider whether the car drives as well as you imagined, but also if there are any technical issues lurking within. If there are problems with the car, you’ll want to find them before you part with any money.
If you’re planning a test drive soon there are numerous handy tips you can keep in mind that’ll help make the process as informative to you as possible.
Planning ahead
Before you take a test drive it is always worth confirming that you are in fact insured to do so.
Dealers will probably have cover specifically for this purpose, but if you ever test drive a car being sold by a private vendor, you may need to use your own.
If you are unsure of what needs doing, talk to your insurer. They can offer you comprehensive cover for just a short period of time. You will need adequate time so that you can test drive the cars you are thinking of buying.
It’s also worth examining the details of your own insurance and check you have a policy which says you can “drive another car with the owner’s permission”. This is usually referred to as Driver Other Cars (DOC) cover.
Adjustments and other checks
There are plenty of things worth checking on a car you’re testing ahead of a potential purchase. Here are things you can do to be sure you and passengers will be suited with this car:
Engine
Make sure that the engine’s cold before you start it, by placing your hand on the bonnet.
If the car feels warm before the ignition has even been turned on, it’d be worth asking why. The car may be suffering an overheating problem or some other type of issue.
Seating
When getting inside the car your taking for a test drive, check you can adjust the seat and the steering wheel so you’ve got a comfortable driving position. There’s no problem with taking your time to adjust the set-up position until you’re satisfied.
If the car you are test driving has removable seats, check that they fit securely and that none of the connectors are damaged. If you plan to use child seats in your next planned purchase, take them with you and make sure that they fit.
If you are planning on taking family members with your regularly in your possible car purchase, it’s a good idea to take them with you to the test drive. You can check that other family members can get comfortable in the car as well. It’s also possible that other passengers with you can spot design flaws or problems with the car which you may have missed otherwise.
Steering and suspension
While the car is stationary, turn the steering wheel from lock-to-lock to check that its action feels comfortable and is free from resistance.
Once you’re on the road, remain watchful for any unusual clunks or bangs from the suspension. Also watch out for any bounciness from the car or unevenly rolls through corners.
If the car seems sloppy both stopping and cornering then an issue with the springs could explain things.
Brakes and gearbox
When using the brakes they should always respond immediately and not need pumping or pressing very hard to make work. However hard you use the brakes they shouldn’t make any loud noises unless they have an issue that needs checking in service.
If the car you're test driving has a manual gearbox, the gears should always be easy to engage and the action should feel consistent. When the car is using an automatic gearbox instead, it should swap gears smoothly and quickly. If the clutch doesn’t engage until the pedal has reached the top of its travel, this component needs to be checked.
Now you know how to make the most out of a test drive, check out our new car reviews section to help you decide which car to buy.