Test Driving a Car: A Checklist of What To Look For

Quick Facts About Test Driving a Car

When available, test drive the very vehicle you are considering purchasing.
Do all your research and know the models that interest you before scheduling a test drive.
A test drive should include many driving conditions, such as city streets, freeways, rough pavement, hills, etc.

A test drive is often the final step in the decision-making process when shopping for a car. It’s equivalent to trying on a pair of shoes when shoe shopping or holding a puppy before adopting a pet. Up until the test drive, most of the research is an intellectual undertaking, not a hands-on experience. The car test drive is the organic element that helps you decide on a new vehicle. Here we will discuss the many aspects of taking a car for a ride before buying it and how to get the most out of a test drive. Use these jump links to skip ahead.

What Is a Car Test Drive?
Setting Up a New Car Test Drive
How To Prepare for a Test Drive
What To Bring to a Test Drive
What To Look for When Test Driving a Car
Taking the Test Drive

What Is a Car Test Drive?

A test drive provides a real-world opportunity to determine if a car fits your performance, space, comfort, convenience, and utility needs.

As we continue headlong into the e-commerce age — when buying a new car online will become vogue — a real-world aspect that will probably survive is the test drive. Save those who consider their automobile a mere transportation appliance, a wide swath of consumers will still want some wheel time before smashing the “Buy Now” icon. Indeed, the test drive will remain a durable reminder of the good ol’ days of trucking to a local dealership to pick a car, debate a price, secure financing, and so forth. Why is that?

Well, it won’t have much to do with nostalgia. As long as cars retain some degree of personality, making a purchase choice will remain an act of emotion for most. That new-car smell, the enduring styling, the gee-whiz technology, and 0-60 in 4.4 seconds. You know, the things that count for drivers who believe getting there is half the fun. These are the people who most need to slip behind the wheel and take their potential pick for a spin.

A test drive is the time when you measure a vehicle against your needs and preferences. For example, does it fit your lifestyle, how does it perform, does the audio system satisfy, is the ride quality up to expectations, and so on? For this reason, the test drive does and will continue to endure.

MORE: Car Safety Features 101: Everything You Need to Know

Setting Up a New Car Test Drive

Taking a test drive requires securing a car to drive, right? Correct, and there are two ways to do it. First, however, we hope you’ve done your homework, narrowed your choices, and are ready to work your way through the field of candidates with test drives. In other words, you need to focus on vehicles that you can afford, fit your transportation needs, and appeal to you. This requires some research effort. We are assuming you’ve completed the research phase. That is, you know what car you want to test drive.

How To Set Up a Test Drive

Let’s refresh ourselves on the two prevailing ways to secure a test drive.

Traditional — This is still the leading test-drive pathway as an element of a dealership visit. A salesperson approaches you as you roam the car lot gazing at the different models. After a few questions and answers, and perhaps a trip inside the showroom to volunteer more information, the focus turns to the model you are considering. At this point in the dance, the salesperson grabs some keys and a dealer license plate, then takes you back out on the lot to the model you want. The dealer may drive you off the lot and then turn over the wheel to you, or you may jump into the driver’s seat from the get-go. Don’t be surprised, though, if a salesperson accompanies you.
Online — Here is where you do at least a portion of the search for the models you want online. Even if you begin on a carmaker’s website, searching for local inventory will jump you to a dealer’s site and its available stock. There you can view which variations of your model choice are currently in stock, as well as inventory soon to arrive. Clicking on the various models usually provides lots of information on that specific vehicle. Almost always, there is also an offer for a test drive. Simply fill out the form, and the dealership will contact you to make an appointment. Or, you can be proactive and call the dealership, provide the vehicle’s VIN (vehicle identification number), and request an appointment for a test drive.

Tip: When you make the appointment, ensure the vehicle attached to the VIN you are requesting is still in stock. Unless the test-drive appointment is the day you make it, reconfirm it before heading to the dealership.

How To Prepare for a Test Drive

Opportunity is wasted on the unprepared. There’s no point investing the time and energy into making the trek to the dealership for a test drive if you aren’t prepared. As mentioned above, buying a car is more emotional than analytical for most of us. However, during the test drive, you need to tamp down the emotion and elevate the analytics. Being prepared is a big step to achieving that goal.

Remember, purchasing a vehicle is a major expense — one most people live with for years. Think about the time after the new-car smell fades, the excitement of a new car is history, and you must live with this car day after day and payment after payment. Now you are in the right frame of mind to prepare for the test drive.

Steps To Prepare for a Test Drive

Here are a few preparatory steps to take:

Create a test-car list — During your research, you should have narrowed the field to one or two models you want to drive. These may be variations of the same model with different engines and features, or different models like the Honda Civic and Honda Accord.
Choose a day for the test drive — Picking a specific day for test driving allows you to set aside a block of time to do nothing else. Whether you visit only one car lot or multiple dealerships, you want to allow enough time to thoroughly experience the car or cars. Furthermore, if you have more than one dealership you want to visit, maintaining a schedule will help ensure you drive everything on your list.
Schedule an appointment — Whether for an online test drive or a more traditional dealership visit, making an appointment will save time. Moreover, scheduling an appointment will put you in a more business-like frame of mind.
Create a checklist — If you have fully researched the model you are test driving, you probably found a few specific features or traits you want to check out. Put those into a written checklist that also includes our suggestions listed below under “What to Look for When Test Driving a Car.” This more systematic approach is another tactic for elevating the analytical.
Include a second person — This can be a friend, spouse, or significant other; however, be sure whomever you pick is on the same page as you. If you plan to take multiple test drives, play one dealer against another, or simply moderate your enthusiasm as a negotiating ploy, make that clear. That said, having a trusted sidekick with you can help you spot things you might miss, engage the salesperson (allowing you to concentrate), and occupy different seating positions during the test drive.

Tip: If you are shopping for a family vehicle, at some point you should include the kids in a test drive. However, the initial test drive isn’t the ideal time, especially if you intend to drive several vehicles at multiple dealerships. They will be a distraction — which will grow as the day drags on. When you have narrowed your candidates to one or two, reschedule another test drive and bring the kids, including any child safety seats.

What To Bring to a Test Drive

Driver’s license — Typically, you will need a valid driver’s license or, in some cases, a learner’s permit, which the salesperson will photocopy. If you want to avoid turning your license or permit over to a stranger, take photocopies with you. If it’s a permit, you’ll also need to bring a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old. Some dealers may also require proof of insurance. We suggest clarifying what you should bring when you book the appointment.
Smartphone — We suggest bringing your smartphone and a charging cable. You will need both to check out the vehicle’s connectivity capabilities. And, of course, don’t forget your test-drive checklist.
Game face — Additionally, bring your game face. In other words, stay focused and remain in control. Make the salesperson aware that you have a schedule to keep because you have appointments at other dealerships.

What To Look for When Test Driving a Car

There you are at the dealership for a test drive, half listening to the salesperson’s patter and dreaming about how this beauty will look in your driveway. Yes, even if you arranged this test drive online, a salesperson of some stripe will probably be involved.

Now it’s time to get to the nitty-gritty of the test drive. However, the test drive is about more than driving. Think of it as sort of a meet-and-greet with the vehicle. Consequently, if you can’t get behind the wheel of the exact car you picked from the website inventory, you need to drive a version as close to it as possible. That means the trim level, engine, and standard features you want. The test drive is your opportunity to turn imagining into experiencing, so take full advantage.

Walk Around the Exterior

You will repeat some of the inspection aspects of the walk-around if you buy and take delivery; however, it won’t hurt to point out any flaws needing to be addressed now. Because this is a brand-new car, the walk-around is basically just to gain a feel for the size and general appearance. The walk-around is a chance to kick the tires, peek under the hood, and do the other things you can’t once the vehicle is moving. Here are a few things to look for and do.

General appearance — Look for wheel rash, nicks in the tire sidewalls, scratches, chips, or dings in the paint finish. Cars aren’t immune from damage during shipping and while sitting on the dealer’s lot.
Ingress — Ingress is a $5 word for entering. Open all the doors and slide into both the front and rear seats. Are the door openings sufficiently large? Climb into the rear seat in a 2-door and the third-row seat in an SUV and rate the exercise for difficulty. Reevaluate the experience when exiting. Can you live with both daily?
Under the hood — Take the time to pop the hood. If the locations aren’t obvious, have the salesperson point out the window washer fluid, oil dipstick, and battery. These are the items drivers are most likely to access themselves. Are they easy to get to?
Inside the cargo area — If it’s a sedan, open the trunk. If it’s an SUV, open the liftgate. This is the ideal time to experience how an electric or hands-free trunk or rear liftgate operates. How high is the lift over when loading and unloading cargo? Is the space usable? If the rear seat folds down, does it fold flat? Where are the jack and spare tire, and are they easy to access?

Inspect the Interior

Evaluating a vehicle’s interior requires nearly all your senses. Well, in a new car, maybe not smell so much, and certainly not taste, but the other three (sight, sound, and touch) come into play. Resist the temptation to begin driving immediately. Take a few minutes to appraise the space and get a feel for the cabin. It’s also the ideal opportunity to check out some of the convenience functions. Here are some steps to assess the interior.

Front seats — If you are like many of us, you spend a lot of seat time in a car. Are they comfortable? Do they provide sufficient back support with adequate side bolstering? Does the bottom cushion extend far enough to support your thighs? Do they move fore and aft enough to reach an optimum driving position? Do they recline? If the front seats are power-adjustable or have a massaging feature, do those functions work to your satisfaction? Can the headrest adjust to the height you need? If there is a center armrest, can you use it comfortably? Can you adjust the front seat belts to accommodate your height?
Rear seats — If the second row is a bench seat, does it split and fold? Is it comfortable, or is it akin to sitting in a church pew? How about the legroom? Is there a fold-down armrest?
Storage — Are there enough cup holders and storage cubbies? Is there a spot in the center console for a smartphone? How about keys, change, and other odds and ends? Is the glove box large enough to hold more than the owner’s manual and a tire-pressure gauge?
Connectivity — What is the USB port count? Where are they located? How about power ports and their location? Here’s where you try out Bluetooth connectivity by integrating your smartphone. Likewise, check out the Apple CarPlay or Android Auto integration. In other words, evaluate how well your phone integrates with the vehicle.
Infotainment and climate control — Play it safe and test the heating and cooling controls to get familiar with the infotainment systems in a parked vehicle. To save time, invite the salesperson to demonstrate their operation. This is especially true in models with a touchscreen. In such models, check to see if there are hard controls for the audio volume and climate system. As the salesperson navigates the touchscreen, pay attention to the degree of user-friendliness. This is where you also appraise the audio system. If you interfaced with your smartphone, call up a playlist and pick a favorite song. How does it sound?
Craftsmanship — Do all the pieces fit together seamlessly?
Interior lighting — Make sure you like the lighting and can adjust it to your taste.
Other features — Operate all the windows to determine if they raise and lower easily and quietly. Can you position the steering wheel for comfortable operation? Are all the buttons and knobs within easy reach? Can you see all the gauges?

Taking the Test Drive

If you’ve followed our advice, you have already become somewhat familiar with the vehicle’s inner space and workings: climate control, audio system, and so on. Now you can concentrate on the ride, responsiveness, handling, and passenger experience.

A ride around the block or through the dealership’s neighborhood isn’t a test drive any more than peeking in the front window is a tour of a museum. Based on your test-drive schedule, determine how long you can spend on a single test drive. However, you should try to include a variety of conditions, such as city streets, freeways, hills, curves, and imperfect pavement. Odds are, you won’t find all of these within 20 minutes of the dealership. Still, you need to do the best you can.

If a salesperson insists on accompanying you, explain the type of driving you want to do before leaving the lot and let them set the route. If you are familiar with the area, you determine the route. If there is a navigation system, you can test its accuracy and instruction delivery by driving a few miles from the dealership and allowing it to return you to the dealership. Get on a freeway and engage the cruise control.

Although we can judge some aspects of driving a car numerically, such as the acceleration time, braking distance, turning radius, and so forth, the test drive measures them subjectively. It’s your opportunity to react to the driving aspects personally.

Only you can determine your demands for the aspects of a vehicle, ranking comfort, size, acceleration, handling, fuel economy, quiet, utility, and so forth. Most vehicles are a compromise. That is, increasing some attributes means others suffer. The test drive is an opportunity to judge the trade-offs for this specific vehicle to determine if it is the right fit for you.

What To Look for on a Test Drive

Here then, are the basic things to check out during the actual drive:

Visibility — Before you shift into gear and press the accelerator pedal, you should evaluate visibility as you look out the windshield, glance into the rearview mirror, and check around you. Here, we refer to visibility as what you can see without the aid of a rearview camera, surround-view camera, or even the outboard mirrors. Are there blind zones, and if so, how big? The roof pillars often create these. Does the rear glass offer a clear view of what’s behind you?
Noise — With the audio system off and the windows and sunroof closed, listen to the noise level inside the cabin. Do this when idling, accelerating, and cruising. In all but fully electric vehicles (EVs), pay attention to the amount of engine and exhaust noise. Wind noise can also be a factor, as can the sounds created by the tires on the pavement. Excessive noise can cause stress, especially on longer trips.
Powertrain — Every component responsible for putting a vehicle into motion is the powertrain. Examples are the engine, transmission, driveshaft, axles, and so on. You want to concentrate on the engine and transmission on the test drive. How does the car accelerate? Does it have the grit to accelerate up a freeway entrance ramp smoothly and merge into traffic? How well do the engine and transmission work together? Does it upshift and downshift smoothly without overworking the engine?
Braking — If you research hard enough, you can find brake-distance stats online. For example, they will tell you how many feet a specific vehicle requires to come to a full stop from 60 mph. What you want to learn from your test drive is how the brakes feel. Are they smooth or grabby? How far do you need to press them before they engage? How much pressure do they require to fully stop the vehicle?
Handling — We bunch steering into handling because handling begins with the steering feel and response. We can’t tell you the feel you prefer; however, we are sure you should avoid steering that is too light and twitchy. Overly responsive steering is fine for maneuvering around parking lots; however, there should be some resistance to steering input when on the highway. In other words, you don’t want the slightest nudge of the steering wheel to send you across a lane marker. One method for checking the quality of a steering system is if it maintains a straight line without constant corrections. Even with today’s power-assisted steering, you should feel a connection between the steering wheel and the rubber on the road. Pay attention to how the vehicle reacts when going around a corner or in a curve. Does it lean or roll?
Ride — Finding the just-right compromise between handling and ride quality is a constant struggle for automotive engineers. While better-than-average handling requires a stiffer suspension, a comfy ride means a more pliant one. If ride quality is important to you, the test drive should include a variety of surfaces. If nothing else, drive it over railroad tracks to judge how well the suspension absorbs bumps.

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Test Driving a Car: A Checklist of What To Look For - Kelley Blue Book (2024)